Philosophy (PHIL) |
211 Susan Campbell, 541-346-5547
College of Arts & Sciences
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Course Data
| PHIL 623 Mtapyscs Algrthm Artfc |
4.00 cr. |
| This course offers an advanced exploration of central ethical challenges in data science and related fields of computational analysis. |
| Grading Options: |
Optional; see degree guide or catalog for degree requirements
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| Instructor: |
Alvarado R  |
Office:
245 Susan Campbell Hall
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| Course Materials |
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CRN |
Avail |
Max |
Time |
Day |
Location |
Instructor |
Notes |
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25815 |
2 |
10 |
1600-1850 |
t |
250C SC |
Alvarado R |
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Final Exam: |
1230-1430 |
w 3/20 |
250C SC |
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Academic Deadlines
| Deadline |
Last day to: |
| January 7: |
Process a complete drop (100% refund, no W recorded) |
| January 13: |
Drop this course (100% refund, no W recorded; after this date, W's are recorded) |
| January 13: |
Process a complete drop (90% refund, no W recorded; after this date, W's are recorded) |
| January 14: |
Process a complete withdrawal (90% refund, W recorded) |
| January 14: |
Withdraw from this course (100% refund, W recorded) |
| January 15: |
Add this course |
| January 15: |
Last day to change to or from audit |
| January 21: |
Process a complete withdrawal (75% refund, W recorded) |
| January 21: |
Withdraw from this course (75% refund, W recorded) |
| January 28: |
Process a complete withdrawal (50% refund, W recorded) |
| January 28: |
Withdraw from this course (50% refund, W recorded) |
| February 4: |
Process a complete withdrawal (25% refund, W recorded) |
| February 4: |
Withdraw from this course (25% refund, W recorded) |
| February 25: |
Withdraw from this course (0% refund, W recorded) |
| February 25: |
Change grading option for this course |
 | You can't drop your last class using the "Add/Drop" menu in DuckWeb. Go to the “Completely Withdraw from Term/University” link to begin the complete withdrawal process. If you need assistance with a complete drop or a complete withdrawal, please contact the Office of Academic Advising, 101 Oregon Hall, 541-346-3211 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). If you are attempting to completely withdraw after business hours, and have difficulty, please contact the Office of Academic Advising the next business day. |
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Expanded Course Description
| Understanding the materiality of powerful industrial machinery was key to a proper critique of its place and of its implications in the expansion of economic forces driving both the progress and inequities of the 19th century. Understanding the material practices of formal processing systems— in governance (technocracies), industry (management), or academia (big science)— has been key to successfully navigate or challenge their relentless role in the development of 20th century power. Computational artifacts—such as algorithms, deep neural networks, large language models, recommender systems, search engines, computer simulations, and smart devices— have come to dominate the way in which we interact with our environment, with each other and even with ourselves. Furthermore, 21st century power structures now depend on the ubiquity of computational methods and devices as decisions in banks, universities and governments rely more and more on such artifacts to analyze, categorize, cluster, target, prioritize, or exclude groups of people. Computational components and resources such as chips, datasets, computer clusters and servers are now determinant factors in matters of national security and foreign policy from the largest to the smallest economies of our planet. Computational tools, however, are not exactly like other industrial-era technologies or like institutions. Rather these artifacts are epistemic machines with a less tangible materiality and domain of operation than an internal combustion engine. As such, their role in the many dimensions of our lives cannot be fully understood simply by looking at other technologies, or by relying on philosophical and sociological analyses of the technologies of other eras. Hence, in this seminar we will explore the nature and properties of such devices from a philosophical perspective —i.e., metaphysics (what are computational artifacts?), epistemology (can we rely on such tools for knowledge?) and ethics (how are we to relate to such technology, and how ought we to use it to relate to one another?)— in order to best understand their role, their promise and their limitations for our century.
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