Technology and culture
The post has three asighnments
1;Technology and culture
The topic for discussion is Morozov’s ideas about solutionism and solutionists. Provide a response to the following questions:
1. What is Morozov’s definition of solutionism?
2. Why does he believe solutionism is folly?
3. In a broader view, do you believe solutionism is a good thing, bad thing, or somewhere in between?
3;Reading response: Roberto Calasso’s The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony
After you’ve read the chapter (attached), you’ll need to answer these 2 questions:
1. Based on your reading of chapter 4 of Roberto Calasso’s The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony, describe the Greek conception of the relationship between individual agency and necessity. For instance, according to Calasso, how did the Greeks view personal responsibility and guilt?
2. Roberto Calasso writes that "rather than the life of one individual, the life Achilles chooses is an image of all life as Humer understood it" (117). Assuming this claim is true, what is the Homeric vision of life that Achilles embodies? Similarly, why does Achilles refuse the substitution of Chryseis for Briseis? What is at sake?
3;The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (pgs. 110-151)
Henrietta’s daughter was taken to the former “Hospital for the Negro Insane.” Henrietta herself was treated in a hospital ward primarily intended for poor black patients. The world has changed a great deal since the era of segregation that this part of the book focuses on. How do you feel when you read about segregation and “separate-but-equal” services in this book? How much progress toward true racial integration do you think we have made in this country? Do any forms of segregation still exist? Where? How? Have you had any personal experiences or observations of any kinds of racial segregation issues? Have you had any personal experiences or observations of examples of individuals or groups of people working hard to overcome racial issues of any kind?
Immortal Life