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 rigorously and philosophically examine 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 3 subject

Incompatible Subjects PHIL 1009

Restrictions

Successful completion of 60 credit points.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Identify major philosophical approaches to technology
2. Analyse texts concerning the ethics and philosophy of technology
3. Apply complex philosophical and ethical analyses to technological issues
4. Critically analyse technological questions in relation to philosophical inquiry in general

Subject Content

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