Technology has the potential to enhance human autonomy and freedom, yet it can also pose risks by manipulating users or undermining autonomy in subtle ways. To address this issue, methods such as Value Sensitive Design and ethics-by-design have gained popularity over the past decade. These approaches are crucial for embedding core values, like human autonomy, into the early stages of technology design and development.
In this PhD course, we explore the relationship between design and human autonomy. We will ask fundamental questions about how technology impacts human autonomy. What does human autonomy entail?, How does technology undermine and enhance it?, Who gets to design technology?, and what values are embedded and reproduced in our technology? We also delve into the key philosophical foundations and issues of designing for values, investigating what values are, accounts of how values can be embedded in new technologies, and how value conflicts and value change affects designing for human autonomy. Throughout the course, we examine various cases of designing for human autonomy, including artificial intelligence.
After the course you will have the skills and knowledge to:
- Understand the relation between technology, values, and human autonomy.
- Argue why technology can or cannot embody values (and if so how).
- Explain basic notions of values and human autonomy within philosophy and other relevant disciplines.
- Differentiate main approaches to designing for human autonomy.
- Characterise and discuss ‘value conflict’ and ‘value change’ and understand the implications of these phenomena for designing for values and designing for human autonomy.
- Evaluate technology in terms of human autonomy.
Programme
Topics
1. Technology and values
- Brief historical overview about thinking about values and technology in philosophy of technology
- Technology: value- neutral or value-laden?
2. Embedding values in technology
- How to think about the connection between value and technology?
- Key theories and philosophical accounts of how values can be embedded in technology
3. Design for values
- Design for Values and Value Sensitive Design, and other approaches of embedding values in technology (e.g., participatory design)
- Value conceptualisation and value specification
- Value conflict and changing values
4. Understanding human autonomy
The term autonomy is used in many ways. In session, we focus on the way in which autonomy is both an acquired set of capacities related to self-governing agency and also a status that entitles one to not be treated in certain ways.
5. Autonomy, AI and manipulation
- Exploration of how AI can enhance or undermine human autonomy
- Manipulation and human autonomy. How to design for non-manipulation
6. Diverse perspectives on human autonomy
- Examination of feminist, care ethical, and non-western perspectives on autonomy
7. Designing for human autonomy in a (medical) care context
- how can socials robots or digital twins be used in a (medical) care context to enhance the autonomy and well-being of patients and their families.
8. Design for human autonomy and car navigation apps
- example of a design for values investigation into how to design car navigation apps that promote social values (such as safety, sustainability and nature) while respecting the human autonomy of car drivers
9. Human autonomy and neurotechnology
- exploration of how neurotechnology, like brain-computer interfaces, enhance or infringe on autonomy
- can neuroenhancement enhance human autonomy?
Lecturers
- Steffen Steinert, TU Delft
- Ibo van de Poel, TU Delft
- We will have guest lecturers on specific aspects of design for autonomy and from different scientific domains
Preparation
Required preparations: Active participation is required. Each session has several required readings, that participants should have read beforehand.
Aim / objective
After the course participants will be able to:
· Understand the relation between technology, values, and justice
· Argue why technology can or cannot embody values (and if so how)
· Explain basic notions of values and justice within philosophy and other relevant disciplines
· Differentiate main approaches to designing for values
· Characterize and discuss ‘value conflict’ and ‘value change’, and understand the implications of these phenomena for designing for values and designing for justice
· Evaluate technology in terms of justice
Assessment
Active participation is required. Each session has a number of required readings, that participants should have read beforehand. At the end of the course the students will give a presentation.
Credit points
Study load is the equivalent of: 5 ECTS.
Costs
The course is free for PhD candidates who are a member of the 4TU Center for Ethics and Technology and/or OZSW.
The course is also free for ReMa students who are a member of the OZSW and/or 4TU Center for Ethics and Technology.
All others will pay a registration fee of €300.
Registration/application form
PhDs can register via this link https://www.aanmelder.nl/161137/subscribe
If places available, also open to
ReMa students, Postdocs, and others: If you are interested in participating, please send an email to secretariaat@ozsw.nl to be put on a waiting list. You will be notified a few weeks before the start of the course if you can register and join the course.
Registrations closes on 27 January 2025.
More information
This course is a collaboration between OZSW, 4TU.Ethics, and the Delft Design for Values Institute whereof it is part of the annual theme 2024-2025 ‘Design for Human Autonomy’.
Main Lectures
- Steffen Steinert, section Ethics and Philosophy of Technology, Department of Values, Technology and Innovation, School of Technology, Policy & Management, TU Delft S.steinert@tudelft.nl
- Ibo van de Poel, section Ethics and Philosophy of Technology, Department of Values, Technology and Innovation, School of Technology, Policy & Management, TU Delft i.r.vandepoel@tudelft.nl
Coordination:
- Ivo Kostons, Delft Design for Values Institute, Coordinator Annual Theme Design for Human Autonomy i.d.e.kostons@tudelft.nl
Or look at the website of the OZSW.