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INF5011 - Science technology society ethics

Course content

In this course we will explore the relations between science, technology, society, and ethics. You will gain understanding of the different theoretical frameworks used to analyse these relations and you will learn how to recognise and address ethical challenges in information technology design and use. You will apply these theoretical perspectives in group discussions and hands-on assignments.

We will begin with an overview of how the relations between science and technology and between the social and the technical has been theorised. We will read some philosophy and history of science, such as Thomas Kuhn’s ‘Scientific Revolutions’, the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge (SKK), the Social construction of Technology (SCOT), and Actor Network Theory (ANT). We will look at Robert Merton’s ‘norms’, which leads us to the discussion of values, social norms, and ethics in science and technology. We will work with concepts such as ‘social construction’, ‘instrumentalism’, ‘relativism’, and ‘technoscience’. We will further explore an ecological understanding of the relations between science, technology, society, and ethics, based on readings in applied ethics, feminist technoscience, and postcolonial science and technology studies.

In an ecological perspective we understand technology as influencing society as well as being influenced by society. What does such a perspective mean for us as information technology designers and users? In this course we will explore some current social challenges and we will discuss ethical frameworks, which can be used to analyse and resolve ethical difficulties, which may come up in your work as information technology designers.

Learning outcomes

After this course you will be able to:

• present and discuss different theoretical perspectives on the relations between science, technology, society, and ethics
• present different perspectives on knowledge and knowledge production
• analyse social and ethical challenges in information technology design and use
• discuss different perspectives on the social and ethical responsibility of the information technology designer and user
• apply different methods to explore and discuss theoretical concepts and social and ethical challenges

Admission

A maximum of 24 students can participate in this course. In case of a waiting list, master students admitted to the Informatics: design, use, interaction master programme have priority.

Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.

International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

Prerequisites

Recommended prior knowledge

Please note this is an advanced master course. Teaching, mandatory assignments, and examination will be in English.

Overlap

6 credits against IN-SATS. 10 credits against INF5010 - Social aspects of technology and science. 10 credits against INF9011 - Science technology society ethics. 10 credits against INF9010 - Social Aspects of Technology and Science.

Teaching

There will be 3 hours lectures and discussions per week. 80% participation is required.

Mandatory assignments:

• presentation of literature;
• midterm presentation of group reports; and
• a group report.

Rules for mandatory assignments.

Exam information

The mandatory assignments must be approved prior to the exam. The exam evaluation is based on a written essay (50%) and an oral exam (50%). The written exam needs to be passed before the student can participate in the oral exam. All exams have to be completed in one semester. General information about examination.

Exam resources

All written and printed exam resources are allowed on the exam.

Assessment and grading

Course grades are awarded on a descending scale using alphabetic grades from A to E for passes and F for fail. Read more about the grading system .

An external auditor regularly evaluates the academic quality of the course, including the form of exam used on the course.

Possibility of make-up exams and re-takes

This subject does not offer new examination in the beginning of the subsequent term for candidates who withdraw during an ordinary examination or fail an ordinary examination. For general information about new examination, see http://www.mn.uio.no/studier/admin/eksamen/utsatt-og-ny-eksamen/index.html and http://www.mn.uio.no/english/studies/admin/examination/retaking-examinations/

Withdrawing from exams and limits on re-takes

A student can sit for this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do this in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit for the exam.

Other information

It is strongly recommended to attend the first lecture since it will be given important information.

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