Philosophy & Ethics of AI
This course focuses on philosophical and ethical issues pertaining to Artificial Intelligence. The course consists of 12 sessions (±150mins) distributed over six days. The first set of sessions will concern technical aspects and operational principles of AI systems. These sessions will be led by experts in the field of computer science, communication studies, and informatics. The second set of sessions concern the large variety of philosophical and ethical issues related to AI. Topics include epistemological issues related to transparency, explainability, and knowledge production; political issues related to (data) ownership, responsibility, and social implications; ecological issues related to energy use and sustainability; and ethical issues related to bias, privacy and value change. Lecturers are experts in the field of philosophy of technology and ethics of AI, and include Prof. Vincent Blok (WUR); Prof. Philip Brey (Utwente); dr. Y.J. Erden (Utwente), dr. Stephan Buijsman (TuD), dr. Cynthia Liem (TuD), dr. Carlos Zednik (TuE), and Prof. Filippo Santoni de Sio (TuE) (more lecturers tba).
Students get a firmly grounded understanding of how AI systems operate in theory and practice, as well as the leading philosophical and ethical perspectives regarding wider implications of such systems. The course focuses on fundamental philosophical and ethical questions surrounding the contemporary discourse on AI. These fundamental issues are discussed in light of current developments in AI and associated research by the lecturers. This includes issues like:
- The implications of AI for considerations of (human/non-human/posthuman) intelligence.
- The idea and meaning of explainability
- The transformation and reification of values and biases due to the increasing implementation of AI
- The articulation, reframing, and distribution of responsibility in AI.
- The technological mediation of the distinction between private and public, particularly in terms of private and public identities.
Besides the theoretical lectures, the course will include a ‘field trip’ to one of the ELSA labs (ethical, legal, and social aspects) in Wageningen to learn and discuss how philosophy and ethics of AI is put to practice.
The aim is to get a firm understanding of the operational principles, design, and use of AI systems. To become able to understand, articulate, and offer contributions to the philosophy and ethics of contemporary AI.
This course is organized by the 4TU.Ethics Centre for Ethics and Technology and OZSW
Course coordinator
Dr. Jochem Zwier () – Wageningen University & Research
Assistant course coordinator: Luuk Stellinga, Msc. () – Wageningen University & Research
| Primary target group | PhD researchers |
| If places available also open to | ReMA students |
| Type of activity | Course |
| Certificate credit points | 5 ECTS |
| Organizer | Dr. Jochem Zwier |
| Location | |
| Date | October 3, 2025 @ 09:00 |
| Venue | Wageningen University Campus |
Wednesday 01-10-2025 (Forum B0625)
- 10:00 – 12:30: #1 Fundamentals
Technical Intro & Classical Philosophical Debates – Carlos Zednik (TuE)
- 13:30 – 16:00: #2 Fundamentals
Working as intended? Perceptions of success in AI systems – Cynthia Liem (TuD)
Thursday 02-10-2025 (Leeuwenborch B0066)
- 10:00 – 12:30: #3 Fundamentals
LLM & Data Creation – Jie Yang (TuD)
- 13:30 – 16:00: #4 Fundamentals
TBA
Friday 03-10-2025 (Aurora B9216)
- 10:00 – 12:30: #5 Philosophical implications
AI and the Political Economy of Automation – Milan Stürmer (EUR)
- 13:30 – 16:00: #6 Philosophical implications
AI; Epistemic Implications; Science – Stefan Buijsman (TuD)
Monday 06-10-2025 (Leeuwenborch B0075)
- 10:00 – 12:30: #7 Philosophical implications
Kathleen Gabriels (Maastricht University)
- 13:30 – 16:00:#8 Philosophical implications
Philosophy of AI and Artificial Minds – Guido Löhr (University of Amsterdam)
Tuesday 07-10-2025 (Forum C0221)
- 10:00 – 12:30: #9 Ethical and practical implications
AI ethics in Practice: ESLA LAB – Hao Wang (WUR) & Vincent Blok (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
- 13:30 – 16:00: #10 Ethical and practical implications
Fairness and Bias in AI systems – Philip Brey (Utwente)
Wednesday 08-10-2025 (B0417)
- 10:00 – 12:30: #11 Ethical and practical implications
AI and Political Economy – Filippo Santoni de Sio (TuE)
- 13:30 – 16:00: #12 Ethical and practical implications
AI & Medical Technology – Y. J. Erden (Utwente)
Participants are expected to read all the assigned literature, to do assignments and to actively participate in the discussions. Students will complete the course with a final assignment.
Costs:
- Free to PhD students who are a member of the 4TU Center for Ethics and Technology and/or OZSW;
- Free to Research Master students who are a member of the 4TU Center for Ethics and Technology and/or OZSW;
- All others pay a tuition fee of €300
How to register:
- Members of the OZSW: make sure you are logged in on the website. After you have successfully registered for the course, it will appear in your ‘profile page’.
- PhD researchers may register via the registration button on this website.
- ReMA students and others may apply for a waiting list (as the primary target group for this activity is PhD researchers) by sending an email to
The registration deadline is September 17, 2025. If registration has been closed because the maximum amount of participants has been reached, you can submit your name to the waiting list by sending an email to . Please also indicate whether you are a ReMA student or PhD candidate and whether you are a member of the OZSW or not.
The OZSW registration and cancellation policy applies to this activity (to be found here).
| Name | Dr. Jochem Zwier |