This course aims to bridge the divide between those who live happily in the digital world and those who dread technological advances. We will explore the following questions: What are the advantages and disadvantages of engaging in our 21st-century digitally connected environment? What evidence is there that our youth, and our culture more generally, are suffering from addiction to the gratifications offered by smartphones and social media? How do these forms of communication impact the development and ongoing cultivation of our capacity for reflection and critical thinking? Are we yet in a position to judge the impact of the technological world on our mental health? The course will focus on Stephen Kurczy’s The Quiet Zone: Unravelling the Mystery of a Town Suspended in Silence as well as supplementary readings.

Books to Purchase (will be available at Argo Bookshop during the weeks prior to the course beginning):

• • The Quiet Zone: Unravelling the Mystery of a Town Suspended in Silence, Stephen Kurczy

Please note that this course has a maximum enrollment of 14 students.

NEW PAYMENT POLICY: Participants must pay the course fees in order to be considered registered for the course. 

For fully registered courses, a waiting list will be created. Should vacancies develop, those on the waiting list will be contacted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note that we do not allow participants to audit courses for free.

Location: Zoom

First Session: Thursday 19 January 2023

Course Length: 6 weeks, Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Discussion Team: Peter Jankowski, Len Richman

Degree Credit: 0 credits

Course Fee: 

$120.00 (standard tuition)

$80.00 (promotion for new students)

Administrative Fee:

$25.00

Total:

$145.00 (standard tuition)

$105.00 (promotion for new students)

NEW REFUND POLICY FOR 6-WEEK COURSES: Course fees are refundable in full before the first session. After the first session, a fee of $50 for the withdrawal will be applied. Refunds will not be issued after the second session. Please note that non-attendance does not constitute a withdrawal.

Students pursuing studies for credit are encouraged to consult with their advisers as they register for courses.

Course leaders, and students wishing to use credit vouchers, should call (514) 935-9585 to pay by phone or to schedule an appointment to pay in person.