PHIL495 PHILOSOPHY OF TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNOETHICS
| Course Code: | 2410495 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 5.0 |
| Department: | Philosophy |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Res.Dr. SELMA AYDIN BAYRAM |
| Offered Semester: | Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
Course Content
This introductory course consists of two main parts: 1) Philosophy of technology and its historical background and 2) ethical aspects of technology and technological developments. This course will address main issues in both the philosophy of technology and technoethics/cyberethics aiming to familiarize students with philosophical and ethical debates surrounding technology. It aims to encourage students to think critically about multidimensional impacts of modern technological developments on various aspects of everyday life; to explore how technologies shape human life, society and environment by analyzing a number of noteworthy essays written by philosophers and influential researchers in this field, such as Heidegger, Marcuse, Foucault, Ellul, Feenberg, and Floridi. It also aims to stimulate students to develop the ability to identify, analyze and critically examine moral issues, new ethical problems and challenges raised by developments in modern technologies, especially developments in communication and information technologies, and develop the capacity to argue for a chosen position in discussions. Further, legal implications of advances in communication and information technologies in Turkey will be studied briefly.
Course Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes:
It is expected that at the end of the course, the students;
- will become familiar with main works that contributed to the field of philosophy of technology and technoethics/cyberethics;
- will be able to explain the central issues and main problems in these fields;
- will be able to discuss the impact of modern technologies on individuals, society, and the environment from different philosophical perspectives and compare the main philosophical views in the field;
- will have a more sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of debates in technoethics/cyberethics;
- will be able to analyze and discuss the moral issues raised by technology, apply different ethical theories to ethical problems that emerge from modern technologies, especially information and communications technologies (ICT), and give an insightful analysis of their strengths and weaknesses.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Have the knowledge and skills of research method which is a requirement in order to be successful in academic studies. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Have the capacity for applying philosophical knowledge to scientific and social issues. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Examine and analyze a subject matter and make philosophical interpretations on it. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Have the skills of critical thinking, analytical approach, problem solving, multi-dimensional view, making inferences and interpretations regarding to philosophical texts and scientific facts. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Identify the basic concepts and issues in philosophy. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Evaluate and understand the underlying philosophical assumptions of fundamental and social sciences. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Have capacity to make interdisciplinary readings and analysis. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Have verbal and written presentation and effective communication skills, be open to team work and do interdisciplinary study. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Make connections between contemporary ethical, social, cultural, esthetic and politic issues. | ✔ | |||
| 10 | Interpret the historical development of scientific and philosophical questions. | ✔ | |||
| 11 | Have knowledge about contemporary philosophical issues and their relations to other disciplines. | ✔ | |||
| 12 | Use modern information tools in order to make research in philosophy. | ✔ | |||
| 13 | Improve their professional and personal skills lifelong. | ✔ | |||
| 14 | Use information technologies effectively in domain applications in philosophy. | ✔ | |||
| 15 | Have self-confidence and develop original ideas regarding to philosophy. | ✔ | |||
| 16 | Have social and ethical responsibility regarding to contemporary issues. | ✔ | |||
| 17 | Have good knowledge of English, research method and computer skills and use these skills effectively. | ✔ | |||
| 18 | Comprehend the basic theories and issues in sub-disciplines of philosophy. | ✔ | |||
| 19 | Have an advanced knowledge in certain specific fields such as environment, technology, culture, art etc. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution