SJE1447H
This course will address the philosophical problems arising from the use of modern technology and its implications for theories of education and educational practices. The primary focus of the course will be on the nature of the relationship between humans, society, and technology. Among the issues that may be considered are: the nature and validity of technological determinism as a model of explanation of personal and social change; technological causation; the conceptual distinctions (if any) between humans and machines; the social, political, metaphysical, ethical, and epistemological commitments involved in the introduction and use of technology in education; the distinctions between human understanding and artificial intelligence; problems arising from the use of computers in education; and related philosophical issues in education. The selection of topics will depend on the interests and backgrounds of the members of the seminar.