SPT will co-sponsor with the APA Committee on Philosophy and Computers a session in the main section of the APA Pacific Davison meeting, 24 to 29 March 2003 in Pasadena, California. The session will continue a theme begun at last year's APA Pacific Meeting on "Computers and the Mediation of Human Experience." The programme is:

Special Session Arranged by the APA Committee on Philosophy and Computers and the Society for Philosophy and Technology

4:00-6:00 p.m.

Topic: Computers and the Mediation of Human Experience

Chair: Noam Cook (San Jose State University)

Panellists: Andrew Feenberg (Simon Fraser University), "Computers and Communication Theory"; Charles Ess (Drury University), "Ethics and Culture Offline and Online"

Job announcements

Assistant Professor of Science, Technology and Society - Penn State University

3 Year Fixed Term

Position Starting August 15, 2004

The Science, Technology, & Society (STS) Program at Penn State is seeking a talented, energetic scholar to teach core interdisciplinary courses at the undergraduate level. The applicants should have completed a Ph.D. degree and have teaching experience and outstanding teaching abilities. Area of specialization is open, but the program is interested in scholars with demonstrated achievements in one or more of the following areas: theory and/or sociology of science and technology, medicine and society, sustainability, STS and the media, or scientific laboratories/big science. The selected candidate should anticipate working collegially with faculty and visiting scholars from many different disciplines and be interested in building bridges between programs on campus.

Candidates should send an application letter, curriculum vita, single writing sample, and the names for three references (with complete contact information, including mail, telephone and email) to:

Chair, Search Committee

STS Program - Penn State

102 Old Botany

Pos. #: L-17165

University Park, PA 16802

Screening of applicants will begin April 1, 2004 and continue until a selection is made. For further information or inquiries, please contact the main office at 814-865-9951 or the search chair, Dr. Steven Walton at STS-search@psu.edu.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce.

Calls for papers

6th International Summer Academy on Technology Studies: “Urban Infrastructure in Transition: What can we learn from history?” - Deutschlandsberg, Austria, July 11 – 17, 2004

Organized by Inter-University Research Centre for Technology, Work and Culture (IFZ), Graz. Cities are powerfully shaped by socio-technical networks and infrastructures. These organize and mediate the distribution of people, goods, services, information, waste, capital, and energy within, and between, urban regions. The quality of urban life (50% of the world’s population live in cities) depends heavily on urban infrastructures and service systems (water, sewage, energy, transport, telecommunications). Achieving sustainable urban infrastructure networks is vital if cities are to thrive or even function in the long term. The Summer Academy 2004 will focus on the transition of urban infrastructure in view of changing framework conditions and new challenges in a historical perspective. A starting point is the contemporary debate about urban infrastructure, in which you hardly can find a reference to historical experiences. This is precisely where the discussions of this year’s Summer Academy will raise the following questions: What can historical analysis of the development and design of urban technical infrastructure systems contribute to an understanding of the current transition process?; What can we learn from history to manage current challenges for our water, electricity, telecommunications, and transport systems?; What can we learn from history for a sustainable design and governance of infrastructure technology networks in the present and future? The main objectives of the Summer Academy are to explore: the process of transition of urban technical infrastructure systems and urban technology networks in a historical perspective; strategies for a more sustainable, i. e. socially and environmentally friendly design of urban technologies as an issue of technology studies and technology policy; the contribution of urban infrastructure systems for a sustainable development of cities or urban areas in general.

Participants are encouraged to present a paper related to one of the following topics:

1) Political aspects of urban technology

This topic focuses on the question of organization, regulation, design and governance of urban infrastructure concerning the following issues: Relationship between market/politics and the private and public sector of the economy; systems of services of general interest; structures of governance, measures of managing technical progress (transition management), technical regimes, path dependencies; actors (private and public institutions, municipalities, countries, national states, trans-national actors); decision-making process and role of key decision-makers in determining the choice of services to be provided (system builders); concepts of participation, beyond centralization.

2) Social aspects of urban technology

This topic of the social impacts or the social importance of urban infrastructures includes the following issues: Systems of technical infrastructures as a socially and environmentally sound technology; impacts on the environment; concepts or visions of public assistance or fundamental public services; changes in the understanding of services of general interest (or in the definition of basic needs); tensions between technical network integration and social, political and cultural integration/disintegration processes; relationship between citizens and public authorities; users, consumption patterns, life-styles.

3) Cultural aspects of urban technology

This topic focuses on the interaction between the transformation of urban infrastructures and cultural change (discourses). The main issues in this context are: Interrelations between the process of modernization (transition of urban technology) and cultural change; theories of infrastructure; discourses of modernization, technology as a symbol of modernity, ideas/visions and self concepts of modern or (in a contemporary context) sustainable cities; urbanity; criticism of urban technology and civilization.

Please submit a one page abstract and a maximum of one page on your work and research background. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 2, 2004. You will be notified of acceptance by April 19. A maximum of 40 participants will be accepted.

More information: http://www.ifz.tugraz.at/index.php/sumac

The Gender Politics of ICT: 6th International Women into Computing Conference, Endorsed by the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology - 14-16 July 2005, University of East London, School of Cultural and Innovation Studies, England

How does gender politics influence ICT? There is a tendency for politicians and managers in ICT to highlight the increasing numbers of women in this industry. Feminist research suggests that the benefits of this increase are unequally balanced between men and women. The intention of this conference is to bring together the experiences and the research of those interested in the relationship between gender and ICT, the positioning of gender within ICT and the influence of gender on the development of ICT.

Participants are invited to discuss their working experiences; or their experiences as a student; their ideas for future research; or their completed researches. Contributions are welcomed from anyone with something interesting and novel to say on the theme of this conference -- practitioners and academics from all disciplines. Topics may include:

- Issues of gender relating to Technology in everyday life; Computer Games; Innovative Technology; E-learning and E-teaching; Computer science education; Employment and ICT; Virtuality;

- Feminist approaches to computing

- Gender and computing / ICT as an ethical issue

- ICT in the Developing World

- Impact of Women’s Creativity on ICT

- The impact of 24/7 computing

The Programme Committee welcomes conventional papers, submissions for panel discussions, submissions for participatory workshops, poster presentations, videoconferencing, and ideas for exhibitions or presentations of software for teaching. All contributions will be refereed by the Programme Committee. Final date for submission of full papers: 13th Sept 2004.

Women into Computing is a network of people committed to raising the profile of women in the computing and IT fields. Its membership, though largely based in the UK education sector, includes people from many different areas of computing and a number of countries overseas. WiC is affiliated to the British Computer Society.

More information: http://wic.org.uk/conference/

Forthcoming Events

Two-day debate on Modern Biology and Visions of Humanity, Genoa, 22-23 March 2004

Recent biological advances have called into question many of the convictions we have held for centuries about the nature of humanity. What impact is this having on how we see ourselves, and how can we use the new knowledge not only to create a better society but also to reach a fuller understanding of what it means to be human? This is the ambitious theme of a pioneering encounter taking place in Genoa on 22-23 March 2004. The event is open to invited experts from many disciplines, plus a selected audience representing a wide spectrum of interests. The panelists include scientists, psychiatrists, philosophers, sociologists, politicians, journalists, writers and poets. The four main sessions will cover Life sciences and the belief in progress; the challenge and limitations of reductionism; Life sciences and democracy; and Science fiction as a cultural spin-off from biological exploration.

The encounter is organized by the European Commission, under the aegis of the European Group on Life Sciences (http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/life-sciences/egls/index_en.html). The EGLS is a group of eminent life scientists appointed by EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin to advise on the future of life sciences and technologies, and particularly to foster a broad dialogue on issues concerning life sciences and society. Members of the audience are being invited to represent a wide cross section of society: both women and men, with different cultural interests and social backgrounds. Guests include young people, artists and politicians, representatives from NGOs, scientific, humanistic and religious organizations, and the media. You will have an opportunity to participate in the debates, through a moderator, with the aim of enriching and broadening the scope of discussion and making it relevant to the largest number of people possible. In this way, the organizers hope to bring the vital debate on the role of modern biology to a wider audience, and boost citizens’ participation in crucial decisions about how the life sciences can be used to create a better society. We hope that you will seize this opportunity to take an active role.

There is no fee for attending this event, but members of the selected audience will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. A book discussing many of the issues at stake will be published to coincide with the encounter, and a documentary film may also be produced. More information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/ conferences/2004/ biology/index_en.html.

ETHICOMP 2004: "Challenges for the Citizen of the Information Society" – The Seventh ETHICOMP International Conference on the Social and Ethical Impacts of Information and Communication Technologies, University of the Aegean, Syros, Greece, 14 to 16 April 2004

ETHICOMP 2004 focuses on these "Challenges for the Citizen of the Information Society". The aim of the conference is to present and discuss the social and ethical impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on individuals as consumers, as employees and as citizens. Papers take a conceptual, applied, practical or historical focus, and include case studies and reports on lessons learned in practice. More information: http://www.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk/ conferences/ethicomp2004/index.html

Rethinking Theories & Practices of Imaging: Technology, Representation, and the Disciplines - Rochester Institute of Technology, Department of Philosophy, April 16, 2004

What is the nature and scope of the imaging revolution? The humanities and sciences are together challenged and assisted by the imaging revolution, but are they engaging each other sufficiently to understand its significance? The conference will focus on the impact that imaging technologies have on what we know, on how knowledge gets represented and put into practice, and on the cross-disciplinary impact these technologies have on the nature of inquiry and expression more generally. The conference is co-Directed by Timothy Engström and Evan Selinger. More information: https://www.rit.edu/~emsgsh/imagingconference.html

Heritage of Technology – Gdańsk Outlook 4, May 4-7, 2005

Gdańsk University of Technology is organizing the International Conference “Heritage of Technology – Gdańsk Outlook 4” (HOT-GO4) on May 4-7, 2005. The conference is dedicated to the role of the past technology in the cultural life of society. The following problems will be discussed in eight sections:

- Identity and historical memory of the industrial society – the tangible and intangible heritage of technology.

- Embodiment of ingenium – approach to heuristics by the investigation of the phenomena of technical creativeness.

- Storytelling on industrial, technical and engineering heritage – reports and case studies on conservation-restoration.

- Heritage of names – biographical notes about inventors of old testing instruments or methods being still in use and named after them.

- History of engineering for engineers – case studies on the recent teaching experience.

- Toward e-society – ICT for promotion of cultural heritage and conservation-restoration of its resources.

- Technological themes in fine arts, music and poetry.

- History of engineering sciences and education in Gdańsk.

More information: http://hotgo4.mech.pg.gda.pl

Seventh Annual Ethics and Technology Conference - Loyola University/Chicago (USA), June 25-26, 2004.

The conference as in the past will take on a broad approach on issues of ethics and technology (computer and other electronic related forms). Papers focusing on the ethical dimension of digital music, P2P, MP3, the future of copyright, digital rights management, open source code, web site interconnectivity ( i.e. proper use of hyperlinks), viruses and worms are all relevant topics for this conference. Papers related to Information and Communication technology, HIPPA, governance of cyberspace, content controls and free expression in cyberspace, ethical issues in e-commerce, and other related topics are welcomed. The conference will consist of presentation of refereed papers, keynote speakers, panel presentations, demonstrations, and other forms of presentations. More information: www.ethicstechconference.org

Computing and Philosophy – 2004 CAP Conference at Carnegie Mellon, August 5th- 7th

Computing and Philosophy (CAP) conferences have become the central meeting place for all aspects of computing and philosophy. CAP now holds both East Coast and West Coast meetings on a bi-annual basis. As with all CAP conferences, speakers and panels will address many aspects of the "computational turn" that is occurring within the discipline of Philosophy. Featured topics include AI and Epistemology, new models of Logic Software, Computer Ethics, Computing and World Cultures, Electronic Resources, and the Impact of Distance Learning on the Profession. More information: iacap.org.

Genetics and Health Care – Reykjavik, Iceland, August 25-28, 2004

Conference organized by the European Society for Philosophy of Medicine and Healthcare (ESPMH), the ELSAGEN bioethics project, and the Centre for Ethics at the University of Iceland .The focus of the conference is on philosophical, ethical and legal issues in relation to biomolecular technologies, and genetics in particular. The program of the conference includes plenary sessions as well as parallel sessions. Papers will address the philosophical, ethical and historical dimensions of the conference topic. More information: http://www.hi.is/~elsagen/espmh/

Artefacts in Philosophy - October 3-4, 2004, Delft, The Netherlands

Technical artefacts – roughly speaking, the material products of our endeavour to attain our practical goals – have a modest presence in philosophy. They play a role in the work of some major philosophers, such as Aristotle, Locke and Heidegger, but they are seldom used as the starting point of philosophical analysis. Art works may be regarded as the centerpieces of aesthetics, but household items and other products of engineering activities have largely met with philosophical indifference. Even in the philosophy of technology, artefacts often play supporting roles in the drama of their societal impact. The conference Artefacts in Philosophy intends to show that artefacts are valuable instruments for philosophers. An analysis of artefacts is entangled with major philosophical themes and disciplines in surprising ways, and may profitably be used to cast light in several areas of central philosophical interest. At the conference, we aim to examine several philosophical themes for which artefacts can provide new – in some cases much needed – leverage. To put the motto of the conference more forcibly: an analysis of the nature, use and design of artefacts may serve as a lever to open new entrances into existing domains, or to make headway into new areas of research. The conference covers the following themes:

§ Epistemology

Knowledge of artefact functions, which is indispensable in everyday life, seems intrinsically connected to intentional action. It is not strictly about what to think, but also or primarily about what to do. This may make this type of knowledge different from the standard descriptive type, but showing this requires developing the connection to action beyond mere intuitions. Furthermore, engineers and designers act as sources of knowledge of artefacts and their functions, making this a suitable topic for study in social epistemology.

§ Normativity

Artefacts are assessed as well as used. We routinely evaluate artefacts as good or flawed specimens of their kind. But we also make apparently deontic statements about how artefacts and their users ought to behave or act. This raises questions such as: Is it indeed possible to make normative statements about objects? Is the ‘ought’ in the deontic statements apparent only? Does the classic distinction between ought to be and ought to do apply, given the interconnections between assessments of artefacts and of use? How do these evaluative and deontic statements relate?

§ Conceptual Coherence

Artefacts can be described both in terms of their function and of their physical structure. Designers often describe their own activity as starting with functional specifications and ending with a structural description. It makes sense to think that they explain their designs post hoc by describing how the physical object can fulfil the function. This raises a question about how exactly the functional and structural descriptions cohere, and whether their interrelations are different than those of the well-studied, similar physical and mental/intentional descriptions of the human mind.

§ Ontology

We see the need to develop an ontology of artefacts that does justice to both their functionality and materiality. Artefacts can be understood as function-bearing physical objects, or physical role-players. Can the relation between function and physical structure be analysed in terms of supervenience? Is the artefact as functional object identical to the physical object, or is there need for a general distinction - like the one between the statue and the clay? What are the individuating conditionals for artefacts? Is there a conceptual distinction between (functional) components and (structural) parts? More information: http://www.dualnature.tudelft.nl/ main_artefactsinphilosophy.htm

Recent publications of interest

Technology: Art, Fairground and Theatre

Petran Kockelkoren

Technology: Art, Fairground and Theatre presents a highly diverse parade of inventions that have influenced our perceptions marches: from the perspective paintings of the Renaissance, continuing with the notorious 'train sicknesses' of the nineteenth century, to the modernday 'helicopter view'. A constant feature of the sensory transformation through history is instruments and machinery, from the camera obscura, via the stereoscope to the multimedia art of today. And in the same way, an ever-returning question is what these things do to us.

Petran Kockelkoren (1949) holds the chair in Art and Technology at the Department of Philosophy, University of Twente. He also holds a lectorship Art and Technology at ArtEZ, Institute of the Arts. This book is a revised version of Kockelkoren's inaugural oration, published as part of the series 'Fascinations'.

Paperback, sewn, illustrated (b/w), 112 pages, size: 20 x 12 cm

text in English, ISBN 90-5662-235-8, € 20.00

Also available in a Dutch Edition, ISBN 90-5662-234-x, € 20.00

More information: http://www.naipublishers.nl/art/techniekkunst_e.html

Philosophy of Technology Around the World

Master of Science Program Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society

by Philip Brey

In September 2004, the University of Twente will start a two-year international master of science program Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society (PSTS), intended for students with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a major in (applied) science or engineering. PSTS will be offered by the department of philosophy and the centre of Science, Technology and Society of the University of Twente in collaboration with the department of philosophy of Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands, the department of philosophy of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden and the Institute for Environment, Philosophy and Public Policy (IEPPP) of Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom. The three mentioned philosophy departments will be known to most SPT members as established European research centers in the philosophy of technology, with the fourth group, the IEPPP, also maintaining an active philosophical interest in technology, with scholars like Ruth Chadwick, Alan Holland and Lucas Introna. PSTS may well be the first international master program in which the main focus is philosophy of technology. It is certainly the only such program that is explicitly aimed at students with bachelor degrees with a major in science or engineering. In this entry, I will inform the readership of the SPT newsletter in some detail about this unique program.

The aim of PSTS is to enable students to perform philosophical and multidisciplinary analyses of applied science and technology and their place in society. In Twente, we previously ran a Dutch version of the program, which is now being phased out, and it is our experience that there is great demand for graduates who are able to combine expertise in science or engineering with an ability to reflect on technology and its social impacts. Statistics even show that our previous graduates earn slightly more than a regular science or engineering graduate. Graduates can end up in a broad range of professions, including academic positions, R&D-positions, consultancy, policy, teaching and regular science and engineering positions. In the program, students will become thoroughly acquainted with philosophical and other theories on the nature of technology, the relation between engineering science and natural science, and the role of technology in society and culture. They also learn how to analyze and reflect on technology and its social impacts, social and ethical controversies involving science and technology, methodological issues in applied science and engineering and on future developments in (applied) science and technology.

Program structure

There are two broad specialization tracks in the program: a track “Philosophy of Technology” and a track “Science, Technology and Society”. In the track “Philosophy of Technology,” students start with a broad, mainly philosophical program and ultimately specialize in one of the following areas: philosophy of technology, philosophy and ethics of information technology, biotechnology, medical technology and environmental technology; philosophy of engineering science; engineering ethics; philosophy of technological risks; philosophy of technology, society and culture. In the track “Science, Technology and Society” students follow a partly philosophical, partly multidisciplinary program that leads to a multidisciplinary specialization in one of the following areas: mutual shaping of technology and society; design and use of technology; long-term sociotechnical transformations; technology assessment and scenario-building; social-political and normative issues in the governance of new science and technology.

The first year of the program is taught at the University of Twente, and contains courses and projects in philosophy, ethics, philosophy of science, philosophy of technology, and science and technology studies. This program is taught by Twente staff with contributions from the three other participating institutions.

In the second year, students either specialize in Philosophy of Technology or in Science, Technology and Society. Those students who continue with the Philosophy of Technology specialization are free to spend their second year, or portions thereof, at any of the four participating institutions, as long as they undertake a focused and approved specialization program. The program is supported by the department of philosophy of the University of Twente and the philosophy department at Delft, Stockholm and Lancaster. Those students continuing in the Science, Technology and Society program will undertake a philosophically oriented more empirically oriented program, that will blend sociology, history, philosophy and policy studies, and that will frequently involve fieldwork or other empirical investigations. This program is supported by the center for Science, Technology and Society at the University of Twente, in collaboration with the department of philosophy.

Specialization in Philosophy of Technology

The specialization track in philosophy of technology will have the greatest interest to the SPT readership. (The track in science, technology and society is described more fully on the program’s website; see below). The philosophy of technology track has the following structure (based on a forty-week, four-quarter system, with each quarter taking up ten weeks of study):

SPECIALIZATION TRACK PHILOSOPHY OF TECHNOLOGY

Quarter 1.1

Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to Philosophy of Technology

History of Science and Technology

Quarter 1.2

Introduction to Philosophical Methods

Philosophy of Science

Ethics and Technology I

Quarter 1.3

Philosophical Anthropology and Technology

Society, Politics and Technology

Introduction to Science and Technology Studies

Quarter 1.4

Knowledge, Information and Technology

Ethics and Technology II

Philosophy of Technology Workshop

Quarter 2.1

Two out of four courses from:

-	Philosophy of design (UT/ Delft)