Philosophy of Technology
Code: 108439Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | OB | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Jaume Sastre Juan
- Email :
- jaume.sastre@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are none.
Objectives
How can we think philosophically the material constitution of the worlds we inhabit? In which ways the design and use of technical objects and systems embody social relations, ideas and values? How do they exercise power and materialize relations of domination or mutual freedom? What role does technology play in the construction of bodies, affects, identities and subjectivities? What ethical, political and ontological issues are on stake? The goal of this subject is to provide tools for a critical thinking of technology, as well as putting them to work through the situated analysis of specific artefacts and technological systems. The toolbox that will be used in the course contains conceptual instruments, empirical materials and analytical techniques from various origins. The course will introduce students to the central debates in philosophy of technology, an approach that will be combined with perspectives from disciplines such as history, sociology, anthropology or STS, as well as critical analysis and practices from outside the walls of academia.
Learning outcomes
- CM20 (Compare different paradigms of knowledge, recognising the complexity and plurality of contemporary philosophical thought in its relationship with science and technology.) Compare different paradigms of knowledge, recognising the complexity and plurality of contemporary philosophical thought in its relationship with science and technology.
- CM21 (Value the uses of knowledge, questioning its forms of legitimation, exclusion or manipulation today.) Value the uses of knowledge, questioning its forms of legitimation, exclusion or manipulation today.
- CM22 (Develop a critical, articulated and reflective vision of knowledge in its multiple dimensions: epistemic, linguistic, scientific and technological and evaluate the challenges that these imply.) Develop a critical, articulated and reflective vision of knowledge in its multiple dimensions: epistemic, linguistic, scientific and technological and evaluate the challenges that these imply.
- KM23 (Cite the philosophical foundations of knowledge, as well as the historical, linguistic, scientific and technological conditions that shape it, identifying the relations and power structures that result in epistemological biases. .) Cite the philosophical foundations of knowledge, as well as the historical, linguistic, scientific and technological conditions that shape it, identifying the relations and power structures that result in epistemological biases. .
- KM24 (Identify the role of language and technology in the production, circulation and legitimisation of knowledge.) Identify the role of language and technology in the production, circulation and legitimisation of knowledge.
- KM25 (Explain the main contemporary theories and debates about truth, justification, rationality, meaning, objectivity and progress.) Explain the main contemporary theories and debates about truth, justification, rationality, meaning, objectivity and progress.
- SM24 (Evaluate scientific and technical discourses from a philosophical perspective, detecting assumptions, tensions and social effects in human and post-human viewpoints.) Evaluate scientific and technical discourses from a philosophical perspective, detecting assumptions, tensions and social effects in human and post-human viewpoints.
- SM25 (Analyse philosophical texts and arguments on knowledge, science, language and technology and the social impact of their development with conceptual rigour.) Analyse philosophical texts and arguments on knowledge, science, language and technology and the social impact of their development with conceptual rigour.
- SM26 (Use diverse philosophical approaches in the interpretation of current problems related to truth, communication, epistemic authority and technological innovation.) Use diverse philosophical approaches in the interpretation of current problems related to truth, communication, epistemic authority and technological innovation.
Contents
1. What is (not) technology?
2. Design: The social construction of technology
3. Interactions: Agency, mediation and programs of action
4. Subjectivation: Bodies, emotions and identities
6. Control: Cybernetics, automatization and governmentality
7. Obsolescence: Prometheic shame, banalization and the blindness of apocalypse
8. Technicity: On the mode of existence of technical objects
9. Autonomy: Materiality, power and forms of life
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutoring | 3 | 0.12 | CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26 |
| Reading and autonomous work | 48 | 1.92 | CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26 |
| Discussion seminars | 22 | 0.88 | CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26 |
| Theoretical classes | 23 | 0.92 | CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26 |
This subject combines theoretical classes with discussion seminars around chosen texts and topics. It is expected that students will have read the assigned readings and participate actively in the collective discussion. Each theme will deal with one or several philosophical, historical, anthropological or sociological perspectives on technology, that will always be discussed in relation to specific tools, artefacts or technological systems.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exam | 40% | 1.5 | 0.06 | CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26 |
| Oral or audiovisual exercice | 25% | 4.5 | 0.18 | CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26 |
| Written exercice | 40% | 40 | 1.6 | CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26 |
| Active participation in the discussion seminars | 10% | 8 | 0.32 | CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26 |
This course contemplates two types of assessment: continuous and single.
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT
Continuous assessment will consist in:
A) A written exam (40%). The format will be announced in due course.
B) A written exercice (25%). The format will be announced in due course.
C) An oral or audiovisual exercice (25%) consistent in the group analysis of an artefact or a technological system. This exercice cannot be reassessed.
D) Active participation in the discussion seminars (10%).
To pass the course the minimum mark is 5. The student will be given the grade of “non-assessable” if less than 30% of the assessment activities are submitted.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
For their admission to reassessment, students must have been previously assessed from a set of activities that are equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 parts of the whole qualification. The minimum average grade of the assessed activities cannot be inferior to 3,5 nor higher than 5. The 10% corresponding to the active participation in the discussion seminars, as well as those assessment activities in which irregularities have been committed, cannot be reassessed.
Reassessment will consist in repeating the failed partial exams and submitting again the exercices in which the student failed (except in the oral/audiovisual exercice, which cannot be reassessed). The format will be announced with enough anticipation.
This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
Any change related to assessment, methodology, etc., will appear at the Virtual Campus in due course.
SINGLE ASSESSMENT
Single assessment will consist in:
A) A final exam (70%).
B) A written exercice (30%) that will be submitted the day in which the final exam will take place. The format will be announced in due course.
To pass the course the minimum mark is 5.The student will be given the grade of “non-assessable” if less than 30% of the assessment activities are submitted. The same applies regarding AI.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
The minimum average grade of the assessed activities cannot be inferior to 3,5 nor higher than 5. Reassessment will consist in repeating the assessment activities in the same format.
Bibliography
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Anders, Günther (2011 [1956]) La obsolescencia del hombre: Sobre el alma en la época de la segunda revolución industrial. Valencia: Pre-Textos.
Atelier Paysan (2021). Reprendre la terre aux machines: Manifeste pour une autonomie paysanne et alimentaire. Paris: Seuil.
Benjamin, Ruha (2019). Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Berlan, Aurélien (2024). Autonomía y subsistencia: Una teoría ecosocial y materialista de la libertad. Barcelona: Virus.
Bijker, Wiebe; Law, John (eds.) (1992). Shaping Technology/Building Society. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Collins, Harry; Kusch, Martin (1998). The Shape of Actions: What Humans and Machines can Do. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Crawford, Kate (2022 [2021]). Atlas de inteligencia artificial: Poder, política y costos planetarios. Ciudad de México: Fondo de Cultura Económica.
Dusek, Val (2006). Philosophy of Technology: An Introduction. Malden: Willey-Blackwell.
Edgerton, David (2006). The Shock of the Old: Technology and Global History Since 1900. London: Profile Books.
Feenberg, Andrew (1999). Questioning Technology. New York: Routledge.
Fressoz, Jean-Baptiste (2025). Sin transición: Una nueva historia de la energía. Barcelona: Arpa.
Friis, Jan Kyrre Berg Olsen et al. (eds.) (2013). A Companion to the Philosophy of Technology. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.
García, Vivien (2024). Que faire de l’intelligence artificielle? Petite histoire critique de la raison artificielle. Paris: Payot-Rivages.
Guien, Jeanne; Vuillermet, Hélène (2018). La technique: Textes choisis et presentés par Jeanne Guien et Hélène Vuillermet. Paris: Flammarion.
Haraway, Donna (2023 [1991]). Mujeres, simios y cíborgs: La reinvención de la naturaleza. Madrid: Alianza.
Haraway, Donna (2019 [2016]). Seguir con el problema: Generar parentesco en el Chthuluceno. Bilbao: Consonni.
Heidegger, Martin (2026 [1949]). Mirada en lo que es: Conferencias de Bremen de 1949. Barcelona: Herder.
Heidegger, Martin (2021 [1954]). La pregunta por la técnica. Barcelona: Herder.
Hui, Yuk (2022). Recursividad y contingencia. Buenos Aires: Caja Negra.
Hui, Yuk (2023). Sobre la existencia de los objetos digitales. Segovia: Materia Oscura.
Hui, Yuk (2024). La pregunta por la técnica en China: Un ensayo sobre cosmotécnica. Buenos Aires: Caja Negra.
Hui, Yuk (2026). Máquina y soberanía: Para un pensamiento planetario. Buenos Aires: Caja Negra.
Ihde, Don (1990). Technology and the Lifeworld: From Garden to Earth. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Ilich, Ivan (2012 [1973]). La convivencialidad. Barcelona: Virus.
Ilich, Ivan (2015 [1973]) Energía y equidad: Los límites sociales de la velocidad. Madrid: Díaz & Pons.
Ippolita (2012). En el acuario de Facebook: El resistible ascenso del anarco-capitalismo. Madrid: Enclave de Libros.
Ippolita (2016). Anime elettriche: riti e miti sociali. Milano: Jaca Books.
Ippolita (2017). Tecnologie del dominio: Lessico minimo di autodifesa digitale. Milano: Meltemi.
Latour, Bruno (1996 [1993]). Aramis, or the Love of Technology. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Latour, Bruno (2017 [1993]). Lecciones de sociología de las ciencias. Barcelona: Arpa.
Law, John (ed.) (1991). A Sociology of Monsters: Essays on Power, Technology and Domination. London and New York: Routledge.
MacKenzie, Donald; Wajcman, Judy (eds.) (1999). The Social Shaping of Technology (2nd edition). Philadelphia: Open University Press.
Milani, Carlo (2024). La actitud hacker: Una apuesta por las tecnologías conviviales. Barcelona: NED Ediciones.
Milani, Carlo; Fant, Davide (2024). Pedagogia hacker. Milano: elèuthera.
Mitcham, Carl (1989). ¿Qué es la filosofía de la tecnología? Barcelona: Anthropos.
Mumford, Lewis (2016 [1967-1970]). El mito de la máquina (2 vols.). Logroño: Pepitas de Calabaza.
Ortega y Gasset, José (2014 [1933]). Ensimismamiento y alteración. Meditación de la técnica y otros ensayos. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.
Pasquinelli, Matteo (2023). The Eye of the Master: A Social History of Artificial Intelligence. London: Verso.
Scharff, Robert; Dusek, Val (eds.) (2014). Philosophy of Technology: The Technological Condition (2nd edition). An Anthology. Malden: Willey-Blackwell.
Schatzberg, Eric (2018) Technology: Critical History of a Concept. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Schüll, Natasha (2012). Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Simondon, Gilbert (2017 [1958-1983]). Sobre la técnica. Buenos Aires: Cactus.
Simondon, Gilbert (2018 [1958]). El modo de existencia de los objetos técnicos. Buenos Aires: Prometeo.
Suchman, Lucy (2006). Human-Machine Reconfigurations: Plans and Situated Actions, 2nd Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tiqqun (2015). La hipótesis cibernética. Madrid: Acuarela & Antonio Machado.
Trocchi, Agnese (2019). Internet, mon amour: Cronache prima del crollo di ieri. C.I.R.C.E. [https://ima.circex.org/]
Verbeek, Peter-Paul (2005). What Things Do. Philosophical Reflections on Technology, Agency, and Design. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press.
Wajcman, Judy (2006). El tecnofeminismo. Madrid: Cátedra.
Winner, Langdon (1986). The Whale and the Reactor: A Search for Limits in an Age of High-Technology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Software
Not necessary.
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 | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |