Ethics of Technology and Development

Catalog description

This course examines the ethical dimensions of technology, global development, and social change. Moving beyond abstract moral theory, it explores how ethical principles apply to real-world dilemmas, such as AI governance, lithium mining for green growth, and the upgrading of informal urban settlements. Students will learn to identify and evaluate normative claims, analyze value conflicts, and develop ethical frameworks for decision-making. Key topics include global trade and labor rights, technological solutionism, economic metrics, just transitions, and reparations. Through structured debates, ethical assessment tools, and speculative design projects, students will engage critically with systemic challenges and competing values. By the end of the course, they will be equipped to assess ethical claims and navigate complex trade-offs.