Embedded Files
Useful Resources
Useful Resources
Class Readings:
Class Readings:
Textbook: Bennett, M. 2023. A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains
Textbook: Bennett, M. 2023. A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains
The course topics will generally follow the book - with additional information from other sources. Feel free to read the entire book once and then review relevant sections as the course progresses.
The course topics will generally follow the book - with additional information from other sources. Feel free to read the entire book once and then review relevant sections as the course progresses.
Enrichment reading: a few articles will be listed on the Course Readings subpage and posted on the References subpage
Enrichment reading: a few articles will be listed on the Course Readings subpage and posted on the References subpage
for each week.
for each week.
These readings are available for people who would like to go into more depth or explore side issues.
These readings are available for people who would like to go into more depth or explore side issues.
General information: see file(s) to download at bottom of page
General information: see file(s) to download at bottom of page
Topic and Reading Schedule: This may be updated as course progresses. 11-14-2025
Topic and Reading Schedule: This may be updated as course progresses. 11-14-2025
A Brief History of Intelligence - summary: summary of key features of each breakthrough, plus an evolution timeline
Additional Resources: There are many. Here are just a few.
Additional Resources: There are many. Here are just a few.
Suggested books: There are many! Here are a few.
Suggested books: There are many! Here are a few.
Harari, Y N. 2024. Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
Harari, Y N. 2024. Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
Hawkins, J with S Blakeslee. 2004. On Intelligence
Hawkins, J with S Blakeslee. 2004. On Intelligence
available as free pdf download at https://papers.harvie.cz/unsorted/Jeff%20Hawkins%20-%20On%20Intelligence.pdf
Le Doux, J. 2019. The Deep History of Ourselves: The Four-Billion-Year Story of How We Got Conscious Brains
Le Doux, J. 2019. The Deep History of Ourselves: The Four-Billion-Year Story of How We Got Conscious Brains
Li, Fei-Fei. 2024. The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI
available as free pdf download at https://dokumen.pub/qdownload/the-worlds-i-see-curiosity-exploration-and-discovery-at-the-dawn-of-ai-9781250897930-9781250897947.html
O’Shea, M. 2005. The Brain: A Very Short Introduction
O’Shea, M. 2005. The Brain: A Very Short Introduction
available as free pdf download at https://online.pubhtml5.com/ylgr/nqix/#p=1 (read on-line; “print” to download)
or https://dokumen.pub/the-brain-a-very-short-introduction.html
Web resources:
Web resources:
Science Alert: an excellent online science “newspaper” for the curious
Science Alert: an excellent online science “newspaper” for the curious
Sends one email daily with article links; many topics covered, including animal behavior and evolution
Sends one email daily with article links; many topics covered, including animal behavior and evolution
Video sites:
Video sites:
Curiosity Stream: https://curiositystream.com/ Amazing topic diversity in science, history, philosophy,
Curiosity Stream: https://curiositystream.com/ Amazing topic diversity in science, history, philosophy,
and more ($40/year)
and more ($40/year)
Closer to Truth: https://closertotruth.com/ PBS program: Explore the 4 pillars of existence -
cosmos, life, consciousness, meaning
Intelligent Universe_Topic and Reading Schedule_11-14-2025.pdfA Brief History of Intelligence_summary.pdfGoogle Sites
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