22910283 - Philosophy and ethics of technology

Philosophy and ethics of technology

Educational objectives:
The course aims at giving the students awareness, understanding, and autonomy of judgment in regard to the ethical implications of the introduction of the new technologies in the field of media education and e-learning. In this light, we will discuss questions such as the pervasiveness of algorithmically-based decision-making, the right to privacy, the morally controversial advancements of Artificial Intelligence, and the risks that the infosphere poses to individual autonomy.

Expected learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding: the students will be able to understand the ethical dimensions and problems generated by the development of artificial intelligence.

Applying knowledge and understanding: the students will be able to figure out their way in the complex world of A.I, by identifying its most problematic features.

Making judgements: The students will acquire critical abilities in regard to the world of AI and will be able to understand both its potentialities and risks from the ethical point of view.

Communication skills: the students will be able to deal with and elucidate the information connected with the ethical problems of AI, in its various forms.

Learning skills: the students will be able to use the analytic tools and methods learned during this course in order to understand the ethical problems of the future development of AI.
teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

This course will address some of the main issues of the contemporary discussion on philosophy and technology, with particular regard for the connected ethical problems: the relationship between humans and machines; the perspectives and challenges of AI; communication in the age of the internet; machines as moral patients and agents.

Core Documentation

The texts for the exam can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hjmhfwqlfq5k79b/AABAmJz8I6jUDKgggy1y5SPra?dl=0

Type of delivery of the course

The course will be blended, part online and part in class

Type of evaluation

Prova orale