Mike Pepi leads a symposium-style group through four sessions bringing together canonical texts with the most recent discourse on the criticism of Silicon Valley ideology in today’s political conversation.

While all are welcome, this is designed as an introductory program. That said, we envision lively and pathbreaking conversations to spring from discussing and challenging our base assumptions.

The format is something in between a traditional "course" and a reading group: the goal is to provide space for guided discussions of seminal texts that will broaden our understanding of contemporary developments in Silicon Valley.

Students will be responsible for acquiring course materials (approx. 9 books + various articles). Expect to read the core parts of 2-3 books per meeting, keeping the reading lift challenging, but manageable.

DATES: Monday, 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17 TIME: 6:30 - 8:30pm EST

Session 1: Origins Introduction to Philosophy of Technology, Tools, and the Human Condition Session 2: The (Non)Neutrality of Artifacts? Session 3: Understanding Digital Utopianism and its roots Session 4: Platform Capitalism Today: Critique and Consequence