2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Ethics in Engineering C
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Yoshiyuki Saitoh
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Mon / 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T305
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Ethics is a study that explores the principles that distinguish "actions that can be done" into "actions that should be done" and "actions that should not be done." However, due to the rapid development of science and technology in the modern world, the scope of actions that humans can do has expanded. As a result, it is needed to establish a new ethical framework to provide the foundation for laws and social regulations. In this course, we will discuss the thoughts and theories related to "science" and "technology", and apply them to actual and practical issues.Throughout all lectures, we will examine how the relationships between human beings and material objects or the world, as well as human beings themselves, have changed in response to the development of science and technology.
Course description and aims
1. Acquiring the ability to understand actual and practical issues in a theoretical and philosophical manner.
2. Understanding the essence of "science" and "technology" by considering the question from a long-term historical perspective.
Keywords
science, technology, human condition, material objects, environment, Anthropocene
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The class are basically conducted as lectures, with occasional discussions between the lecturer and students or among students.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction | Understand the goals and approach of this course. |
| Class 2 | Science, technology, and ethics | Understand the fundamental concepts of ethics of science and technology. |
| Class 3 | Philosophy of material objects: Heidegger | Understand the relationships between human beings and material objects. |
| Class 4 | Philosophy of technology: Heidegger | Understand the nature of modern technology. |
| Class 5 | The change of the "human condition": Arendt | Understand the human conditions and their historical changes. |
| Class 6 | The expansion of "society" in modern times: Arendt | Understand the concept of "society" as an sphere established in modern times. |
| Class 7 | Technology and memory: Stiegler | Understand the concept of memory as material objects. |
| Class 8 | Theory of affordances: Gibson | Understand the concept of affordance as a relationship between human beings and material objects. |
| Class 9 | Biopolitics, discipline, and society of control: Foucault/Deleuze | Understand the relationship between power and technology. |
| Class 10 | Philosophy of the Anthropocene: Morton | Understand the concept of the "Anthropocene" as a deconstruction of the opposition between nature and the artificial. |
| Class 11 | Philosophy of nuclear technology | Understand nuclear technology from philosophical and ethical perspectives. |
| Class 12 | Intergenerational ethics: Jonas | Understand the concept of responsibility towards past and future generations. |
| Class 13 | Technology and totalitarianism | Understand the "totalitarian" nature inherent in technology. |
| Class 14 | Conclusion and final exam | Consider comprehensively the subjects in this course. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials are provided during class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Final exam: 60％, Active contribution in class: 40％
Related courses
- LAH.T105 ： Ethics in Engineering A
- LAH.T206 ： Ethics in Engineering B
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.