Undergraduate Course: Philosophy of Technology (PHIL10231)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course covers major philosophical questions about the nature and ethical implications of technology. |
| Course description |
This course covers a range of questions in philosophy of technology. Questions that may be covered in a given semester include: Can computers have beliefs or desires or be conscious? How does the social world shape technology and how does technology shape the social world? What is algorithmic bias, and why does it matter? Is it morally acceptable to use autonomous lethal weapons in warfare? Should judges be replaced by AI? Can humans form relationships with robots?
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisite. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their PT and the course organizer before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 32,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
164 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Midterm essay 40%
Final essay 60%
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain key questions and positions in the philosophy of technology.
- Understand how theories and arguments in philosophy of technology relate to particular technologies and socio-technical systems.
- Understand how the philosophy of technology relates to other areas of philosophy.
- Develop and articulate their own views about the philosophy of technology.
- Demonstrate philosophical skills, including ability to understand philosophical texts, write clearly, and think critically.
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Reading List
A representative list of readings is:
Alan Turing - Computing machinery and intelligence.
John Searle - Minds, brains, and programs.
Ruha Benjamin - Discriminatory design.
Langdon Winner - Do artifacts have politics?
Safiya Noble - Algorithms of oppression.
Batya Friedman and Helen Nissenbaum - Bias in computer systems.
Rober Sparrow - Killer robots.
Helen Nissenbaum - Accountability in a computerized society.
Aziz Huq - A right to a human decision.
Kate Vredenburgh - The right to explanation.
Sherry Turkle - Authenticity in the age of digital companions.
Kate Devlin - The ethics of the artificial lover. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
In this course, students will learn the following skills in the following ways. Through seminars, tutorials and readings, they will learn how to critically read and analyse difficult texts; how to look for the wider context; how to evaluate arguments for and against viewpoints; how to articulate cogent arguments; how to allow themselves to be challenged by views they may disagree with. Through the assessments, students will learn how to write clear and structured arguments; how to show an understanding of the materials; how to do research; how to manage time and workload.
Core skills gained or developed on this course:
Challenging own perspectives and assumptions; Critical Thinking; Critical analysis and evaluation; Formulating original arguments and justifying them; Oral communication; Preparation, planning and organisation; Problem solving; Academic reading skills; Research skills; Resilience; Self-reflection; Time management; Understanding broader perspectives; Workload management; Written communication; Writing clearly and concisely. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Milo Phillips-Brown
Tel:
Email: milopb@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Joan MacKenzie
Tel:
Email: jmacken8@ed.ac.uk |
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