The core topic of this course is the relation of human beings and technology. We will approach this topic from two angles. First, we will discuss the impact of recent as well as emerging technologies on how we view the human and core characteristics of human beings. Second, we will debate to what extent such views influence how we use, design and develop information systems.

We will ask questions such as: Why do people accept controversial techniques such as genetic engineering? Do we have a right to use such enhancing technologies? Do we need technology to reach our full potential or should we rather protect the human body from the interference of certain technologies?

Topics covered include:
* The mind-body problem
* Human vulnerability
* Boundaries of the self
* Human enhancement
* The right to technology
* Transhumanism

Please go to the LEARN course repository for additional info on this course

By the end of this seminar, students will have gained a deeper understanding of various social, cultural, philosophical and psychological perspectives on human nature and technology. Through this, they will learn to appreciate inter- and transdisplinary approaches to related contentious aspects of new and emerging technologies. They will have a chance to do an empirical or theoretical project and develop their writing and presentational skills.

General attendance of 80% is mandatory. Students who do not fulfill this requirement automatically fail the course.
It is the students' responsibility to keep track of their attendance!

Attendance in the introductory session is especially important, as registered students that do not attend this session lose their place to students from the waiting list.

A mixture of student and teacher-led methods will be employed. The course will entail a combination of theoretical input, independent student research, class discussions and presentations.

Students will work on a project related to the course topics. They can choose to (a) write a literature review, (2) an argumentative paper (essay), or (3) conduct a small empirical project (online surveys or interviews). Teamwork is also an option. After agreeing on a research topic, students will iteratively develop and refine their research question based on a detailed search of high quality literature (journal articles and edited books) and finally submit their results in form of a seminar paper.

To guide the preparation of the seminar paper, students will briefly present their research question in the beginning of the seminar and show the results of their research project in a more detailed presentation three weeks later. In a peer review process, students will then provide feedback on their colleagues' seminar paper drafts and thus also have a chance to improve their own paper based on their peers' feedback.

Active participation in class (including attendance) forms part of the grade.

All partial assignments need to be successfully completed:
15% Active participation, including attendance
25% Presentation of research question & results
20% Peer review reports
40% Seminar paper

This is how your points will be translated into grades:
87.5 - 100.0 ..... 1 "Excellent"
75.0 - 87.49 ..... 2 "Good"
62.5 - 74.99 ..... 3 "Satisfactory"
50.0 - 62.49 ..... 4 "Sufficient"
0.00 - 49.99 ..... 5 "Fail"

The places for this course are allocated on the "first-come, first-served" principle during the official registration period. If you are registered for the course, but cannot participate, please cancel your registrations during the registration period, so that your place can be taken by students who want and can participate.

The participation in the first unit is mandatory for registered students; students who fail to come forfeit their place to students on the waiting list.