Philosophy 2801-002: Philosophy of Technology
Andrew Latus
Tuesday 2-3 in EN-1004
Wednesday 1-2 in EN-2007
Thursday 2-3 in EN-2007

Office: A-3067
Telephone: 737-8334
Email: alatus@mun.ca
WWW: www.ucs.mun.ca/~alatus/2801.html
Office Hours: Monday 2-3, Wednesday 2-3 & Thursday 12-1 (or drop by)

Text: Society, Ethics and Technology, Morton Winston & Ralph Edelbach (eds.), Wadsworth Publishing, 2000.

Course Outline: This course will focus on a number of philosophical issues connected with technology. No previous background in philosophy is assumed. The initial lectures will present a general introduction to philosophy and a survey of some major issues in ethical theory. We will then turn to the question of what technology is. Is it, as is often said, simply applied science or is it, as some philosophers have claimed, something more fundamental? Some philosophers have claimed that it is part of the essence of being human that we use technology -- 'man is the animal that uses technology'. After considering this issue, we will examine the effects technology has on us. How do new technologies change the way we live? Do we control technology or have we reached a point, as some theorists claim, at which technology controls us?
    The second half of the course will focus on the ethical issues raised by some current technological developments. Some issues to be considered here include privacy in the internet age, the effect of automation on the global workforce, the moral status of new reproductive technologies such as cloning and genetic engineering, and the effect of technology on the environment.
    My hope is that the classes will consist of a roughly even mix of lecture and class discussion. Course materials (e.g., lecture notes and handouts) will be made available on my web page.

Grading Scheme

Quiz - 10% (tentatively, Thursday, Sept. 27)
Paper #1 (Due Thursday, Oct. 18) - 25%
Paper #2 (Due Tuesday, Nov. 20) - 25%
Participation - 10%
Final Exam - 30%
About the Papers: You will be required to submit two approximately 5 page papers (typed double-spaced or the handwritten equivalent). The first paper will deal with material from (roughly) the first six weeks of the course. The second paper will deal with material from the remainder of the course. For each paper, you will be asked to analyze and discuss one (or more) of the articles we have considered in class. These assignments are not intended as research papers, rather their purpose is to give you practice at carefully presenting an argument as well as taking and defending a position regarding that argument. You will be allowed (although not required) to revise and resubmit each assignment. (Please note that revised versions must be submitted no later than two weeks after the original version is returned in class). If you submit a revised version, the grade recorded for the assignment will be the grade you receive on the revised version (assuming it is higher than your initial grade).
    Topics for the first set of assignments will be distributed at the end of the second week of classes. Topics for the second set of assignments will be distributed in mid-October.

Policy on Late Assignments: Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date specified for the assignment. Late assignments will be accepted with no penalty if accompanied by a reasonable personal or medical excuse. (I reserve the right to ask for documentation to back up the excuse). Assignments handed in without a reasonable excuse will be penalized at a rate of 2 points per day late. Late assignments may not be revised and resubmitted.

About the Participation Mark: Philosophy is best thought of as an activity, not a particular body of knowledge. As such, one of my aims is to get you to participate in discussion of the issues we will cover this term. With this in mind, 10% of your grade will be assigned based on your participation in discussion.
    Regular participation in class discussion will be enough to ensure that you get a good participation mark, but there will be another way of achieving a good participation grade. An email discussion list will be set up for the class and your contributions to it will also be counted towards your participation grade. Details on subscribing to the list will be distributed in the second week of classes.

Tentative Schedule

Week 1 (Sept. 5) - Discussion of Course

Week 2 (Sept. 10-14) - Introduction to Ethics

Week 3 (Sept. 17-21) - Historical Perspectives on Technology
Readings I.1-I.4

Week 4 (Sept. 24-28) - Social Perspectives on Technology
Readings I.5-I.9
Quiz - Thursday, Sept. 27

Week 5 (Oct. 1-5) - Technology & Ethics
Readings I.10-I.11

Week 6 (Oct. 8-12) - Technology & Justice
Readings I.12-14
No Class on Wednesday, Oct. 10

Week 7 (Oct. 15-19) - Technology, Work and Globalization
Readings II.1-4
Paper #1 is due on Thursday, Oct. 18

Week 8 (Oct. 22-26) - Technology & Privacy
Readings II.5-7

Week 9 (Oct. 29-Nov. 2) - Artificial Intelligence?
Reading II.8
Reserve Reading

Week 10 (Nov. 5-9) - The Ethics of Genetic Engineering & Cloning
Readings II.9-12

Week 11 (Nov. 12-16) - The Ethics of Genetic Engineering & Cloning Continued
No class on Tuesday, Nov. 13

Week 12 (Nov. 19-23) - Population, Technology & The Tragedy of the Commons
Readings II.14-16
Paper #2 is due on Tuesday, Nov. 20

Week 13 (Nov. 26-30) - Catch Up

[Philosophy 2801]