Guide in PDF format
Logo

Ethics and Political Philosophy Seminar

Code: 100289
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Philosophy OP 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Jesús Hernandez Reynes
Email :
jesus.hernandez@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Jesús Hernandez Reynes

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course

Objectives

Palantir’s Manifesto. A techno-fascist project?


In this 2026-2027 academic year, the Ethics and Political Philosophy Seminar will have two parts: one, dedicated to Peter Thiel; the other, focused on Alexander Karp. They are the two main founders of the company specialized in the analysis of big data Palantir. Following the publication on network X of the so-called "Palantir Manifesto" (a 22-point political and ideological document) on April 18, 2026, the debate on the ethical and political implications of a project that wants to change coexistence through technological development has become urgent.

Learning outcomes

  • CM29 (Apply the knowledge of ethics and political philosophy to social problems, assessing the implications of contemporary technological changes on the human condition.) Apply the knowledge of ethics and political philosophy to social problems, assessing the implications of contemporary technological changes on the human condition.
  • CM30 (Independently contrast different ethical and political currents, analysing their approaches from historically and socially situated perspectives and assessing the gender implications explicit in their conceptual frameworks) Independently contrast different ethical and political currents, analysing their approaches from historically and socially situated perspectives and assessing the gender implications explicit in their conceptual frameworks
  • KM32 (Identify ethical and political problems in concrete social and historical contexts by relating them to current and relevant theoretical frameworks and philosophical debates.) Identify ethical and political problems in concrete social and historical contexts by relating them to current and relevant theoretical frameworks and philosophical debates.
  • KM33 (Identify the theoretical and practical nuances of recurring problems in the history of political philosophy and ethics.) Identify the theoretical and practical nuances of recurring problems in the history of political philosophy and ethics.
  • KM34 (Recognise the complexity in the philosophical tradition of the concepts of justice and good, considering their formulation from historically situated perspectives and in relation to the social and cultural contexts in which they emerge.) Recognise the complexity in the philosophical tradition of the concepts of justice and good, considering their formulation from historically situated perspectives and in relation to the social and cultural contexts in which they emerge.
  • SM33 (Prepare texts and oral presentations using complex philosophical arguments.) Prepare texts and oral presentations using complex philosophical arguments.
  • SM34 (Interpret relevant data to make judgments that include reflection on social, scientific, political, or ethical issues.) Interpret relevant data to make judgments that include reflection on social, scientific, political, or ethical issues.
  • SM35 (Articulate a critical and conceptually rigorous discourse on contemporary social problems from a philosophical viewpoint.) Articulate a critical and conceptually rigorous discourse on contemporary social problems from a philosophical viewpoint.

Contents

Palantir’s Manifesto. A techno-fascist project?


The syllabus of the subject consists of the following topics, which follow the parts of the reference texts by Thiel and Karp:


  1. Geopolitics and security policy.
  2. The relationship between society and politics.
  3. The role of the technology industry.
  4. Technology vs. globalization.
  5. Monopoly vs. competition.
  6. A definite optimistic attitude towards the future.
  7. Unrecognized truths.
  8. The secret before the majority.
  9. Selling as a successful model of interaction.
  10. The paradox of the founders.
  11. The dilemma is nothing or something.
  12. The failure of Silicon Valley's success.
  13. The challenge of AI.
  14. Ethical correctness does not win.
  15. Pacifism is an obstacle.
  16. Negative consequences of abandoning the faith.
  17. Defective educational system.
  18. The trivialization of life caused by consumerism.
  19. What matters most is the end.
  20. The nation as a source of value of attachment to the group.
  21. The failure of the left with egalitarianism.
  22. Construction of a technological republic.



Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Readings and studies 75 3 CM29, CM30, KM32, KM33, KM34, SM33, SM34, SM35
Lectures 15 0.6 CM29, CM30, KM32, KM33, KM34, SM33, SM34, SM35
classes 30 1.2 CM29, CM30, KM32, KM33, KM34, SM33, SM34, SM35
tutorship 15 0.6 CM29, CM30, KM32, KM33, KM34, SM33, SM34, SM35

The classes consist of the presentation and discussion of texts on the subject. Interventions by the teacher and the participating students are expected. The class dynamics make it necessary to read the texts outside classroom hours that will later be treated in the classroom. Attendance at classroom sessions is essential.

15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the calendar established by the centre, for the complementation by the students of the surveys for the evaluation of the performance of the teaching staff and the evaluation of the subject.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Oral presentation. 35% 1.5 0.06 CM29, CM30, KM32, KM33, KM34, SM33, SM34, SM35
Class participation 20% 12 0.48 CM29, CM30, KM32, KM33, KM34, SM33, SM34, SM35
Test 40% 1.5 0.06 CM29, CM30, KM32, KM33, KM34, SM33, SM34, SM35

This subject does not admit the single evaluation system.

The evaluation will be made on two tests, with a joint value of 80%, and on class participation and attendance, with a value of 20%. The evaluation tests will be a written exam, with a value of 45%, and an oral group presentation, with a value of 35%.

The dates of the assessment tests will be communicated through the Virtual Campus at the beginning of the course.

On the date established by the Dean's Office, an exclusive recovery will be made for those who fail, through a final exam with a weighted value of 80%. The participation is not recoverable.

The evaluation of all activities will be reviewed individually in the office of the professor, on the date that will be announced in due course through the Virtual Campus.

To sit for the retake, it is necessary to have at least taken the exam and to have attended the seminar sessions. The final grade is the weighted average of all the activities evaluated.

A student who does not take a minimum of assessment activities that represent 2/3 of the relative weight is considered non-assessable.

Use of AI

In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed as an integral part of the development of the study and evaluation work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution of the student in the analysis and personal reflection. In the case of assessment activities, the student should clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The non-transparency of the use of AI in the assessable activities will be considered academic dishonesty and will lead to the activity being evaluated with a 0 and cannot be recovered, or greater sanctions in cases of severity.

In general, if the student makes any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation act, this evaluation act will be graded with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event that there are several irregularities in the assessment of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.


Bibliography

Reference texts:


Karp, Alexander C. i Nicholas W. Zamiska. 2025. La república tecnológica. Poder duro, pensamiento débil y el futuro de Occidente. Barcelona: Tenos.

Thiel, Peter i Blake Masters. 2015. De cero a uno. Cómo inventar el futuro. Barcelona: Gestión 2000.


Studies:


Ibáñez Fanés, Jordi. 2026. Apocalipsis y democracia. Barcelona: Tusquets.

Steinberger, Michael. 2026. El filósofo de Silicon Valley. Alex Karp, Palantir y el auge de la vigilancia estatal. Barcelona: Shackleton books.


* Throughout the sessions of the Seminar, the bibliography will be expanded according to the training needs.



Software

Not applicable.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed