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Technology, Religion and Ethics 3/4 (U03407)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : DIV-3-DIV-3-TRE

The investigation of technology as religion and of the religious origins of technological innovation. Learners will explore the ways in which technology reorders the character of human life and the biosphere, and they will examine the attempts of ethicians and religious communities variously to resist or set limits to this reshaping. The course will involve the study of classical and contemporary narratives of technology, and the use of case studies of particular technological developments such as genetic engineering, electronic communication, and intensive farming. Case studies of traditional religious communities ? such as the Amish and some indigenous peoples ? who have resisted the technological reshaping of life on spiritual grounds will also be deployed.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Theology and Ethics, (School of Divinity, Schedule B)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	14:00	17:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

- Recognise and critique the principal narrative devices by which technologies are advocated and embraced in modern consumer oriented societies
- Identify and discuss narratives of resistance to technology deployed by religious groups, new social movements, and philosophical, literary and cultural critics of technology
- Illustrate the deployment of such narratives by groups which are either early or late adopters of new technologies, and of groups who consistently refuse to utilise certain technological devices.
- Explore the ethical implications of new technologies for the character of human life and human dwelling and for the human spiritual journey
- Analyse and critique the particular impact of novel technologies - such as genetic engineering - on the biological as well as psychological constitution of human and other than human existence.