Ethics for Nerds (INHN0030)

Intended Learning Outcomes

After the successful completion of this module, students are able to judge a computer scientists relevance to society from an ethical perspective and are able to better judge on their decisions.

Course Information

• Language: English
• SWS: 2S
• ECTS: 3
• Module: INHN0007 (Heilbronn)
• Course description: TUMOnline
• Prerequisite: Interest in the subject.
• TUMonline: You must register for this course in TUMonline before the course starts.
• Course Material: To be checked with your topicc supervisor.
• Code of Conduct: When participating in this course, you confirm to follow the:
  • TUM Digital Learning Commitment
  • Student Code of Conduct
  • EIST Code of Conduct
• Time and Location: 
  • Seminar: 
    • Tuesday, 10:00-12:00, only on-campus (Heilbronn)
    • Room D 2.01/02 - BildungsCampus 2.
    • For Heilbronn students only

Important Information

The module is divided into two parts: First, basic knowledge about the subject area is elaborated and discussed in the seminar through presentations using slides. In the next step, this knowledge is further deepened and compiled in the seminar thesis. For this purpose, teams of three to four participants are formed.

Content

Topics comprise:

• Information and communication technologies whose invention and also the timing of their invention have had a lasting impact on our society. From this point of view, today's technologies such as the World Wide Web or social media will be considered from an ethical point of view and a look into the future will be taken.
• How dependent are we on emerging technologies? Safety critical systems are by no means always safe, which can be well observed in numerous incidents. What happens, for example, when self-driving cars are controlled by third parties due to a security vulnerability? Is such dependence even justifiable from an ethical point of view?
• What influence do the new media have on the individual? What drives young people to give everything to look good in a virtual world?
• How should the influence of social media on politics and society be looked at? After the initial euphoria, critical voices are increasingly being raised.
• Within this context, it is worth taking a closer look at the topic of ''fake news'' within the context of image and language manipulation.
• How justifiable is it at all to work on information technology for modern weapons systems?
• The gambler of tomorrow: What is happening ''thanks to computer science'' on the international financial markets?

Media

Seminar presentations with digital slidesand individual feedback and comprehensive discussion of the topic.

Instructors

Student Assistant

Sarah Lockfisch, B.Sc.

sarah.lockfisch@tum.de