- Basic knowledge of philosophical theories and methods and of important approaches within philosophy of science and technology.
- Acquiring skills in analysing and evaluating scientific and technological issues and problems by applying insights from philosophy and the field of science, technology, innovation and governance studies
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The Philosophy of Science and Technology minor analyses and evaluates the influence of science and technology on humans and society. In the first weeks, you will be introduced to main approaches and theories from the history of philosophy. But rather than merely studying the philosophical tradition in itself, the minor subsequently aims to develop your skills to systematically and critically reflect on science & technology and their social roles. We offer you philosophical tools to address questions like: Which view of science is underlying technological research that develops, for example, organs-on-a-chip or brain-computer interfaces? How will wearable technologies change and shape our social interactions? Will we be able to maintain traditional ideas about privacy in an age of exponential increase of information and communication technologies? Should society allow for new forms of genetic modification of human beings? How can our society and culture incorporate and shape those technologies? The acquired perspectives and insights from philosophy set the stage for the final project. In a so-called Philosophy of Technology Lab you will work in a multidisciplinary team to identify and answer philosophical and ethical questions concerning a specific technology in development
The minor consists of three components (one of which is divided in 3 subcomponents):
1. Philosophical Theories and Methods (5 EC) (201500555) -
Offers a high speed introduction in the history of philosophy, while also training your reading, argumentation and
writing skills.
2. Essays in Philosophy of Technology (6 EC) (201500556)– reflects on the ways three sets of questions have
been addressed in contemporary philosophy of science and technology.
2a. Controversies and Uncertainties in Science and Engineering (2 EC) - Discusses topics from philosophy
of science in a context of research on new technologies.
2b. Cyborgs and other Human-technology Relations (2 EC) - focuses on how technologies set the boundaries
between humans and machines, and how technology shapes the way that humans perceive and act in the
world.
2c. Technology, Ethics and Society (2 EC) - Focuses on how to assess the ethical and societal desirability of
new and emerging technologies and how to analyse ethical controversies.
Assessment consists of 3 individual essays and 1 group presentation. The average grade of these parts
should be 5.5 or higher, and only one of them may be completed with a 5; all others need to be completed
with 5.5 or higher.
3. In the module project, called Philosophy of Technology Lab (4 EC) (201500557), students work in groups to
philosophically analyse technologies developed at the University of Twente. They will identify and analyse
philosophical and ethical issues associated with these technologies, but also investigate how technologies
impact certain philosophical assumptions
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