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  Ethics of Engineering

Lecturers
Dr. rer. nat. Dr. phil. Jens Kirchner, Dr. Christoph Merdes

Details
Seminar
2 cred.h, ECTS studies, ECTS credits: 2,5
für Anfänger geeignet, geeignet als Schlüsselqualifikation, Sprache Englisch
Time and place: Wed 10:15 - 11:45, EL 4.14

Contents
This course provides an introduction to the ethical reflection of engineering. Among other topics, it centers subject matter of medical technology, which is a cross-disciplinary focus at FAU. It offers both an elementary introduction to normative ethics and a variety of specific problems, from the engineer's responsibility over the ethics of robotics to problems of justice and allocation in the larger context of the deployment of high-end technology under conditions of moderate scarcity. The course addresses for instance
  • basics of fundamental ethical theories (i.e. utilitarianism, deontological ethics and virtue ethics)

  • ethical challenges in the construction of semi-autonomous machines

  • the ethical role and efficacy of professional codes

  • just allocation of resources in society from the vantage point of medical technology

  • the responsibility of engineers and whistleblowing

  • dealing with test subjects and personal data

Learning objectives and competencies: The students learn to

  • recognize and systematically analyze ethical problems in various engineering tasks

  • apply basic theories of normative ethics and understand their utility and limitations

  • discuss ethical problems in a respectful and reason-driven manner with their peers

  • reflect their particular moral responsibility as professionals in the field of engineering

  • contextualize engineering problems as situated in a wider social environment with complex moral implications.

Recommended literature
  • Williams, B. (1971). Morality: An Introduction to Ethics. Cambridge University Press.
  • Warwick, K. (2003). Cyborg morals, cyborg values, cyborg ethics. Ethics and information technology, 5(3), 131-137.

  • Chapters in Part V of: Gabbay, D. M., Thagard, P., Woods, J., & Meijers, A. W. (2009). Philosophy of technology and engineering sciences. Elsevier.

ECTS information:
Credits: 2,5

Additional information
Registration is required for this lecture.
Registration starts on Monday, 13.9.2021, 8:00 and lasts till Tuesday, 19.10.2021, 20:00 über: StudOn.

Verwendung in folgenden UnivIS-Modulen
Startsemester WS 2021/2022:
Künstliche Intelligenz und Wissensrepräsentation (KI und Wissen)
Seminar Ethics of Engineering (EthEng)

Department: Center for Applied Philosophy of Science and Key Qualifications
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