Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the course students will have a grasp of the some of the most important theoretical frameworks for our ethical thinking. They will be able to construct their own lines of argument concerning these frameworks. They will be able to critically assess some of the most important contributions to these debates in the philosophical literature. They will have an understanding of how these frameworks are applied in practical contexts. They will have a detailed understanding of the issues involved in thinking abput a range of practical ethical issues.
Indicative Module Content:
How does technology affect the way we interact with each other and conceptualize and perceive ourselves? Can technological use make us better or worse moral agents, friends, partners, or institutions or workplaces, and what sort of transformations can technological tools bring in domains we think are important for human flourishing, such as social relationships and health care?
This module will tackle these and similar questions and will introduce students to contemporary ethical challenges posed by our increasing reliance on technologies such as AI, robots, and social media. We will start with general considerations on what sort of issues new technology present to us, including the development of our virtues, choices in ethical framework, and responsibility gaps. Then, we will look at what effects social media, AI, and robotics can have on our relationships with others and ourselves, as well as professional life. In the second part of the module, we will focus on these effects in health care specifically. We will discuss these topics through specific case studies, as well as bioethics and philosophy texts.