PHIL 204 Life, Death, and Meaning in a Technological Age

Instructor: Abigail Bergeron

It is self-evident that today, technology is deeply embedded in our daily lives. We use digital devices, computers, phones, and the internet, for work, play and information, and we use analog devices, like microwaves and cars, to make our lives, activities and tasks, easier, more efficient, and more comfortable. But what is technology? What does it mean to live in a technological age or a technological society? And what impact do these kinds of technological devices have, to name only a few, on our conception of meaning, mortality, morality, identity, or community? To help us answer some of these questions, we will consider a selection of philosophers and techno-skeptic thinkers, both historical and contemporary, who observe and evaluate the nature and characteristics of our technological way of life.