Course Description

In this course, we will discuss the ways in which our ethical and social values can and ought to influence science and technology. The technosciences are objective, value-free, rational, and inevitable: these are the myths that this course will question. We will investigate different ways in which processes of scientific research and technological development involve choices, value-judgments, and ethical responsibilities. We will read prominent historical and contemporary critiques of computers, the Internet, video games, biomedical research, consumerism, and advanced industrial civilization from a variety of ethical frameworks and value perspectives. We will consider frameworks for thinking about how to be more responsible scientists and engineers. We will explore, practically and theoretically, the beneficial roles that humanists can play in science and engineering.

Textbooks

The texts are on order at Off Campus Books, but not the campus bookstore.

Required

• Hubert Dreyfus, On the Internet (2nd edition only, please),
• Evgeny Morozov, To Save Everything, Click Here

Recommended

• Neal Stephenson, [In the Beginning was the Command Line](http://amzn.to/1vJ81vJ] (only recommended because you can also find it online for free).

All other readings will be made available on the course website

Schedule of Topics

1. Introduction – Technology, Choices, and Values – 8/26
   • Read National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics
2. What Problem are we Trying to Solve? – 9/2
   • Morozov, Ch 1
   • Flory & Kitcher
3. The Ethics of Gathering Data – 9/9
   • The Nuremberg Code
   • Luna and Macklin
   • JJ Sylvia, “The Ethical Implications of A/B Testing”
4. Ethics and Politics of Design 9/16
   • Langdon Winner, “Do Artifacts Have Politics?”
   • Peter-Paul Verkbeek, “Morality in Design”
5. Sexism in Technology – 9/23
   • Watch Anita Sarkeesian’s Tropes vs Women in Video Games, focusing especially on the “Damsel in Distress” mini-series.
   • Joseph Reagle, “‘Free as in sexist?’ Free culture and the gender gap,” First Monday
6. What’s Wrong with “The Internet” – 9/30
   • Dreyfus, Intro & Chapter 1
   • Morozov, Ch 2
   • Ian Bogost, “What Do We Save When We Save the Internet?” The Atlantic
   • Due: Service Learning Project Brainstorm
7. Transparency, Anonymity, and Commitment – 10/7
   • Dreyfus, Ch 4
   • Morozov Ch 3
   • danah boyd, “The Politics of ‘Real Names’: Power, Context, and Control in Networked Publics”
   • If time permits, read:
     • Adele Santana, Donna J. Wood, “Transparency and social responsibility issues for Wikipedia”
     • Judith Donath, “We Need Online Alter Egos Now More Than Ever” (or shorter summary, “Can Pseudonyms Make Better Online Citizens?”)
8. The Limits of Virtual Presence – 10/14
   • Dreyfus, Ch 2,3,5
9. Gamification – 10/21
   • Morozov Ch 8
   • Ian Bogost, “Gamification is Bullshit”
   • Jane McGonigal, “Introduction: Reality is Broken”
   • Jane McGonigal, “Games can make a better world” (Read) or watch the TED talk.)
     • Ian Bogost, “Reality is Alright”
   • Due: Consultation with Professor about Service Learning Project
10. Lessons from the History of Technology – 10/28
    • Stephenson, In the Beginning was the Command Line…
    • Watch: Ted Nelson, Computers for Cynics
    • Read: Ted Nelson, “Ted Nelson’s Computer Paradigm, Expressed as One-Liners”
11. Heidegger’s Existential Critique of Technology – 11/4
    • Martin Heidegger, “The Question Concerning Technology”
    • Dreyfus, “Heidegger on Gaining a Free Relation to Technology”
    • Due: Annotated Bibliography for Service Learning Project
12. Marcuse’s Critical Theory of Technology – 11/11
    • Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man (selections)
    • Andrew Feenberg, “Critical Theory of Technology”
13. Techno-conservatism – 11/18
    • Wendell Berry, “Why I am not going to buy a computer”
    • Roger Scruton, “A Righter Shade of Green”
14. Thanksgiving – no class – 11/25
15. A Pragmatic Approach to Technology – 12/2
    • John Dewey, “Science and Society”
    • Larry Hickman, “John Dewey as Philosopher of Technology”
16. Service Learning Project Group Presentations – 12/9
    • All Project Documentation due for Service Learning Project

Other Important Dates:

• 12/10, 3:00-4:30pm: Senior Design Day – 1 member of each team to attend and rate posters
• 12/12: Individual papers about service learning project due.
• 12/16, 5:00pm-7:45pm: Final Exam

Assignments

Each component is weighted equally.

1. Class participation – The best way to learn philosophy is to discuss it. Includes attendance, small and large group discussions.
2. Ethics Advising Project – Advise engineering students on the ethical issues in their projects.
3. Service Learning Project – Work together in groups to think critically about some public problem in technology and create a project that works to ameliorate that problem.
4. Final Exam – Cumulative.

Course Policies