Our Tech, AI and Society Dialogues 

Anthropos Technicus 
(ἄνθρωπος τεχνικός) 

Event Details

Date: Thursday, February 20th 2025
Hours: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: McGill Downtown Campus, Leacock Building, room 110. Please refer to maps here.

This event is open to the public. Please scroll down to secure your seat.

Series Description 

This series will delve into the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies that call into question conventional distinctions between human beings and machines. By exploring thought-provoking books and films, we aim to foster engaging discussions and critical thought about the impact of technology on our lives. Each session will focus on a specific work, using it as a springboard to discuss contemporary issues and concerns. 

Session 1: Frankenstein - The Modern Prometheus 

Overview: Mary Shelley's groundbreaking novel Frankenstein (1818, 1831) serves as a timeless parable for the ethical dilemmas surrounding unchecked scientific ambition and technological advancement. Join us as we explore the novel's themes of creation, responsibility, and the consequences of “playing God.” We'll discuss the novel's relevance to contemporary issues such as AI, cloning, and the ethics of emerging technologies. 

Discussion Points: 

• The nature of humanity and the ethics of creating artificial life.    

• The potential dangers of unchecked technological progress.    

• The novel's influence on science fiction and popular culture.    

• The relevance of Frankenstein to contemporary debates about AI and other emerging technologies.    

Recommended Reading: 

• Frankenstein, 1818 edition, by Mary Shelley    
  Online version from Project Gutenberg, or get a paper copy from your favorite store.  

Additional Materials: 

• A short slide presentation will be used to initiate discussion.    

• A private recording of the session may be taken for note-taking purposes only. The recording will not be posted publicly.    

This session is open to all, and no prior knowledge of the novel is required!

Our Dialectician: Dr. Sue Laver  

Inaugural director of the McGill Writing Centre and former SCS Associate Dean, Academic and Faculty Affairs, Sue is a Frankenstein devotee. Her interest in Frankenstein began when she first watched her now longstanding favourite film Blade Runner upon its release in 1982. A lecturer for many years in McGill’s Department of English, Sue has guided hundreds of students through Frankenstein’s philosophical complexities and its afterlife in popular culture, with emphasis on the metaphysical and ethical status of the Monster and its technological descendants. 

This event is a collaboration between the McGill School of Continuing Studies,  the McGill Computational and Data Systems Initiative and the McGill Collaborative for AI & Society.