For the Learned Conversations, hosted by the Honors society, a unique feature of Franklin's campus and academic life, students and some faculty and staff members come together to discuss openly and frankly a topic of mutual interest, moderated by the student-run Honors executive board. A small reception is to follow - everyone is invited to join!
This week's topic:
Do we still have room for mistakes? There is a widely held awareness that failure stimulates learning. However, the current climate fosters both a safe yet tepid middle ground, eschewing controversy, while privileging shiny outcomes without intermediary steps. Particularly generative AI, which functions using statistical probability based on all written communication of the past, exemplifies this by producing seemingly effortless polished responses. Similarly, threats of “cancelling” unaccepted viewpoints or language further such a cult of “perfection,” producing only widely accepted stances. All of this eradicates mistakes, but also quirks. Contrasting with this, a revival of emphasizing thought processes that do not shirk trial-and-error, might be desirable. Might it be that we need a renewed culture around failure?
Please join us Friday, January 30 at 17:00/5pm, in person or via zoom, to discuss whether or not we still have room to get it wrong.