I am looking forward to a stimulating discussion this Sunday of ethical issues raised in movies through portrayals of artificial intelligence. Karin Mills will lead the discussion focusing on movies that are among her favorites. Come ready for to participate! From Short Circuit and Blade Runner through the Terminator movies and even in very recent films,… Continue reading Science Fiction: Artificial Intelligence at the Movies
When Charles Coble did his presentation on Science Fiction on April 8, some of you asked if his presentation could be added to the website, so here it is! Thank you, Charles, for a very engaging discussion.
This Sunday (April 8) Charles Coble will lead us in a discussion of science fiction as authentic fictional literature. Here are some things to think about in anticipation of the discussion: What does fiction do for us as a society and as individuals within that society? What does it contribute? What value might science fiction… Continue reading This Sunday and Next: Science Fiction
I would like to thank Emily Brewer for a very well run session this morning on Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and it’s implications for views of science. Her overview of the novel set the stage for a lively discussion of hopes and fears about scientific advancement and the ethical questions raised by the rapidly advancing field… Continue reading Thank you, Emily Brewer
What does Frankenstein have to do with Evangelism and Vocation in a Post-Singularity World? Join us tomorrow morning, Sunday, March 4 to find out. We will look at this seminal fictional work that has embedded itself in western cultural imagination. What does the story represent that has given it such longevity? What themes continue to… Continue reading 200th Anniversary of Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
I would like to thank Bob Winstead for a great job leading our discussion of Asimov’s three laws of robotics and the complications with trying to implement them in the real world.
You can find several resources on this topic on the web, but I’ll include only one here. If you would like something to read to follow up on this morning’s discussion, you can try this for starters.
In his 1942 short story “Runaround” (also included in the collection I, Robot eight years later), Isaac Asimov introduced his three laws of robotics, although he had foreshadowed them in a few earlier stories. Here are the three laws: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to… Continue reading Sunday, February 11, 2018 Bob Winstead
