This course is taught by Prof. Francis Heylighen for MA students in philosophy, ethics and media, but can be freely attended by others.
This course covers different views on what technology is, and how it may or may not benefit people, illustrated by examples and applications from, among other domains, computer science, biotechnology, social media, and artificial intelligence. Special focus is on contemporary controversies, including robotics, genetic engineering, singularity, transhumanism, cyborgs, the global brain, and privacy. The role of technology in the evolution of society is analyzed. Technology can be supportive and need-satisfying, or autonomous and parasitic, but generally leads to an acceleration and complexification of social structures. This can as well solve fundamental problems as unexpectedly create new ones. To better understand this dynamic, relevant concepts are introduced, such as ephemeralization, cyborgization, virtuality, human-machine symbiosis, cascading failures and exaptation. Practical and ethical guidelines are formulated to anticipate and deal with the impact of new technologies on society.
After the lectures by the teacher, the students are supposed to present their own work to the class. They are expected to choose a topic that is in line with one of the subjects discussed, collect material and ideas about it, and present a summary during the lessons, after which their contribution is discussed by the whole group. These presentations are prepared by groups of 2-4 students collaboratively.
Extensive lecture notes (121 p.) with illustrations and bibliography can be freely downloaded by anyone interested:
Heylighen F. (2021): Technology & Society: social, philosophical and ethical implications for the 21st century
Preface.
What is technology? 6
Philosophical attitudes towards technology. 14
The evolution of technology. 17
Dangers and negative side effects of technology. 40
Human-technology co-evolution. 67
Towards an ethics of technology. 77
Recent issues in the philosophy of technology. 94
References. 112
Further reading. 119