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INTM 4384 HOME PAGE
JANUARY 2007
Gödel, Escher, Bach:
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Minds and Machines
Instructor: Dr. Fay A. Riddle
Time: Monday through Thursday (Tuesday through Friday during week of January 15), 9:00-11:50 AM
Location: Smith 303
Office: Smith 305
Office Phone: 706.880.8279
Office Hours: By appointment
E-mail: friddle lagrange.edu
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/driddle
Catalog Description: In 1931 the German logician Kurt Gödel proved that any attempt to formalize logical reasoning would fall short in that there would always be unprovable yet true statements within the system. Douglas R. Hofstadter's 1979 book "Gödel Escher Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid" explores Gödel's result with unprecedented wit, ingenuity, and insight. Deciphering Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem is a fantastic experience with no prerequisites except a willingness to engage some formal logic and innumerable surprises. Illustrated by M.C. Escher and scored by J.S. Bach, the journey through the course will pass through the philosophical worlds of Lewis Carroll, artificial intelligence, non-Euclidean geometry, Zeno and Zen Buddhism.
Objectives: The student will be challenged to consider questions such as, “What creates intelligence and meaning?”, and “Does computer science have anything to do with art, music, or philosophy?” Douglas Hofstadter's Pulitzer-winning Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid freely integrates poetry, fugues, Zen, Platonic dialogues and metaphorical puns, all to pursue thorny questions about artificial intelligence and the human mind. This class will take a playful approach in understanding these ideas through discussion, analysis, and performance. Since everyone should be in the class because they want to be, we should enjoy the book and have fun!
General Methodology: The bulk of this course will consist of reading through the admittedly long GEB and discussing its ideas, techniques, and concepts. On most days we will (1) review the often complex concepts and arguments put forth in the book, (2) critically discuss and analyze those ideas, (3) have group sessions to discuss a portion of the assigned reading, and (4) have each group report back with their findings. Daily reading assignments will be given, and students will be required to journal a summary of what they have read, as well as any questions or comments. Students should come prepared with questions about or inspired by the reading and be prepared to critically think about the issues raised. All sorts of approaches to the text are welcome; performance of dialogues, drawing our own pictures, bringing in music…
Course Requirements: Since reading is very heavy, grading will be based on the journals, weekly papers, a final paper, attendance, and participation.
Attendance Requirement: students may miss up to one class session. Being forced to miss others will entail make-up assignments.
Daily reading and journal: Reading assignments will be made daily, and each student is expected to email a journal of the reading by class time on the next class day. The journals should be submitted as an attachment written in Microsoft Word, at least one page long, double-spaced using the default Word margins and in Times New Roman 12 with a one line heading in Times New Roman 12 bold. The journal should contain a brief summary of the reading, an explanation of something of interest to the student in the reading, and a list of at most five questions regarding the reading.
Presentation Requirement: All students will participate (in groups if wanted) in presenting and summarizing portions of one particular day’s reading. Students experienced in a particular subject – logic, philosophy of the mind, computer science – may want to help out the class in understanding a certain day’s material on that topic. Less experienced students may want to jointly present with others. Students are expected to keep up with the reading and be prepared to discuss every day.
Weekly paper: A paper (at least two pages long, excluding bibliography, and using the guidelines above) will be submitted on January 8, January 16, and January 22 on a topic approved by the professor. There should be at least two references, one of which is a non-Internet reference.
Final paper: A paper (at least five pages long, excluding bibliography, and using the guidelines above) will be submitted on January 30 on a topic to be discussed in class. There should be at least four references, two of which are non-Internet references.
Textbook: Douglas Hofstadter's Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid.
Evaluation Methods:
Attendance: More than two unexcused absences or four excused absences will result in an F in the course. Excused absences must be documented.
Reading and journals: The student must submit on time a minimum of 10 of the 15 journals following the guidelines above to pass the course. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes if students do not appear to be keeping up with the readings. A failure on a pop quiz is equivalent to not turning in a journal that day.
Papers: The student must submit on time all four papers following the guidelines above to pass the course.
Honor Code: Of course, the LaGrange College Honor Code will be in effect in this class. Any plagiarism or collaboration on journals or papers (including copying materials off the Internet) will result the student being reported to the Honor Council.
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