corona/ethics

What key lessons should society take away from the pandemic? What can ethicists and philosophers of technology learn from the pandemic?

In the last episode of the series, Ibo van de Poel and Julia Hermann talk about Corona and its impact on ethics and philosophy of technology. They also consider the role of ethicists during the pandemic and the impact of Corona on our moral capacities.

Ibo is Professor at the Ethics and Philosophy of Technology section at Delft University of Technology. In his research he focuses on responsible innovation, ethics of emerging technology and design for values. Julia is an Assistant Professor at the philosophy department at Twente University. In her research she looks at how emerging technologies affect our concepts.

This episode is hosted by Steffen Steinert (TU Delft) and Matthew Dennis (TU Eindhoven). Steffen works on value change and technology and Matthew’s work focuses on technology and well-being.

Issues covered in this episode:

Corona and society

Role of ethicists 

Tightly coupled systems

Epistemic role of experts

Corona and climate

Social media

Moral capacities

Relevant links and publications for this episode:

How does healthcare affect the environment? Is there a conflict between medical ethics and environmental ethics? How does the Corona pandemic overlap with environmental issues?

In this episode, Cristina Richie talks about healthcare and its environmental impact. She also addresses the connection between the Corona pandemic and environmental bioethics, and the link between health care, environmental exploitation and justice.

Cristina is a lecturer at the Ethics and Philosophy of Technology section at Delft University of Technology. In her research Cristina focuses on just and sustainable healthcare and bioethics. This episode is hosted by Lavinia Marin, also from Delft University of Technology. Lavinia works on online critical thinking.

Issues covered in this episode:

Environmental bioethics

Health care

Carbon footprint

Climate change

Quality of life

Justice

Environmental exploitation

Public health

Relevant links and publications for this episode:

In this episode, Emily Sullivan talks about the role of explainability concerning machine learning models. She also addresses how explainability relates to epistemic norms and the ethics of machine learning.

Emily is an Assistant Professor at the Philosophy and Ethics Group at Eindhoven University of Technology. In her research Emily focuses on epistemology and machine learning.

This episode is hosted by Mandi Astola, also from Eindhoven University. Mandi works on the ethics of co-creation for technological innovation.

Issues covered in this episode:

• #Algorithm


• #Machine learning


• #Artificial intelligence


• #Triage


• #Informed consent


• #Explainability


• #Understanding


• #Ethical AI


• #Epistemic norms

Relevant links and publications for this episode:

What will the future look like after Corona? How can we integrate public values into anticipatory scenarios? Can and should we nudge people to stick to Corona measures or get vaccinated?

In this episode, Yashar Saghai talks about an interesting research project where people are asked to imagine the future after Corona. He also considers moral dilemmas connected to Corona, values and public deliberation about future crises, and governmental emergency preparedness. Philosophy’s role in times of crisis is also addressed.

Yashar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Twente. In his research Yashar focuses on philosophical issues surrounding the anticipation of alternative futures.

This episode is hosted by Bas de Boer from University of Twente. Bas' research focusses on philosophy of science, technology and health.

Issues covered in this episode:

• #Corona and the future


• #Moral imagination


• #Moral dilemmas


• #Moral creativity


• #Anticipatory democracy


• #Nudges


• #Role of philosophy

Relevant links and publication for this episode:

How do scientists make sense of the Corona pandemic?
What is the relation of science, the public, and policy?
What can philosophy of science contribute to our understanding of what science can and cannot do?

In this episode, Mieke Boon talks about scientific practice, the problem of uncertainty in science, and the importance of models for a scientific understanding of the Corona pandemic. She also addresses scientific literacy, interdisciplinary research, and vaccination.

Mieke is a Full Professor at the Philosophy Department at University of Twente. Mieke’s research interests include philosophy of science and engineering sciences.

This episode is hosted by Bas de Boer from University of Twente. Bas works on philosophy of science, technology and health.

Issues covered in this episode:

• #Philosophy of science


• #Scientific methods


• #Scientific models


• #Trust in science


• #Interdisciplinary research


• #Science and the public

Relevant links and publications for this episode:

Do people lose familiarity with the world during the pandemic? What important issues of contact-tracing apps are we neglecting when we only concentrate on privacy? These are only some of the questions discussed in this episode.

In our very first episode, Janna van Grunsven and Olya Kudina talk about social media, contact-tracing, mental health during the pandemic, and philosophical challenges of the Corona pandemic. Janna and Olya are Assistant Professors at the Ethics and Philosophy of Technology section at Delft University of Technology. Janna has a particular interest in embodied, embedded, extended and enactive cognition. Olya is interested in how value change is mediated by technology. Both of their work focuses on the ethics of technology.

The discussion is hosted by Lavinia Marin from TU Delft. Lavinia works on online critical thinking.

Issues covered in this episode:

• # How the Corona pandemic changes the way we relate to the world


• # Privacy and tracking and tracing technology


• # Individual choice and responsibility


• # Public health, and social and individual values


• # Corporate interests and the Corona pandemic


• # Solidarity

Relevant links and publications for this episode: