[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so last week I went to my best friend’s
so last week I went to my best friend’s
so last week I went to my best friend’s birthday party in some ways were
birthday party in some ways were
birthday party in some ways were complete opposites she’s a wild cat from
complete opposites she’s a wild cat from
complete opposites she’s a wild cat from the University of Arizona I’m a Sun
the University of Arizona I’m a Sun
the University of Arizona I’m a Sun Devil at Arizona State yeah yeah out
Devil at Arizona State yeah yeah out
Devil at Arizona State yeah yeah out there Forks up she’s a dog person and I
there Forks up she’s a dog person and I
there Forks up she’s a dog person and I love cats and her major is electrical
love cats and her major is electrical
love cats and her major is electrical engineering and I study political
engineering and I study political
engineering and I study political science so at this party we were doing
science so at this party we were doing
science so at this party we were doing your typical introductions what’s your
your typical introductions what’s your
your typical introductions what’s your name where are you from what are you
name where are you from what are you
name where are you from what are you studying and I soon found out that every
studying and I soon found out that every
studying and I soon found out that every one of her friends was an engineer as
one of her friends was an engineer as
one of her friends was an engineer as well every flavor that you can imagine
well every flavor that you can imagine
well every flavor that you can imagine biomedical engineering Chemical
biomedical engineering Chemical
biomedical engineering Chemical Engineering Electrical Engineering
Engineering Electrical Engineering
Engineering Electrical Engineering computer science so I dreaded the
computer science so I dreaded the
computer science so I dreaded the inevitable question as we made our way
inevitable question as we made our way
inevitable question as we made our way around the circle what are you studying
around the circle what are you studying
around the circle what are you studying now when I typically introduce myself to
now when I typically introduce myself to
now when I typically introduce myself to people as a political science major I
people as a political science major I
people as a political science major I tend to get one of two reactions
tend to get one of two reactions
tend to get one of two reactions the first is wow that’s got to be
the first is wow that’s got to be
the first is wow that’s got to be interesting at a time like this and the
interesting at a time like this and the
interesting at a time like this and the second is good luck finding a job so I
second is good luck finding a job so I
second is good luck finding a job so I was asked point-blank by a near perfect
was asked point-blank by a near perfect
was asked point-blank by a near perfect stranger are you smart that’s a little
stranger are you smart that’s a little
stranger are you smart that’s a little more blunt than what I’m used to but the
more blunt than what I’m used to but the
more blunt than what I’m used to but the sentiment itself is common enough the
sentiment itself is common enough the
sentiment itself is common enough the implication is that anybody with even a
implication is that anybody with even a
implication is that anybody with even a small degree of intelligence would
small degree of intelligence would
small degree of intelligence would pursue a degree in engineering in
pursue a degree in engineering in
pursue a degree in engineering in medicine in the sciences because stem or
medicine in the sciences because stem or
medicine in the sciences because stem or science technology engineering and math
science technology engineering and math
science technology engineering and math is the backbone of our society today on
is the backbone of our society today on
is the backbone of our society today on the flip side of that implication is the
the flip side of that implication is the
the flip side of that implication is the insinuation that studying the humanities
insinuation that studying the humanities
insinuation that studying the humanities or the social sciences is outdated less
or the social sciences is outdated less
or the social sciences is outdated less important inferior or even a waste of
important inferior or even a waste of
important inferior or even a waste of our time we tap stem as the crowning
our time we tap stem as the crowning
our time we tap stem as the crowning achievement of our schools and in the
achievement of our schools and in the
achievement of our schools and in the process we sometimes overlook the
process we sometimes overlook the
process we sometimes overlook the classes that can be just as important
classes that can be just as important
classes that can be just as important like English literature philosophy art
like English literature philosophy art
like English literature philosophy art history and drama now it was my best
history and drama now it was my best
history and drama now it was my best friend’s birthday party after all and I
friend’s birthday party after all and I
friend’s birthday party after all and I didn’t want to make a scene so I just
didn’t want to make a scene so I just
didn’t want to make a scene so I just smiled and nodded along but I’ll tell
smiled and nodded along but I’ll tell
smiled and nodded along but I’ll tell you what I wish I had said in the honors
you what I wish I had said in the honors
you what I wish I had said in the honors program at my university there’s a
program at my university there’s a
program at my university there’s a required two semester sequence called
required two semester sequence called
required two semester sequence called the human event under its official
the human event under its official
the human event under its official description this course studies
description this course studies
description this course studies landmarks in the social
landmarks in the social
landmarks in the social intellectual development of the human
intellectual development of the human
intellectual development of the human race from the seminal works of Western
race from the seminal works of Western
race from the seminal works of Western antiquity like Plato’s Republic and the
antiquity like Plato’s Republic and the
antiquity like Plato’s Republic and the Iliad two philosophical texts by Marx
Iliad two philosophical texts by Marx
Iliad two philosophical texts by Marx and Confucius we see some of the
and Confucius we see some of the
and Confucius we see some of the greatest thinkers we’ve ever recognized
greatest thinkers we’ve ever recognized
greatest thinkers we’ve ever recognized struggle to put into words what it means
struggle to put into words what it means
struggle to put into words what it means to be human
to be human
to be human Karl Marx for example theorized that
Karl Marx for example theorized that
Karl Marx for example theorized that capitalism led to the alienation of man
capitalism led to the alienation of man
capitalism led to the alienation of man from man and from the species being or
from man and from the species being or
from man and from the species being or what we might today call our humanity
what we might today call our humanity
what we might today call our humanity now whether you agree with his economic
now whether you agree with his economic
now whether you agree with his economic theories and their implications or not
theories and their implications or not
theories and their implications or not when we read Marx’s works we enter into
when we read Marx’s works we enter into
when we read Marx’s works we enter into a dialogue with Marx and into a
a dialogue with Marx and into a
a dialogue with Marx and into a connection with ourselves what makes me
connection with ourselves what makes me
connection with ourselves what makes me human is it my ability to think or to
human is it my ability to think or to
human is it my ability to think or to create isn’t my ability to connect with
create isn’t my ability to connect with
create isn’t my ability to connect with other individuals and if I didn’t have
other individuals and if I didn’t have
other individuals and if I didn’t have those things would I lose my humanity
those things would I lose my humanity
those things would I lose my humanity now there clearly aren’t universal
now there clearly aren’t universal
now there clearly aren’t universal answers to those questions there are no
answers to those questions there are no
answers to those questions there are no data to collect and no experiments that
data to collect and no experiments that
data to collect and no experiments that we could reliably run but that doesn’t
we could reliably run but that doesn’t
we could reliably run but that doesn’t mean that our gut reactions are somehow
mean that our gut reactions are somehow
mean that our gut reactions are somehow insignificant are meaningless and it
insignificant are meaningless and it
insignificant are meaningless and it also doesn’t mean that one discipline
also doesn’t mean that one discipline
also doesn’t mean that one discipline alone can provide all the answers for
alone can provide all the answers for
alone can provide all the answers for example some of the greatest minds in
example some of the greatest minds in
example some of the greatest minds in science and mathematics have taken a
science and mathematics have taken a
science and mathematics have taken a stab at this question in trying to
stab at this question in trying to
stab at this question in trying to better understand our humanity Alan
better understand our humanity Alan
better understand our humanity Alan Turing turned to an unlikely source the
Turing turned to an unlikely source the
Turing turned to an unlikely source the computer according to the Turing test if
computer according to the Turing test if
computer according to the Turing test if a computer can fool a human evaluator
a computer can fool a human evaluator
a computer can fool a human evaluator into judging 30 percent of the time that
into judging 30 percent of the time that
into judging 30 percent of the time that it is a human then it has successfully
it is a human then it has successfully
it is a human then it has successfully passed the imitation game and can be
passed the imitation game and can be
passed the imitation game and can be considered a machine that can think in
considered a machine that can think in
considered a machine that can think in 2014 a computer software program called
2014 a computer software program called
2014 a computer software program called eugene goostman successfully passed the
eugene goostman successfully passed the
eugene goostman successfully passed the Turing test at a rate of 33% but in the
Turing test at a rate of 33% but in the
Turing test at a rate of 33% but in the last three years I don’t think that our
last three years I don’t think that our
last three years I don’t think that our society’s collective definition of human
society’s collective definition of human
society’s collective definition of human has broadened to the point where we now
has broadened to the point where we now
has broadened to the point where we now include specific AI programs so
include specific AI programs so
include specific AI programs so essentially we’re back at the drawing
essentially we’re back at the drawing
essentially we’re back at the drawing board wondering yet again what makes a
board wondering yet again what makes a
board wondering yet again what makes a human a human and I don’t have the
human a human and I don’t have the
human a human and I don’t have the answer to that question but it’s a good
answer to that question but it’s a good
answer to that question but it’s a good illustration of how stem fields and the
illustration of how stem fields and the
illustration of how stem fields and the liberal arts cannot be more important
liberal arts cannot be more important
liberal arts cannot be more important than the other but instead must truly go
than the other but instead must truly go
than the other but instead must truly go hand in hand
hand in hand
hand in hand philosophical questions for example can
philosophical questions for example can
philosophical questions for example can serve as a framework for technological
serve as a framework for technological
serve as a framework for technological advancement for example when we think of
advancement for example when we think of
advancement for example when we think of the murky ethical questions surrounding
the murky ethical questions surrounding
the murky ethical questions surrounding cloning or artificial intelligence our
cloning or artificial intelligence our
cloning or artificial intelligence our mind races with the many possibilities
mind races with the many possibilities
mind races with the many possibilities presented to us in science fiction films
presented to us in science fiction films
presented to us in science fiction films and literature but we tend to forget
and literature but we tend to forget
and literature but we tend to forget that just twenty years ago we cloned
that just twenty years ago we cloned
that just twenty years ago we cloned Dolly the sheep recently the news that
Dolly the sheep recently the news that
Dolly the sheep recently the news that Facebook had shut down an AI program
Facebook had shut down an AI program
Facebook had shut down an AI program that had developed its own language
that had developed its own language
that had developed its own language captured the attention of media and just
captured the attention of media and just
captured the attention of media and just a few months months ago we experienced a
a few months months ago we experienced a
a few months months ago we experienced a breakthrough with a gene editing
breakthrough with a gene editing
breakthrough with a gene editing technology CRISPR that now allows us to
technology CRISPR that now allows us to
technology CRISPR that now allows us to repair dangerous and disease-causing
repair dangerous and disease-causing
repair dangerous and disease-causing mutations prompting researching cries of
mutations prompting researching cries of
mutations prompting researching cries of designer babies and also reminders of
designer babies and also reminders of
designer babies and also reminders of the responsibilities that we have with
the responsibilities that we have with
the responsibilities that we have with this newfound ability to alter the
this newfound ability to alter the
this newfound ability to alter the course of evolution as Steve Jobs once
course of evolution as Steve Jobs once
course of evolution as Steve Jobs once said it’s an apples DNA that technology
said it’s an apples DNA that technology
said it’s an apples DNA that technology alone is not enough it is technology
alone is not enough it is technology
alone is not enough it is technology married with the liberal arts married
married with the liberal arts married
married with the liberal arts married with the humanities that yields the
with the humanities that yields the
with the humanities that yields the result that makes our hearts to sing and
result that makes our hearts to sing and
result that makes our hearts to sing and I think his words will ring true to most
I think his words will ring true to most
I think his words will ring true to most of us have any of you ever shed a tear
of us have any of you ever shed a tear
of us have any of you ever shed a tear or two watching a movie reading a book
or two watching a movie reading a book
or two watching a movie reading a book or listening to music I know I have in
or listening to music I know I have in
or listening to music I know I have in my first experience with musical theater
my first experience with musical theater
my first experience with musical theater watching The Phantom of the Opera and
watching The Phantom of the Opera and
watching The Phantom of the Opera and not because I have any kind of personal
not because I have any kind of personal
not because I have any kind of personal experience being tutored by a disfigured
experience being tutored by a disfigured
experience being tutored by a disfigured musical genius living in underground
musical genius living in underground
musical genius living in underground labyrinths but because I also understand
labyrinths but because I also understand
labyrinths but because I also understand how it feels to be obsessed over an
how it feels to be obsessed over an
how it feels to be obsessed over an impossible ideal the bhagavad-gita
impossible ideal the bhagavad-gita
impossible ideal the bhagavad-gita originally an oral composition documents
originally an oral composition documents
originally an oral composition documents Arjuna in his hesitation to fight and go
Arjuna in his hesitation to fight and go
Arjuna in his hesitation to fight and go to war with his family I’ve never met a
to war with his family I’ve never met a
to war with his family I’ve never met a cousin on the battlefield with a sword
cousin on the battlefield with a sword
cousin on the battlefield with a sword and you probably haven’t either but
and you probably haven’t either but
and you probably haven’t either but maybe you have experienced a moment of
maybe you have experienced a moment of
maybe you have experienced a moment of religious or spiritual doubt and
religious or spiritual doubt and
religious or spiritual doubt and Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the epitome of
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the epitome of
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the epitome of ambition and maybe you’ve also
ambition and maybe you’ve also
ambition and maybe you’ve also considered a less than ethical approach
considered a less than ethical approach
considered a less than ethical approach to reaching your dreams whether you took
to reaching your dreams whether you took
to reaching your dreams whether you took it or not although these characters
it or not although these characters
it or not although these characters circumstances vary wildly from our own
circumstances vary wildly from our own
circumstances vary wildly from our own their struggles reflect and amplify our
their struggles reflect and amplify our
their struggles reflect and amplify our own experiences allowing us to watch
own experiences allowing us to watch
own experiences allowing us to watch ourselves through the lens of an
ourselves through the lens of an
ourselves through the lens of an a 19th century French writer standing in
a 19th century French writer standing in
a 19th century French writer standing in front of this work of art once told us
front of this work of art once told us
front of this work of art once told us that he felt the celestial sensations
that he felt the celestial sensations
that he felt the celestial sensations encountering the impassioned sentiments
encountering the impassioned sentiments
encountering the impassioned sentiments that experience is now known as the
that experience is now known as the
that experience is now known as the Stendhal syndrome the fact that we even
Stendhal syndrome the fact that we even
Stendhal syndrome the fact that we even have a name
have a name
have a name for this collection of crazy symptoms
for this collection of crazy symptoms
for this collection of crazy symptoms which can range from lightheadedness to
which can range from lightheadedness to
which can range from lightheadedness to heart palpitations is proof enough of
heart palpitations is proof enough of
heart palpitations is proof enough of the universal nature of these
the universal nature of these
the universal nature of these experiences it’s our moment to reach
experiences it’s our moment to reach
experiences it’s our moment to reach across eras among belief systems and
across eras among belief systems and
across eras among belief systems and throughout world’s to eventually connect
throughout world’s to eventually connect
throughout world’s to eventually connect us to our own humanity thank you
us to our own humanity thank you
us to our own humanity thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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