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Ethics Workshop: The Impact of Digital Life on Society
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:37
Abstract
This workshop focuses on understanding and managing the ethical and social issues arising from the integration of new technologies in various aspects of daily life.
Objective
- Explain relevant concepts in ethics. - Evaluate the ethical dimensions of new technology uses. - Identify impacted stakeholders and who is ethically responsible. - Engage constructively in the public discourse relating to new technology impacts. - Review tools and resources currently available that facilitate resolutions and ethical practice. - Work in a more ethically reflective way.
Content
The workshop offers students an experience that trains their ability for critical analysis and develops awareness of responsibilities as a researcher, consumer and citizen. Learning will occur in the context of three intensive workshop days, which are highly interactive and focus on the development and application of reasoning skills. The workshop will begin with some fundamentals: the nature of ethics, of consent and big data, of AI ethics, public trust and health ethics. Students will then be introduced to key ethical concepts such as fairness, autonomy, trust, accountability, justice, as well different ways of reasoning about the ethics of digital technologies. A range of practical problems and issues in the domains of education, media, society, digital health and justice will be then considered. These domains are represented respectively by unique and interesting case studies. Each case study has been selected not only for its timely and engaging nature, but also for its relevance. Through the analysis of these case studies key ethical questions (such as fairness, accountability, explainability, access etc.) will be highlighted and questions of responsibility and tools for ethical practice will be explored. Throughout, the emphasis will be on learning to make sound arguments about the ethical aspects of policy, practice and research.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , DR
- Frequency
- Semesterly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 40
- Signup End
- 10.11.2026
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Ethics Workshop: The Impact of Digital Life on Society
Block course three days.
|
No time listed | 24 h semesterly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses. Particularly relevant for students interested in those subjects. All these courses are also listed under the category “Typ A”, and every student can enroll in these courses.)
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Doctorate Biology (More Information at: )
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Doctorate Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (More Information at: )
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Doctorate Computer Science (More Information at: )
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Doctorate Health Sciences and Technology (More Information at: )