6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4011730FEW for working 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
Enrollment Requirements
NOTE: registration for this course is only possible for working students. Day students can register for courses whose code ends with an R. At Inschrijven / studentenadministratie@vub.be you must be registered at the VUB as a working student for the current academic year.
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: the examination is an oral exam which assesses the knowledge gaines during the lectures. An alternative examination of a written paper is possible, which is orally explained and discussed at the scheduled examination date.

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: During the lectures students are also asked to give a short presentation of one of the texts studied. This presentation and active participation counts for 20% of the final grade.

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

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: Ethics and Humanism (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: Philosophy (only offered in Dutch)
Research Master of Philosophy: Standaard traject
Master of Teaching in Arts and Humanities: History (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Arts and Humanities: Art History and Heritage Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Arts and Humanities: Philosophy (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Arts and Humanities: Ethics and Humanism (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Social Sciences: communicatiewetenschappen (90 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)