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 Journal Article
In: Review of Social Economy, vol. 80, pp. 85-105, 2022.
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.
Digital Wormholes Journal Article
In: AI & Society, pp. 1-3, 2021.
Recent Developments in Dutch and European Philosophy and Ethics of Technology Journal Article
In: Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology., 2020.
Related News & Media
Impressions of a successful ESDIT2022 conference
ESDiT Biannual Report 2020-2021
Conceptual Engineering: Why do we need it? How do we do it?
Related Events
ESDiT2022 International 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
Research Line Coordinator
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 |
