Philosophy of Tech

Automaton by Henri Maillardet, ca 1800, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia

The Philosophers of Technology Series is an open, biweekly reading and discussion series exploring how different thinkers have understood the nature, meaning, and significance of technology and technical objects.

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Each session centers on one specific pairing between a philosopher of technology and a contemporary technological phenomenon or technical object. Instead of addressing technology as concerns of utility or function, we’ll engage with the deeper questions about what technologies reveal about what it means to be ‘human,’ how they forge our relationships with each other, and how they fundamentally shape our experiences and thoughts about the world.

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No previous background in philosophy or theory of technology is required. The series is intended as an open introduction to the diverse, rich, and (sometimes) radically different ways of thinking about the technologies that permeate and inform our lives. The only requirement is an open mind willing to be skeptical, curious, momentarily confused, and – ideally – all at once.

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The series is drop-in friendly. Whether you join us for a single thinker or follow the entire series, all levels of interest, experience, and commitment are welcome!

Who: Anyone interested in deeper reflections of technology, education, and especially AI.

When: Alternate Thursdays, 12-1pm Eastern

Where: Hybrid, Zoom & In-Person, Digital Futures Institute, Russell Hall, 5th Floor

“AI is whatever hasn’t been done yet.”

Tesler's Theorem