Will robots ever be living creatures? Are humans nothing more than
delicately programmed machines? These have been the leading
questions in a number of 5-day
classroom seminars on Robotics and Philosophy carried out in Aachen,
Germany. In these seminars, students ages 12 to 17 program
real-life robots to perform life-like actions, and then develop strong
definitions to distinguish between living beings and non-living objects.
The students dialogue with participating teachers and professors from a
local university about such issues as free will, the precepts of
Newtonian physics, split-brain patients, Turings test, and
sociobiology.
In this colloquium Dr.
Heim will outline the programming tasks and philosophical issues taken
up in these Robotics and Philosophy seminars. He will discuss some
observations made of the students' intellectual interests and
capacities, as well as some practical problems encountered during the
seminars. The presentation will conclude with an exchange of ideas
with the audience.
"Ever since I was a child, I have been
intrigued by what I would today call the great philosophical questions
of personality, justice and the human condition in the universe. It is
my dedication to foster and keep
alive these questions in
young people today."
A full-time teacher of
mathematics and computer science, Dr. Gunter Heim has a masters degree in mine
engineering and a doctorate in computer engineering sciences.
He has worked in one of the worlds largest lignite mines, near Cologne,
and as a science manager for
Aachen University's Faculty of Philosophy.
Heim teaches robotic courses for future teachers at the Theological
Institute at Aachen University, and is a swim coach.
The Philosophy for Children Colloquium Series
includes invited presentations from notable academics on issues related to education, philosophy and
Philosophy for Children. The Series also provides graduate students
and faculty an opportunity to present work-in-progress.
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Professional Development Credit provided free
of charge to area school teachers.
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Parking is free on Valley Road and Upper Mountain Avenue, which
intersect Normal Avenue. Paid parking is available at the “Red Hawk
Deck” or in metered parking spaces indicated on our
campus map.
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If interested in nominating someone to present as part of this Series, please contact Maughn
Gregory (973-655-7049;
gregorym@montclair.edu)
