3:20 p.m.
Please share with any interested students!
A new course number will eventually be created for Ethics & Technology, but for now,
students can find the course under PHI 2123.002 this fall (Tuesday/Thursday
11:30am-12:45pm in-person). This satisfies the 040 or 090 areas in the core, and may be
particularly useful/interesting for science and engineering students. Here is the course
description:
Ethics and Technology
Technological developments have had a massive impact on individuals and
societies-sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes ugly, often mixed. This course uses
concepts and tools of ethical and philosophical reflection to evaluate how we ought to use
and develop technologies-past, present, and future-based on ethical concerns such as the
impact on the well-being, justice, fairness, virtue, and respect for persons. Various
technological areas may be addressed, such as biotechnology, medical technology,
information technology, nanotechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence, and
computing.
Kind regards,
Miranda Swain, M.A.
Academic Advisor IV
The University of Texas at San Antonio
UTSA Academic Advising
(210) 458.4900
Student Success Center (SSC)
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249-3209
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From: Joshua Thurow <Joshua.Thurow@utsa.edu<mailto:Joshua.Thurow@utsa.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 1:31 PM
To: Miranda Swain <Miranda.Swain@utsa.edu<mailto:Miranda.Swain@utsa.edu>>
Subject: Ethics and Technology
Hi Miranda,
I just wanted to let you know that we are teaching a new class in the fall: Ethics and
Technology. It is currently listed as a special section of PHI 2123 (which is normally
Contemporary Moral Issues). Since it has that course number, it counts toward the core. We
are in the process of developing a separate course number for Ethics and Technology and
putting that course in the core, but this is the way we could offer it in the meantime to
ensure it still helps people fulfill their core requirement.
We think this is going to be a wonderful course for science and engineering students. I
know that's not your main area, but would you be willing to share this information
with the other advisors so they know about this course and that it fulfills core
requirements? Here is the course description as well:
Ethics and Technology
Technological developments have had a massive impact on individuals and
societies-sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes ugly, often mixed. This course uses
concepts and tools of ethical and philosophical reflection to evaluate how we ought to use
and develop technologies-past, present, and future-based on ethical concerns such as the
impact on the well-being, justice, fairness, virtue, and respect for persons. Various
technological areas may be addressed, such as biotechnology, medical technology,
information technology, nanotechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence, and
computing.
I hope you are well!
Best,
Josh
Joshua Thurow
Professor of Philosophy at UTSA
Associate Chair, Department of Philosophy and Classics
Executive Director of the Society of Christian Philosophers
University of Texas at San Antonio
Department of Philosophy and Classics
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249
