Admission requirements
Students need to be registered for the minor AI and Society to follow this course.
This course is to be taken in parallel with the other foundational course in the minor: Fundamentals of AI.
Students of all faculties can register for the minor.
Description
This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to the philosophical, ethical, and political dimensions of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
We will build an understanding of the project of Artificial Intelligence and how building machines that “show intelligent behaviour” raises fundamental questions about knowledge and intelligence, what it is that makes us human, what we consider to be good, and questions of power and distribution of resources. This course will focus on the more conceptual fundamentals and how these are connected to transformation of how we perceive the world, what is possible and what is desirable. What is intelligent behavior? Can a machine think? What is the relationship between human understanding and behaviour and the tools that we build? How does our development, use and thinking about AI transform societal infrastructures such as law, markets and democracy?
This course will cover topics such as the following:
History of AI
Philosophical underpinnings of the project of AI
Philosophy of mind and AI: Consciousness and Intelligence
Existential risk and AI: artificial general intelligence and singularity
Ethical considerations around AI, such as * How AI mediates human values * Machine Learning and bias * (Human) Autonomy and AI * Responsibility and AI: accountability, transparency
Human-Machine interactions: Psychological and Anthropological perspectives on AI
Technology and society: artifacts have politics, social impacts of automation
Power structures and AI: who controls and decides about the use of AI?
Course objectives
This course aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the main philosophical, ethical and political dimensions of AI, and will be equipped with the conceptual and critical thinking skills necessary to engage with these issues in the rest of the minor, and to connect the issues discussed to their major program.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Develop a common frame of reference and terminology for AI;
Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the history, philosophy and ethics of AI;
Have a fundamental understanding of the project of AI and vocabulary for critically reflecting on AI in Society;
Share their perspectives on the role of AI in society from different backgrounds and points of view, by a group presentation and class discussion about a book chapter;
Ask questions outside of their 'own' disciplinary framework.
Timetable
Check MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
Throughout the course, we will draw upon readings at the intersection of a variety of disciplines, including philosophy and ethics, science and technology studies, computer science, anthropology, history, political studies etc.
Part of the course is dedicated to active reading of the book "Atlas of AI" by Kate Crawford, and class discussions prepared by the students. The book provides a foundation for exploring the ways in which AI is shaping our world, and the ethical, political, and social considerations that come with its development and deployment. Students will be encouraged to think critically about the arguments presented in the book, and to develop their own perspectives on the issues raised.
Attendance and participation is required, and should be reflected in the reflective journal in order to pass the course.
Lectures
Number of (2 hour) lectures: 8
Names of lecturers: Dr. Francien Dechesne, (guest) lecturers from Humanities, Archaeology and Computer Science
Required preparation by students: selected topical readings for each session, write short reflections on the readings for reflection and class discussion.
Seminars
Number of (2 hour) seminars: 3
Names of instructors: Dr. Francien Dechesne
Required preparation by students: reading the book Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford, prepare debate questions in groups
Other methods of instruction
Description: Course wrap-up and exam preparation session
Number of (2 hour) instructions: 1
Names of instructors: Francien Dechesne
Required preparation by students: prepare questions about the exam materials
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
Reflective journal (20%);
Group assignment for the "book club" sessions (20%);
Written exam (60%).
Please note that participation in all three parts of the examination is mandatory. To pass the course the weighted average of the three parts should be 5.50 or higher - so it is possible to compensate the individual parts. It is not possible to retake the group assignment. The obtained grades will expire after this academic year if the course has not been completed.
Submission procedures
As listed on Brightspace.
Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of everything marked on Brightspace as "exam materials". This includes the required reading (literature) or media for the course, the subjects discussed in the (guest) lectures, the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.
Reading list
Obligatory course materials
Literature:
Kate Crawford, Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence, 2021. Yale University Press
Selected readings to be specified via Brightspace.
Recommended course materials
Some recommended fiction for nice discussions (but make sure to bring your own suggestions as well!):
Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun (2022)
Dave Eggers, The Circle (2013) and The Every (2021)
Ian McEwan, Machines Like Me (2019)
Series: Black Mirror (Netflix)
Movie: Stanley Kubrick, 2001 A Space Odyssee
Movie: Minority Report (2002)
Registration
Registration for courses and exams takes place via MyStudymap. If you do not have access to MyStudymap (guest students), look here (under the Law-tab) for more information on the registration procedure in your situation.
Contact
Coordinator: Francien Dechesne
Work address: KOG, Steenschuur 25
Contact information: via the communication platform of the minor
Telephone number: 071-5277608
Email: f.dechesne@law.leidenuniv.nl
Institution/division
Institute: Metajuridica
Department: eLaw
Telephone number secretary: 071- 527 8838
Email: elaw@law.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
This course is a central element of the interdisciplinary minor on AI and Society and only available for students in the minor.