Hello, this is an essay for the transfer application to Colorado College. The prompt is to design your own course that you would imagine taking at the college. Any and all criticism or comment are more than welcome! Thank you for reading.
Prompt: The Block Plan at Colorado College has a tradition of innovation and flexibility. Please design your own three-and-a-half week intellectual adventure and describe what you would do.
The terminal introduction: Cosmos...meet Humanity; a study on humanization of space, and its ontological impacts.
Look up at the stars - a glimmer catches the eye - it is a star, no...it is mars! Actually, it is neither of those. That object suspended in the night sky originates from earth: it is a satellite, one of the thousands occupying space, near earth orbit, to be exact, leaving permanent footprints of civilization. For the past fifty years or so, humanity has indulged its lustful curiosity by taking to the stars. Well, more like pieces of metal, plastic, and computer chips representing humanity. However, as our presence in the vast unknown expands, what type of consequences will arise from human proliferation?
Such issues as:
Objectification - Can countries claim territory or entities in space?
Classism in space - as the utility for space increases, how will is change class structure?
Space-ization - who will represent Earth in the cosmos?
Capitalism - with private space industry strength growing, how will it affect major economic interests and powers?
Militarization - Warfare is now increasingly conducted above the horizon, what types of precautions and deterrence will come into play?
The idea of space has always been present in humanity, it is associated with god, the heavens, afterlife, myths, pop culture, and the list goes on. Considerable credit can be given to the black abyss for shaping human though, and the identity of today. No matter where in the world, gazing at the sky has been a universal image - which formed a universal truth.
Although, what will happen when the human race awakens to different images?
Say, the atmosphere of Mars. What was once universal, will only be one among the vastness eternity, and our shared identity will be shattered. How will humanity reconstruct conceptions of self in the universe, come to terms with our new state of being, and what adapted morality will emerge?
"The Terminal Introduction," is a course designed to answer these key questions. Questions needing answering soon, for greater repercussions then ever fathomed, may lie around the corner. In this class, we will ascertain impacts and solutions to both the pragmatic and existential problems the final frontier possess in our near future. Conduced from a holistic approach, participants will explore everything from physiological effects of space, to Nietzsche, and Chinese space policy, to identity politics - all playing a role in the last introduction - civilization at the universe's doorstep.
This class is not only an item for the resume; it is a think tank for the future of humankind.
Field work:
This class will work in conjunction with the Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs. The foundations Pioneering initiative will allow the students real-world access to theorists, scientists, and public figures who are preparing for the future of a space oriented society. Because of the Block Plans flexibility several classes will be conducted from the Discovery Center as we work hand and hand with professionals creating a foundation for healthy national civil space enterprise.
In addition, the class will attend the 30th Space Symposium, an international event pulling global space leaders into one spot, Colorado Springs. This is a fantastic opportunity for the class to fully immerse in discussions of the community. The annual event hails influential frontrunners of many topics covered in class such as governmental agencies, private sector associates, and even NASA representatives. There will be countless opportunities for the curious minds of the class to delve deep into specific subtopics of interest - a full report will be due following the event.
The afternoons of class will be spent in lab, researching in space life simulations. Unfortunately, this has to remain within the bounds of reason; there will not be any anti-gravity rides. Instead, it is a live action approach to the theories studies in class, consisting of debates and societal situations as students assume the roles of leaders to better understand the means to achieving and sustaining a space driven world.
Recommended reading:
PIONEERING: Sustaining U.S. Leadership in Space - G. Ryan Faith
Cosmic Society: Towards a Sociology of the Universe - James Ormod
Crossroads in space: Humanization: Man or machine? - Eric J. Lerner
