Professor Regian Rini
rarini@yorku.ca
Office Location:  S416 Ross Building
Phone Number:  (416) 736-2100 Ext. 30102
Office Hours:  Tuesdays 2:30-3:30 ,  Ross South 416  (or by pre-scheduled appointment)

This course examines the social effects of science and technology via the philosophical disciplines of ethics and epistemology. How do new scientific discoveries and technologies change the way we treat others and make up our minds about controversial issues? The course focuses on rotating examples of current technology, e.g. social media, cryptocurrency, machine learning. Central questions will include: How should scientists and tech product designers communicate with the public? What are social norms and how are these changed by technology? Students will develop their knowledge of core concepts in ethics and epistemology while learning techniques for anticipating social challenges from future technology.

Required text for purchase (available at York University bookstore:

David Edgerton (2011). ‘The Shock of the Old : Technology and Global History Since 1900’  Oxford University Press.

Richard Rhodes (2000). ‘Visions of Technology: A Century of Vital Debate About Machines, Systems, and the Human World’   Simon and Schuster.

Additional readings will be made available via eClass. All will be accessible at no cost if accessed via York University library.

60%    short responsory essays following class debates (4 total; 15% each)

25%  final essay (3-5) pages discussing student-selected case study

5%   one or more short exercise assignments

10% participation , especially in four in-class debates

Most class sessions will be lectures with time for student questions and discussion. Several class session will be entirely student-led, in the form of presentations or full class debates.

Students will demonstrate knowledge of central concepts in ethics and epistemology as well as content knowledge about each of several applied topics.

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze social norms.

Students will demonstrate skills to anticipate ethical and epistemological consequences of future technological change.

Course policies

Participation constitutes 10% of the semester grade. If you feel any barriers to your speaking in class (nervousness, technical issues, or anything else) please contact the instructor to discuss alternative ways for you to participate. Otherwise, not participating in class discussion will lower your grade.

Late assignments will incur a 10% per day penalty. Exceptions are permitted only with documented medical need or (in rare cases) with prior emailed permission from the instructor.

Illness policy:  Students are required to not attend class if they exhibit any symptoms of Covid-19 or other respiratory illness, or have tested positive for Covid-19 within the previous three days. Participation grades will not be affected by such absences, provided the student emails the instructor within 48 hours.

Generative AI policy : Students are not permitted to employ language model systems (like ChatGPT) to produce written work, unless a specific assignment indicates otherwise or they receive prior emailed permission from the instructor for a specific creative use. Assignments found to violate these rules will receive 0 credit and may result in a referral for York University academic misconduct.

Please contact the instructor by email early in the term if you have a disability that requires accommodation. Please note that you will need documentation from York Student Accessibility Services.