Ethics in modern life is complicated and messy, and the rapid development of technology only makes it worse. Nowadays, not only are ethical dilemmas harder to solve, but often, we find it difficult even just to identify or articulate the problem. In situations like this, philosophy can sometimes help us make better sense of the world. In this course, we will draw on insights from both traditional and emerging moral theories to tackle some messy nuanced moral problems that plague our digital age. The course is organized in units. In each unit, we will take an in-depth look at familiar concepts such as the good life, autonomy and equality. Then, we will learn how these concepts can inform our understanding of novel issues that spring up in our day-to-day lives. For example, we will grapple with questions such as: Do gamified apps subtly undermine our pursuit of a good life? Are social media recommender systems silently chipping away at our autonomy? Despite significant efforts towards gender equality, why is digital misogyny escalating so rapidly? The purpose of this course is not to offer you the 'right answer' to any of these questions. Instead, what you will learn is how to critically analyze ethical problems, and to develop skills that can help you better understand the complicated world around us.
4-5 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-ER
Ethics in modern life is complicated and messy, and the rapid development of technology only makes it worse. Nowadays, not only are ethical dilemmas harder to solve, but often, we find it difficult even just to identify or articulate the problem. In situations like this, philosophy can sometimes help us make better sense of the world. In this course, we will draw on insights from both traditional and emerging moral theories to tackle some messy nuanced moral problems that plague our digital age. The course is organized in units. In each unit, we will take an in-depth look at familiar concepts such as the good life, autonomy and equality. Then, we will learn how these concepts can inform our understanding of novel issues that spring up in our day-to-day lives. For example, we will grapple with questions such as: Do gamified apps subtly undermine our pursuit of a good life? Are social media recommender systems silently chipping away at our autonomy? Despite significant efforts towards gender equality, why is digital misogyny escalating so rapidly? The purpose of this course is not to offer you the 'right answer' to any of these questions. Instead, what you will learn is how to critically analyze ethical problems, and to develop skills that can help you better understand the complicated world around us.
Offered in Spring 2027 at Stanford University.