Tutorial - Technē, Technology and Technologies

Undergraduate / Graduate

Has technology become an autonomous force? Is AI best understood as a form of productive understanding or as a kind of knowledge? Should we leave moral deliberation to humans; and can we be friends with robots? What role might technē play in our world, and does it remain a meaningful form for humans to make a difference to reality? In addressing these questions, this course takes as its anchor point Aristotle's account of technē (productive understanding, sometimes also translated as "art" or "craft"). Our goal is to understand the ethical, political, and philosophical dimensions of technē, technology, and the technologies that shape life. We examine how Aristotle's ideas about production, understanding, purpose, and human flourishing contribute to questions about technology's role in society. Readings pair Aristotle's texts with contemporary work in the philosophy of technology, AI policy, and epistemology. The course also features visits from academics, creatives, and policymakers working on or with AI (tbc). Finally, a word on method: Aristotle's views offer an original contribution to these debates. However, this is a case where a distinctive standpoint arises through close engagement with a historical author's writings in light of their own context and aims, rather than by imposing an external theoretical framework upon them. Accordingly, the course will involve close textual and interpretive analysis.