NumberphteECTS2.0LevelC1 / C2OverviewNew materials and technologies made available for mass consumption after World War II had a profound impact on how we interact with each other and our surroundings. In postwar philosophy, this provoked a deeper understanding of the technological revolutions underway. With recent advances of AI in consumer culture, we appear to be on the brink of yet another technological revolution, and, perhaps, the past has something to teach us.
In this module, students will be introduced to leading philosophers of media and technology of the second half of the twentieth century and discuss what they can contribute to understanding where we are today and how to face the challenges ahead. Among these thinkers are Norbert Wiener (cybernetics), Marshall McLuhan (global village and media effects), Paul Virilio (speed and accident), Donna Haraway (cyborg), Jean Baudrillard (the order of simulacra), Friedrich Kittler (media theory and abuse of military equipment), Michel Foucault (panopticon), Gilles Deleuze (society of control/rhizome), and Jacques Derrida (hospitality).
This module requires a high level of English proficiency, around C1/C2. Students will read short excerpts of complex texts and be asked to discuss them in depth in class.
Learning objectivesBy the end of the course, students will be familiar with the basics of the postwar philosophy of technology. Students will have improved their critical reading and thinking skills, comprehending and expressing complex thoughts. They will also have honed their discussion skills and applied what they learned to current and future technology. Previous knowledgeSuccessful completion of module ten2
. Exam formatContinuous assessment grade with final oral exam, weighting 50/50Additional informationIn this module, students will be introduced to leading philosophers of media and technology of the second half of the twentieth century and discuss what they can contribute to understanding where we are today and how to face the challenges ahead. 
