Credit Points 10

Coordinator Jennifer Mensch Opens in new window

Description Accelerating technological development challenges the limits of our ability to think about humanity and the world. Philosophy offers approaches to meet these challenges both through the immediate, practical consideration of particular ethical conundrums posed by Artificial Intelligence and through deeper consideration of the nature of technology and its relationship to our humanity. In this subject, students will consider questions such as how AI systems should be guided to act in relation to crucial, life-or-death decision-making, the possible risks of accelerating feedback in autonomous, self-adjusting AI systems (e.g. exponential power use), and the effect that the increasing use of AI may have on human subjectivity itself, for example through delegating cognitive tasks.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Discipline Philosophy

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Incompatible Subjects PHIL 3021

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this subject, students will be able to: 

1. Discuss the human and philosophical questions raised by technological development
2. Analyse texts concerning the ethics and philosophy of technology
3. Apply basic philosophical and ethical analyses to technological issues

Subject Content

• Introduction to the Philosophy of Technology
• Ethics of Technology
• Understanding the Connected Self