At the end of the course, students:
- have gained basic knowledge of ethics and important ethical theories
- have acquired in-depth knowledge of selected ethical challenges in the field of electrical engineering
- are capable of formulating a well-reflected ethical position on these challenges and defend it in discussion
- are capable of analyzing and critically reflecting new ethical challenges in the field of electrical engineering from an ethical point of view
Attendance is strongly recommended.
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Engineering comprises an ethical dimension because technologies can benefit and harm us, support and undermine social values and norms, and enhance and diminish our agency. This course introduces students to this ethical dimension by way of addressing fundamental ethical aspects in engineering in general and specific ethical issues and challenges in exemplary technologies in particular. Topics include responsibility in engineering, value-sensitive design, and privacy as well as ethical challenges raised by particular technologies, like biomedical technologies and their potential for human enhancement, automation and the danger of responsibility gaps, and robots and their impact on how we conceive of close personal relationships. The lectures follow a “hands-on” approach with a considerable amount of small group work and joint discussion.
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