Center for the Humanities | Univ. of Wisconsin - MadisonCenter for the Humanities | Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison
The What is Human? Friday Lunch Lecture program offers informal opportunities to learn about the work of members of the UW-Madison faculty bridging traditional science/humanities boundaries. A buffet lunch is provided at no charge.
Due to restrictions built into the funding source for this program, the What is Human? Friday Lunch series is open only to members of the UW-Madison faculty, graduate students, and academic staff, including library staff. Additionally, visiting scholars, fellows, or guests with academic or staff affiliations at other universities are also welcome to attend. All other members of the University community who are interested in being invited to a particular Friday lunch are welcome, and should contact the Center for the Humanities to let us know so that we can include your name on the invited list.
Attendance is by reservation only, and space is limited. To reserve space at one of the following programs, please send an email including your UW-Madison affiliation and daytime phone number to info@humanities.wisc.edu. The reservation deadline for each program is NOON on the Tuesday prior to the event.
The language of academia is known to be impersonal. However, our conception of the scientist/researcher has changed from someone who "discovers the truth" to someone who actively engages in a process of "shaping knowledge." I will discuss the linguistic implications of this shift, with an emphasis on the use of the passive and other seemingly agentless constructions.
The introduction of human stem cells into developing animals is an impoortant research tool, but has stirred up considerable public controversy. This talk explores the ethical issues raised by creating individuals that are part animal and part human.
How is the human/animal distinction policed? We will address this question from two different disciplinary perspectives: Literature and Life Sciences. Sainath Suryanarayanan will consider some of the assumptions underlying the use of animals in scientific experimentation and its sociological implications. Mario Ortiz-Robles will consider theliterary uses of animal imagery as a means of defining, affirming, and challenging the distinction between human and non-human animals.
Children in their everyday life make decisions about what is animate and what is not as well as who is human and who is not. At different stages of development these decisions are modified. Studies of children can inform the examination of what constitutes our own conception of who and what is human and who and what is not.
