2025
Technics and Society
Name: Technics and Society
Code: FIL12731L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Philosophy
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
At the end of the course students should be apt to:
• understand the significance of technics in the context of civilization and culture;
• identify the novelty of technology as a phenomenon in contemporary culture;
• master the main philosophical theories about technics and technology;
• use some of these theoretical tools in a critical hermeneutic of the contemporary world;
• command at least two fundamental texts from authors working on philosophy of technics.
• Actively take part in the public debate concerning the question of the technics
• understand the significance of technics in the context of civilization and culture;
• identify the novelty of technology as a phenomenon in contemporary culture;
• master the main philosophical theories about technics and technology;
• use some of these theoretical tools in a critical hermeneutic of the contemporary world;
• command at least two fundamental texts from authors working on philosophy of technics.
• Actively take part in the public debate concerning the question of the technics
Contents
1. The place of technics in society:
a. What is technics? The meaning of the term
b. Technics and progress as a metaphor for modernity
c. The birth of a philosophy of technics
d. The self-assertive protagonism of a technological society and technocracy
2. Technics as an anthropological fact:
a. The struggle against Nature and the birth of culture
b. Technics and magic
c. Technics as fact and feat: instrumental manipulation and the power of resourcefulness
d. Typologies: techniques of acquisition, consumption, manufacturing and domain
e. Techno-science and the technological culture
3. U nderstanding models for technics:
a. The promethean model
a. The Faustian model
b. The mechanic model
c. The cybernetic model
4. Other approaches to technics:
a. Technics as an ontological phenomenon (Heidegger)
b. Technics as an ethical problem (Jonas, Ellul)
c. Technics as ideology (Habermas, Marcuse)
d. Technics and art in industrial society (Benjamin, Mumford)
a. What is technics? The meaning of the term
b. Technics and progress as a metaphor for modernity
c. The birth of a philosophy of technics
d. The self-assertive protagonism of a technological society and technocracy
2. Technics as an anthropological fact:
a. The struggle against Nature and the birth of culture
b. Technics and magic
c. Technics as fact and feat: instrumental manipulation and the power of resourcefulness
d. Typologies: techniques of acquisition, consumption, manufacturing and domain
e. Techno-science and the technological culture
3. U nderstanding models for technics:
a. The promethean model
a. The Faustian model
b. The mechanic model
c. The cybernetic model
4. Other approaches to technics:
a. Technics as an ontological phenomenon (Heidegger)
b. Technics as an ethical problem (Jonas, Ellul)
c. Technics as ideology (Habermas, Marcuse)
d. Technics and art in industrial society (Benjamin, Mumford)
Teaching Methods
Theoretical and practical classes: informative sessions, involving the analysis of texts (written and film-based) and the application of knowledge to the assessment of case studies. Fieldwork carried out in collaboration with the local community.
In this course module, the use of generative Artificial Intelligence tools is permitted as a complementary aid to the learning process, specifically for: research and organisation support (identifying sources, structuring bibliographies, summarising supporting texts); analytical and brainstorming support (generating ideas for the structure of assignments, simulating problems, preliminary data analysis); and support in creating presentations from existing content (layout and visual organisation of documents, typography, colours and visual hierarchy, creation of diagrams, charts or infographics).
The use of generative Artificial Intelligence is not permitted for: the complete generation of answers or papers; the automatic solving of assessed exercises or problems; and the production of texts with the intention of submitting them as original work. The use of these tools must always be accompanied by critical thinking on the part of the student, who remains fully responsible for the content submitted; any such use must be duly identified and referenced whenever requested by the lecturer.
In this course module, the use of generative Artificial Intelligence tools is permitted as a complementary aid to the learning process, specifically for: research and organisation support (identifying sources, structuring bibliographies, summarising supporting texts); analytical and brainstorming support (generating ideas for the structure of assignments, simulating problems, preliminary data analysis); and support in creating presentations from existing content (layout and visual organisation of documents, typography, colours and visual hierarchy, creation of diagrams, charts or infographics).
The use of generative Artificial Intelligence is not permitted for: the complete generation of answers or papers; the automatic solving of assessed exercises or problems; and the production of texts with the intention of submitting them as original work. The use of these tools must always be accompanied by critical thinking on the part of the student, who remains fully responsible for the content submitted; any such use must be duly identified and referenced whenever requested by the lecturer.
Assessment
Continuous assessment system: Compulsory attendance at at least 75 per cent of face-to-face sessions. Completion of two assessments (40 per cent + 40 per cent), accounting for 80 per cent of the final mark, with participation and the completion of reading sheets accounting for the remaining 20 per cent of the final mark
Final assessment system: A written test or examination accounting for 100% of the mark, applicable to standard, resit or special examination periods.
If deemed necessary to assess the extent to which the student has developed the knowledge and skills expected for the course unit, the teaching team may summon the student to an oral examination, in accordance with Article 110(13) of the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora, whilst ensuring compliance with the conditions set out in Article 116(4) and Article 118(1) of the same Regulations. The oral examination will account for 60% of the final mark for the course unit.
Final assessment system: A written test or examination accounting for 100% of the mark, applicable to standard, resit or special examination periods.
If deemed necessary to assess the extent to which the student has developed the knowledge and skills expected for the course unit, the teaching team may summon the student to an oral examination, in accordance with Article 110(13) of the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora, whilst ensuring compliance with the conditions set out in Article 116(4) and Article 118(1) of the same Regulations. The oral examination will account for 60% of the final mark for the course unit.
Teaching Staff
- Ângelo Samuel Nunes Milhano [responsible]
Accreditations and Certifications
