ASIA3039 Thinking About Thought: Ethical Research using AI in the Humanities (Asia and the Pacific) provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in wide ranging independent research on a topic of their choice, closely supported by course convener and student peers. Participants in this class adopt a systematic approach to the use of artificial intelligence tools that privileges the process of learning about the tool/s.
“The influential idea” in political and intellectual history is the vehicle that carries student learning through this course from interest through complexity to comprehension.
Students pursue “the concept” by studying the many influences on an idea at a point in time and the later fragmentations of that idea. This intellectual and political history research pays attention to time and place, literature and culture, and laws and social norms. The concept precipitates when the researcher is reconciled to the inherent instability of a constant idea.
Independent research in this course may involve searching, reading, writing, drawing, summarising, talking with peers, connecting, synthesising, and confronting contradiction. Later in the course, students refine their chosen concept, iteratively adjust the scope of the paper, select from and address the questions that arise, and hone their style of written and oral presentation. The course focuses on research in the Humanities and Social Sciences, and the geographical scope of research projects will include Asia and/or the Pacific.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Recognise unstated assumptions, axioms, and abstract-able ideas in academic writing and/or popular discourse.
- Situate an idea in time and space by identifying influences on its development and its influence on later ideas, and by connecting and distinguishing ideas across cultural zones.
- Convey a compelling narrative of the accretion, transformation, and appropriation of an idea through written and spoken critical exegesis.
- Approach unfamiliar topics of study with confidence and humility.
- Provide an effective sounding board for peers' self reflection and research scoping, as well as critical developmental feedback on peers' work.
- Understand and apply ethical standards of conduct in searching for, surveying, evaluating, and writing or talking about intellectual material (data, facts, ideas).
Indicative Assessment
- Critical exegesis 1 (Excavation Report), written; supported by oral Q&A. (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Critical exegesis 2 (Extrapolation Report), written; supported by oral Q&A. (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Final report, written (30) [LO 2,3,4,6]
- Final report, oral (30) [LO 2,3,4,6]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
This course requires a total of 130 hours of work on the following activities: 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks and 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Students are provided with electronic copies of short readings that are to be completed before the first week of class. These readings facilitate discussion in the first week of class and also guide students' own choices of inspirational reading for the second and subsequent weeks of class.
Preliminary Reading
ANU. 2021. 'Key Ethical Concerns: Human Research Ethics Committee', Accessed December 13. https://services.anu.edu.au/research-support/ethics-integrity/key-ethical-concerns.
Aristotle. Ethics.
Aristotle. Politics.
Braudel, Fernand. 2009 [1958]. 'History and the Social Sciences: the Longue Duree', Review, XXXII 171-203.
Gladman, Renee. 2010. Event Factory. St. Louis, MO: Dorothy, a Publishing Project
Gladman, Renee. 2017. Houses of Ravicka. St. Louis, MO: Dorothy, a Publishing Project
Plotinus. Plotinus: The Enneads. Translated by Lloyd P. Gerson, George Boys-Stones, John M. Dillon, R. A. H. King, Andrew Smith and James Wilberding. Edited by Lloyd P. Gerson. Cambridge University Press, 2017. doi:10.1017/9780511736490.
Langer, Susanne Katherina Knauth. Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite and Art. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 6th Printing, 1964 [1948].
Le Guin, Ursula. 1973. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (https://www.worldcat.org/title/ones-who-walk-away-from-omelas/oclc/25282554/editions?referer=di&editionsView=true).
Mullaney, Thomas S., and Christopher G. Rea. 2022. Where Research Begins: Choosing a Research Project That Matters to You (and the World). Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing. Chicago, Illinois. The University of Chicago Press. https://anu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61ANU_INST/auraal/alma991026996442507631
Zhu Xi, The Great Learning. trans. Robert Eno 2016.
Zhu Xi, The Doctrine of the Mean. trans. Robert Eno 2016.
Podcasts
History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NkIduNOSgSELCYIa4RaNq?si=2b15b79afbfc41e8
Human Conditions: https://open.spotify.com/show/4kEfigUqYLnZG9dilYBkTO?si=bb437968e6cb4234
In Our Time: https://open.spotify.com/show/17YfG23eMbfLBaDPqucgzZ?si=57b22dd994dd49b2
Literature and History: https://open.spotify.com/show/2URS1nmmvvbXY7v7oDx23E?si=f3c42e8b32ce4e86
New Books Network: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kUvNATM60aj7SpfTn4vrJ?si=d3d
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $4620 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4945 | 22 Feb 2027 | 01 Mar 2027 | 31 Mar 2027 | 28 May 2027 | In Person | N/A |