Professor: Jeff Johannes
Section 19 M
3:30-4:20p Sturges 112
Assistant: Julie M. Walinski
Office: South
326A
Telephone: 245-5403
Office Hours: Monday 12:30 - 1:30p, Wednesday 8
- 9p, Thursday 11:30a - 12:35p, Thursday 8 - 9p, Friday 10:30 -
11:20a, by appointment and visit.
(and our exclusive times)
Email Address: Johannes@Geneseo.edu
Web-page:
http://www.geneseo.edu/~johannes
Books
White Light [WL], Rudy Rucker
Primer of Higher Space [P], Claude
Bragdon
The Fourth Dimension [4], Rudy Rucker
Purposes
In this course I would
like us to learn a bit about the following:
- Infinity
- The 4th Dimension
- Geneseo
- Each other
Furthermore, I hope to do that in the most comfortable and relaxed
environment
possible.
Overview
In this course we will explore concepts
of infinity and the fourth dimension as presented by two authors with
Geneseo
connections. Rudy Rucker was a mathematics professor at Geneseo
in
the 1970s. As a parting gesture he wrote the science fiction (or
more
appropriately mathematical fiction) novel White Light about his
out-of-body
experiences at Temple Hill Cemetery and visits to new worlds of
infinity.
We will begin the course by reading this novel and taking walking tours
of
the sites and settings. Claude Bragdon was a Rochester architect
at
the turn of the twentieth century. Aside from designing the
Rochester
Chamber of Commerce building and the former train station, he designed
the
courthouse in Geneseo and the College President’s house at 15 Main
St.
Bragdon was also a publisher and author. He wrote frequently on
many
mystical topics, including the fourth dimension. We will visit
some
of Bragdon’s buildings (in Geneseo and perhaps Rochester) and read his
book
A Primer of Higher Space. We will conclude the
semester
by reading and discussing Rucker’s The Fourth Dimension: A
Guided
Tour of the Higher Universes. Along the way we will explore
the
mathematical and metaphysical concepts underlying infinity and the
fourth
dimension.
Aside from all that, we will begin each class by
discussing
any thoughts and reactions to your first-year experiences at Geneseo.
Reading
Nothing we read in this class will be a
traditional mathematics book. The course will be much more
designed
around reading and discussion. There should be all sorts of
reactions
from the reading . . topics to discuss, reactions to stories, questions
about
the mathematical content, ideas of places to visit, etc. Each day
you
are required to bring reading reactions to class. These reading
reactions must include reactions to at least five topics in the
reading.
They must be written in intelligible English. Each one will
be evaluated out of 5 points, with points deducted for fewer than five
points being addressed.
Participation
Since most of the class is discussion, deriving
the same benefits by merely examining someone's class notes or reading
the
textbook would be impossible. If you are present for a discussion
you will receive one participation point that day. If you also
participate
to the class as a whole (answer a question, present a solution, ask an
insightful question or offer important relevant commentary) you will
receive
two participation points for that day. Present each day and never
speaking in class will earn 80%. Speaking every other day will
earn
95%. Scores between will be scaled linearly.
Grading
Your grade in this course will be strictly
the average between your reading reaction score and your participation
score.
Note: 101 courses are very special. You
may
drop at any time with no consequence. So, if nothing else, please
stick
around and come visit us.
Feedback
Occasionally you will be given
anonymous feedback forms. Please use them to share any thoughts
or concerns for how the course is running. Remember, the sooner
you tell me your concerns, the more I can do about them. I have
also created a web-site
which accepts anonymous comments.
If we have not yet discussed this in class, please encourage me to
create a class code. This site may also be accessed via our course
page on a link entitled anonymous
feedback. Of
course, you are always welcome to approach me outside of class to
discuss these issues as well.
Religious Holidays
It is my policy to give students who miss class
because of observance of religious holidays the opportunity to make up
missed work. You are responsible for notifying me no later than
September 13 of plans to observe the holiday.
Schedule
August 30
Introductions
September 13 [WL] Part One
September 20 [WL] Part Two
September 27
Tour of president's house (and visit to courthouse if time allows)
October 4
[WL] Part Three
October 18
[WL] Part Four
October 25
Walking
tour of Geneseo sights relevant to class
November 1 [P]
The Fourth Dimension
November 8 [P]
Plates
November 15 [P] Man
the Square
November 22 [4]
Forward, Preface and §1
November 29 [4] class
choice
December 6
[4] class choice
December 13 [4] class
choice
December 17 3:30 - 6:30p Meeting time for any final discussions,
gatherings
&c.