Section Info: PHIL-260AR-01

Course Title: Topics in Applied Philosophy: 'Ethics and Artificial Intelligence'
Start Date: 01/27/2026 End Date: 05/12/2026
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Description: Artificially intelligent technologies are prominent features of modern life -- as are ethical concerns about their programming and use. In this class we will use the tools of philosophy to explore and critically evaluate ethical issues raised by current and future AI technologies. Topics may include issues of privacy and transparency in online data collection, concerns about social justice in the use of algorithms in areas like hiring and criminal justice, and the goals of developing general versus special purpose AI. We will also look at ethics for AI: the nature of AI 'minds,' the possibility of creating more ethical AI systems, and when and if AIs themselves might deserve moral rights.
Distribution(s): I - Humanities , TP - Topics Course
Academic Level Of Course: Undergraduate     Credits:4.00    

Faculty         Phone         Email address        
Laura Sizer             lsizer@mtholyoke.edu  

Meeting Dates         Method         Meeting days         Meeting times         Building name         Room     Frequency    
01/27/2026 - 05/12/2026   Lecture   Tuesday and Thursday   03:15PM - 04:30PM   TBA   TBA   Weekly

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Requisite Courses        
None                    

Comments        
Additional Comments        
Course Tags        
PHIL0002   PHIL-ET: Ethics and Value Theory   This course has been approved to count towards the Philosophy major in the Ethics and Value Theory area.  
DATA0003   DATA-SE: Data Science Elective Course   This course is an elective option for the Data Science major.  
EOS0002   EOS-2: Organizations and Power   This course has been approved to count towards the EOS minor the Organizations and Power subject area  
PRI0001     Used to identify primary sides of crosslisted courses for Workday conversion  

Cross-listed Sections        
PHIL-260AR-01 Ethics and Artificial Intel.  
DATA-225AR-01 Ethics and Artificial Intel.  
EOS-299AR-01 Ethics and Artificial Intel.  

Course Availability
Section status: Waitlisted     Capacity: 28     Enrollment: 27     Available: 0     Waitlist: 6
Please note: The "Available" count will equal 0 in a Waitlisted course where spaces in the course have recently opened and students have not yet been moved into them from the waitlist.

BOOK INFORMATION

Book List         Required         Publisher Full Price        
To be determined.                    

Additional Book Comments        
This is NOT the complete book list for this class.