• Deadline December 26, 2025
  • Format Online
  • Tuition $565
  • Next Start Date January 7, 2026

Course Description

Since the public release of ChatGPT in 2022, the boundary between “human” and “machine” thinking has been thrown into turmoil. Headlines speculate about AI replacing workers, remaking education, even threatening democracy, while ordinary people test the limits of these systems in everyday life. But do such programs actually “think,” or are they only vast mirrors reflecting our own language back to us? What counts as intelligence—problem-solving? creativity? consciousness?—and who gets to decide? This course invites students to explore these issues by reading classic texts on minds and machines—ranging from Searle’s Chinese Room and Nagel’s bats to Asimov’s and Ishiguro’s literary visions of artificial beings, as well (perhaps) as older classics on thinking. We will ask not only what artificial intelligence is, but what human intelligence has been all along.*

*This description is revised from text generated by ChatGPT with light prompting.

This course is part of the Classic Texts, Contemporary Worlds initiative, which fosters timely conversations about timeless works and is made possible by generous philanthropic support.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Required Texts

Required texts:

Asimov, Isaac. I, Robot. Del Rey, 2008 (Reprint). ISBN: 978-0553382563

Dick, Philip K. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Random House Worlds, ISBN: 978-0345404473

Dreyfus, Hubert. What Computers Still Can’t Do: A Critique of Artificial Reason. MIT, 1992. ISBN: 978-0262540674

Forster, The Machine Stops and Other Stories. Moncreiffe Press, 2024. ISBN: 979-8340427502

Ishiguro, Kasuo. Klara and the Sun. Vintage, 2022. ISBN: 978-0593311295

Polanyi, Michael and Amartya Sen. The Tacit Dimension. University of Chicago, 2009. ISBN: 978-0226672984

Available Course Sections

Date & Time
Details
Format

Once you start, there is a thirst within you for more. The desire for new knowledge and understanding never ends.

Rosemarie Mitchell MLA’12

Here I was introduced to perspectives from the humanities and social sciences that challenged me to approach things from different angles and become more tolerant to differences. Enrolling in Graham is the best decision I ever made.

Alvaro Iriarte MLA‘23

What I love most about teaching at the Graham School is that it is like eating at the chef's table: there are no barriers between students and instructors. We are all peers, indeed, friends learning alongside each other.

Jennifer Lind MLA’22, Graham School instructor
M

Exploring great books and new ideas with like-minded students and engaging instructors is a great gift.

Martin J. Friedman CER'20
G

In our increasingly siloed, stridently opinionated world, Graham’s commitment to encouraging civil discourse and attracting students of distinct and varied backgrounds and viewpoints has made the classes I’ve taken revelatory.

Gary Shapiro CER ‘19
T

The Graham School has been a wonderful addition to my life. It is a great privilege to read and spend time with my fellow students. The Graham School faculty are all varied and excellent in different ways. What they share in common is their great breadth of knowledge and their generosity as teachers.

Trish Gerber CER’12 (Basic Program)

Frequently Asked Questions

Review common questions about our courses. You can also contact us for more information.

Do we take assessments in these courses?

Graham School non-credit courses are not graded and therefore have no tests. They focus on nourishing a love of learning, allowing you to immerse yourself in topics and discussions you find interesting.

How can I best prepare for class?

Complete any assigned reading and come prepared to participate actively in classroom discussion. While not required, we offer an optional course to prepare students to engage with challenging works: How to Read Classic Texts. While this is presented as an introductory course for the Basic Program, students in other programs or open enrollment courses are also welcome to participate and grow their skills.

Do I have to complete an application?

Applications are not required for our open enrollment courses.

Who is best suited to take a course at the Graham School?

Anyone who is interested in immersing themselves in these topics and engaging in deep discovery with others is welcome to take part in this course.

UChicago has a reputation for academic rigor. Will I be able to meaningfully participate in the classroom discussions? 

Yes. Our non-credit courses are built for adults who have life experience and want to learn. Our instructors create an inclusive learning environment by encouraging all students to participate, regardless of their academic background.

What happens if I have to miss a class?

Our online classes are recorded and shared with the registered students through the Canvas site for the course. For in-person courses, you can ask a fellow student to take notes for you if you have to miss a session.

What is your withdrawal/cancellation policy?

You can find our withdrawal and cancellation policy with other registration issues here. Most drop or transfer requests can be made through your student account.

Will this course be offered online or in person?

The Graham School offers both online and in-person class experiences. The description for each course section specifies whether it will be offered online through Canvas or in person at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago.

What happens if I miss a class?

While our courses are driven by live discussions, we do record the online sessions. If you miss a class, you can watch the recording to catch up. Please note that students may only access recordings for the sections in which they are registered. In-person classes are not recorded. 

I can no longer participate in a course I registered for. Can I get a refund?

If you need to drop a course, please email us at graham@learningplatform.support to process your request. When reaching out, please include your full name, the course name and the section. If you made a donation during your course purchase, please confirm if you would like the donation refunded as well. 

Courses dropped before the first day of class are eligible for a full refund. Courses dropped after the first class are subject to a 10% cancellation fee. No refund will be issued for courses dropped after the first week of classes. 

How do I access my course after registration?

Your course will be available on the Graham Learning Platform three weeks before the start date. You’ll log in using the same credentials you used during registration. If you need help accessing your course, check out our helpful video tutorial. 

I have a question about the course registration process, who should I reach out to?

If you have a question about how to register for a course, watch the helpful videos on our registration tips page. You can also email our support team at graham@learningplatform.support. You will receive a response within 24 hours. 

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