Ethics of Machine Learning in Society

Modern Statistics and Machine Learning introduces several normative issues. Concerns surrounding algorithmic bias, data privacy, and methodological transparency arise from our methods, but our methods are not capable of fully ameliorating them. A more complete answer must be sought in moral philosophy. This course is positioned at the intersection of these disciplines. It will combine rigorous analysis of modern data sets alongside open-ended philosophical discussion. Students leaving this class will be able to defend when their methods are not only technically sound but morally just.