Course content

Technology permeates modern societies for better or worse. This course provides an introduction to contemporary debates on technology and ethics pursuing questions like: Why are technologists now expected to be more ethically sensitive? Can technology meet the grand challenges of our time? May technologists be held responsible for undesirable implications of technologies? Should lay-people's opinion matter in questions of technology development? What are the relationships between technology and values? By entering various cases and technology controversies we shall simultaneously discuss and evaluate implications of various answers given to these questions.

Learning outcome

The students will acquire an overview of contemporary ethical discussion on modern technology. Students should be able to understand, evaluate and participate in these current debates by relating these discussions to a particular field of technology.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, plenary discussions, group work. Supervision and essay writing during the second part of the semester. In order to sit the exam the students must complete an oral presentation and have 80 % attendance.

Compulsory assignments

• Oral presentation
• 80 % attendance in lectures

Required previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

The required reading list will be available at the beginning of the semester.