| |
The rise of technologies fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds in ways never seen before is having a profound impact on our contemporary life and society. This module evaluates philosophical positions surrounding the digital age into which we are moving. It will cover four main topics: (1.) Philosophies of digital technology, treating some of the main philosophical perspectives on the relationship between digital technologies, people and society, addressing such concepts as: the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, technological determinism, technology as a socio-technical system, and the nature of the interaction between humans and digital technology. (2.) Philosophies of law and justice, dealing with the connection between state positive law, natural moral law theory and the difficulties of regulating online activities. (3.) Freedom, privacy and surveillance in the digital age and how we balance the needs of the individual against the needs of society in digital environments and the concept of ‘algorithmic justice’. (4.) Are we making a better world? Many technologists believe their technology can create a perfect society, while transhumanists hope to liberate us from our ‘meat-machine’ bodies. We will consider visions of the near future, the concept of progress and the transhumanist movement.
|
PHILOSOPHIES OF THE DIGITAL AGE
Semester 1
