This website is no longer updated.

As of 1.10.2022, the Faculty of Physics has been merged into the TUM School of Natural Sciences with the website https://www.nat.tum.de/. For more information read Conversion of Websites.

de | en
Login

Robo Ethics (Ethical Challenges of Autonomous Machines)
Robo Ethics (Ethische Herausforderungen autonomer Maschinen)

Course 0000004693 in SS 2021

General Data

Course Type seminar
Semester Weekly Hours 2 SWS
Organisational Unit Academic Programs WTG
Lecturers Jörg-Wilhelm Wernecke
Dates Mon, 14:00–17:15
and 2 singular or moved dates

Assignment to Modules

Further Information

Courses are together with exams the building blocks for modules. Please keep in mind that information on the contents, learning outcomes and, especially examination conditions are given on the module level only – see section "Assignment to Modules" above.

additional remarks When Karel Čapek first used the term "robot" in his 1920 play "Rossumovi Universální Roboti (R.U.R.)" and addressed the (social) consequences of autonomous (working) machines, he was, on the one hand, anticipating many current social problems in a visionary way, but on the other hand, he was unable to measure the current innovative technical developments and the associated social and ethical challenges. What are these current challenges? The current "Robo-Sciences" are interdisciplinary research projects (including mechanical and electrical engineering, AI, cognitive science, etc.), and the associated technological, social and ethical challenges are correspondingly diverse. In particular, the evaluation of the possible (positive and negative) consequences of the implementation of these new technologies in different life-world contexts not only affect technologically social applications, but also involve questions of technology ethics and responsibility ethics. This is because these systems ((rob)bots) act (largely) autonomously, learn from (our) data, solve many complex tasks, and can often react appropriately to unpredictable events and make (action) decisions. What are the (positive and negative) consequences regarding lifeworld implementations of autonomous (ro)bots and on what basis do we evaluate the consequences? What are the possibilities and limitations of autonomous technical systems with regard to their autonomous decisions? Which areas of autonomous decisions are affected: Production processes, social actions and / or normative evaluations? Can, must and may autonomous systems make moral evaluations and then moral decisions? Are (ro)bots to be classified as moral agents (and with which possible consequences)? Among other things, these questions will be examined in the seminar from a perspective of technology ethics and ethics of responsibility. The reference to Robo Ethics intends at the same time an introduction, then an exercise in different concepts, positions of applied ethics, in that techno-ethical classifications and evaluations are conveyed and can be discussed.
Links E-Learning course (e. g. Moodle)
TUMonline entry

Equivalent Courses (e. g. in other semesters)

SemesterTitleLecturersDates
SS 2024 Ethics of Responsibility: An Introduction to Applied Ethics (Core Topic MA STS) Wernecke, J. Mon, 09:00–12:30, 1221
and singular or moved dates
SS 2023 An Introduction to Applied Ethics: Current Issues (Bioethics) Wernecke, J. singular or moved dates
SS 2023 Ethics of Responsibility: An Introduction to Applied Ethics (Core Topic MA STS) Wernecke, J. singular or moved dates
SS 2022 An Introduction to Applied Ethics: Current Issues (Bioethics) Wernecke, J. singular or moved dates
SS 2022 Ethics of Responsibility: An Introduction to Applied Ethics (Core Topic MA STS) Wernecke, J. singular or moved dates
WS 2021/2 An Introduction to Applied Ethics: Current Issues (Bioethics) Wernecke, J. singular or moved dates
SS 2021 Ethics and Responsibility: An Introduction to Applied Ethics Sandmann, E. Wernecke, J. Thu, 09:00–12:45
SS 2021 Ethics of Responsibility: An Introduction to Applied Ethics (Core Topic MA STS) Wernecke, J. singular or moved dates
SS 2021 Ethics and Responsibility: Environmental Ethics and Nature Conservation Sandmann, E.
WS 2020/1 Ethics of Responsibility: An Introduction to Applied Ethics Wernecke, J. singular or moved dates
SS 2020 Ethics of Responsibility: An Introduction to Applied Ethics Wernecke, J. singular or moved dates
WS 2019/20 An Introduction to Applied Ethics: Current Issues (Bioethics) Wernecke, J. Thu, 09:15–12:30, 1229
WS 2019/20 Ethics and Responsibility: Environmental Ethics and Nature Conservation Sandmann, E.
SS 2019 Ethics of Responsibility: An Introduction to Applied Ethics Wernecke, J. Mon, 09:00–12:00, 370
SS 2018 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability singular or moved dates
WS 2017/8 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability singular or moved dates
WS 2017/8 Ethics and Responsibility (Bioethics) singular or moved dates
SS 2017 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability Mon, 13:00–14:30, HO41
SS 2017 Ethics and Responsibility singular or moved dates
WS 2016/7 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability singular or moved dates
WS 2016/7 Ethics and Responsibility (Bioethics) Mon, 13:00–14:30, HO41
SS 2016 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability singular or moved dates
SS 2016 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability Mon, 13:00–15:00, HO41
and singular or moved dates
WS 2015/6 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability singular or moved dates
WS 2015/6 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability Mon, 13:00–14:30, HO41
SS 2015 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability singular or moved dates
SS 2015 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability Wed, 10:00–12:00, O18
WS 2014/5 Ethics and Responsibility – Sustainability Wed, 12:15–13:45, WZW H08
Top of page