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ESDiT Research Line

Foundations & Synthesis

This research line aims to develop more synthesizing perspectives on the entire topic of the research programme. We work on frameworks that are able to provide normative responses to the challenge of SDTs.

The overall aim of the ESDiT research programme is to develop a comprehensive philosophical understanding of the socially disruptive technologies (SDTs) of the 21st century, and in particular their challenge to the very concepts and values that we normally appeal to in our moral thinking about technologies.

Description of This Research Line

This research line Foundations & Synthesis aims to develop more synthesizing perspectives on the entire topic of the research programme. We work on frameworks that are able to provide normative responses to the challenge of SDTs. This involves the reconceptualisation of basic concepts. It also involves development of methodologies that are both sufficiently embedded in fundamental research in practical philosophy and capable of providing normative orientation with regard to concrete technologies. Ultimately these normative frameworks should find a place in the construction of new technologies and the development of regulatory frameworks.

We work on the following clusters of questions:

  • How can we understand, in an integral way, the synergetic and emergent disruptive effects of a variety of SDTs on our understanding of nature, society, and human beings, and the challenges they create for the normative principles on which modern societies are based?
  • How can we connect philosophical and ethical reflection on technology more intricately with technology development, implementation, and use? What innovations in the wider field of philosophy are suggested by our analysis of socially disruptive technologies? In which ways do socially disruptive technologies provide new opportunities to investigate old philosophical concepts, such as ‘nature’, ‘life’ and ‘the human being’ from new perspectives or in new ways?
  • What new philosophical concepts, theories, and methods are required for the critical evaluation of socially disruptive technologies? What new normative concepts and principles are required to guide the development of SDTs? How can we develop new modes of interaction and integration between the philosophy and ethics of technology and relevant subfields of practical philosophy (applied ethics, political philosophy, philosophical anthropology, and meta-ethics)?

Related Publications

(Online) manipulation: sometimes hidden, always careless

Klenk, Michael

(Online) manipulation: sometimes hidden, always careless Journal Article

In: Review of Social Economy, vol. 80, pp. 85-105, 2022.

Links | BibTeX

Is it time for robot rights? Moral status in artificial entities

Müller, Vincent

Is it time for robot rights? Moral status in artificial entities Journal Article

In: Ethics and Information Technology, vol. 23, iss. 4, pp. 579-587, 2021.

Links | BibTeX

Digital Wormholes

O'Neill, Elizabeth

Digital Wormholes Journal Article

In: AI & Society, pp. 1-3, 2021.

Links | BibTeX

 Recent Developments in Dutch and European Philosophy and Ethics of Technology

Brey, Philip

Recent Developments in Dutch and European Philosophy and Ethics of Technology Journal Article

In: Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology., 2020.

Links | BibTeX

Related News & Media

— VACANCY CLOSED — Postdoc position “The potential of living labs for the ethics of technology: developing new empirical and philosophical methods”

— VACANCY CLOSED — Postdoc position “The potential of living labs for the ethics of technology: developing new empirical and philosophical methods”

Impressions of a successful ESDIT2022 conference

Impressions of a successful ESDIT2022 conference

ESDiT Biannual Report 2020-2021

ESDiT Biannual Report 2020-2021

Related Events

Workshop Engaging with empirical studies as a philosopher

May242023
Time: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Social Impact Factory, Vredenburg 40, 3511 BD Utrecht
Academic event | All research lines & tracks | Internal ESDIT event
esdit-logo-cropped

Researchers involved in the ESDIT program are cordially invited to register!

ESDiT2022 International Conference

Oct62022
Oct72022
All-day event
Location: CORPUS Congress Centre, Oegstgeest (near) Leiden – the Netherlands
Academic event | All research lines & tracks | Public ESDIT event
esdit-conference

The objective of the conference is to study and ethically assess the transformative consequences of these emerging technologies, of social institutions, the environment, human relations, personal identities, thought and language. There will be a particular focus on challenges of disruptive technologies to key concepts and values, like “truth”, “agency”, “democracy”, “human nature” and “life”.

People Involved

Research Line Leaders

Prof. dr. Philip Brey

Prof. dr. Philip Brey

Professor of Philosophy of Technology
University of Twente
ESDIT role(s): Management boardResearch fellowResearch line leader
Research line(s): Foundations & Synthesis

Research Line Coordinator

Dr. Michael Klenk

Dr. Michael Klenk

Assistant Professor of Ethics of Technology
Delft University of Technology
ESDIT role(s): CoordinatorResearch fellow
Research line(s): Foundations & Synthesis

Participants

Prof. dr. Joel Anderson
Prof. dr. Philip Brey
Dr. Michael  Dale
Dr. Matthew Dennis
Dr. Julia Hermann
Dr. Jeroen Hopster
Dr. Michael Klenk
Dr. Guido Löhr
Dr. Björn Lundgren
Prof. dr. Anthonie Meijers
Dr. Philip Nickel
Dr. Elizabeth O’Neill
Dr. Hanno Sauer
Dr. Mirko Tobias Schäfer
Dr. Herman Veluwenkamp
Dr. Sander Werkhoven

 

All ESDiT Research Lines

Nature, Life & Human Intervention

Nature, Life & Human Intervention

We aim to go beyond traditional discussions about the normative status of nature, e.g., whether there is something intrinsically good or desirable in nature and something objectionable in changing nature.
The Human Condition

The Human Condition

We investigate how and to what extent socially disruptive technologies have implications with regard to humans, humanity and the human condition, focusing on new biomedical and digital technologies.
The Future of a Fair & Free Society

The Future of a Fair & Free Society

We try to map how the changes in social relations, social structures, social institutions, and democratic practices, brought about by SDTs affect the basic concepts of social and political philosophy.
Foundations & Synthesis

Foundations & Synthesis

This research line aims to develop more synthesizing perspectives on the entire topic of the research programme. We work on frameworks that are able to provide normative responses to the challenge of SDTs.