Technology & Society

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 4011731FER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

English

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

Philosophy - Moral Sciences

Educational team

Francis Heylighen (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
82 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

The 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.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Studenten worden voorzien van behandelde teksten via Canvas of tijdens de hoorcolleges, Canvas

Additional info

Students are provided with a detailed outline of the course material and a list or recommende reading via Canvas. A full text of the lectures is as yet not provided. Attendance at the lectures, and especially the presentations and discussions by the students themselves, is in principle required.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

The students will have a basic understanding of what technology is, how it affects society, positively or negatively, and what its dynamics towards the future is. They will also be able to discuss the ethical issues surrounding the use of technologies, in particular surrounding a number of recent developments such as AI, cyborgs, transhumanism, and Internet.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 75% of the final mark.
SELF Presentation determines 25% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Mondeling examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 75% of the final mark.

Note: Het examen is mondeling waarbij gepeild wordt naar de kennis die werd opgedaan tijdens de hoorcolleges. Als alternatieve examenvorm is het schrijven van een paper mogelijk, die mondeling wordt toegelicht en besproken op de voorziene examendatum.

Within the SELF Presentation category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Presentatie with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

Note: Tijdens de colleges worden studenten ook gevraagd een korte presentatie te geven van een te behandelen tekst. Deze presentatie wordt voor 20% verrekend in het eindresultaat.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The examination is an oral exam which assesses the knowledge gained during the lectures. Students are also asked to give a presentation of on a self-chosen topic with the subject of the course. This presentation and active participation counts for 25% of the final grade, the other 75% depend on the mastery of the material exhibited during the oral exam.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context