Course Overview

This course explores the problem of consciousness: How do "animate beings come out of inanimate matter?" Amid rapid developments in artificial intelligence, understanding how consciousness emerges from electromagnetic phenomena becomes increasingly important. 

We take an interdisciplinary approach, finding analogous "strange loops" in the mathematical theorem of Gödel, the art of M.C. Escher, and the music of J.S. Bach. While those three themes permeate the course, we'll also study DNA, ant colonies, Zen Buddhism, the geometry of surfaces, syntactic structures, and more.

Request Information
View of London Eye and aquarium from across the water

Key Facts

Credits: 6
Dates: July 12, 2026 - August 1, 2026
Locations: Appleton, µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô, London
Areas of Study: Mathematics, Philosophy, Computer Science

Application Fee: $300

Tentative Schedule

Week 1

Location: Appleton Campus

Overview: Introduction to strange loops through Gödel, Escher, and Bach; musical recordings in Memorial Chapel and Harper Hall; analysis in Music Production Studio; exploration of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ's rare book collection and medieval manuscript fragments.

Week 2

Location: µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô

Overview: Lake tide analysis using Fourier series; Zen Buddhism and strange loops in nature; contemplative engagement with natural phenomena.

Week 3

Location: London

Overview: Visits to museums and libraries, geometry of black holes and spacetime, and final project work.

Get to Know Your Professors

Headshot of Alexander Heaton in front of a chalkboard

Alex Heaton

Alexander Heaton, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ. He has conducted postdoctoral research at world-renowned institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Natural Sciences, the Technische Universität Berlin, and the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. 

person wearing a white shirt and blue button up shirt standing outdoors for photo

Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ. Until August 2021, he was an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Ashoka University. From October 2018 to June 2020, he was a Kit Fine Fellow in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Hamburg.

person wearing a pink and blue top, glasses and smiling for a photo outdoors

Acacia Ackles

Acacia Ackles is an assistant professor of Computer Science with a background in Computational & Theoretical Biology. Her research focuses on using developing new computational ways to think about and measure evolutionary processes. Her teaching is focused on developing independent thinkers, learners, and problem solvers for the modern digital world.