Course Description

Technology is, by now, a ubiquitous part of everyday life in our society. The development of new technologies is happening so quickly that there is rarely time to think through, and prepare for, the unexplored moral issues they raise. In this class, we will analyze emerging technologies in our society from the point of view of philosophical ethical theory. Specifically, we will explore questions that include the following: What is technology?; How can we collect and use data while still respecting a right to privacy?; Is advertising exploitative?; Is there any way to make useful algorithms that avoid bias and discrimination?; Is artificial intelligence possible or desirable?; To what extent is gene editing permissible?; Can robots make good friends or romantic partners?