The University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Philosophy, Technology & Society (CPTS) is launching a short series of public lectures on Philosophy, Technology and Public Policy, which begins next week.

The lectures will take place every Thursday evening beginning on February 7 at 7.00pm in New Kings 1, and will run until March 14. One of the functions of CPTS is to provide a forum for public intellectual discussions on technological issues which affect many people's lives. Developments in technology – not least in biotechnology, medicine, transport systems, farming, IT, globalisation – raise many important philosophical and ethical issues. Ought we to pursue all the things that become technologically possible? Conversely have new technical developments created new levels of obligation? Do technological changes shape the values we accept?

Dr Nigel Dower, Director of the Centre, said: ‘Technology plays a big role in shaping the modern world and the decisions – public and private – we have to make. It is vital that we understand the value issues involved. The series will, we hope, make a useful contribution to public discussion of them.”

The series will open with an exploration by Professor Gordon Graham of the new possibilities generated by genetic engineering – should we do all that we can do? Professor Tim Ingold will explore the nature of skills, partly to explore the art/technology relationship and partly to ask: how different are humans from higher animals? Professor Robin Webster, from the Robert Gordon University, will consider the impact of that form of technology that dominates our ‘perceived environment’, namely architecture and the built environment, and the kinds of values which are embodied and projected by them. Professor Michael Baker will confront the thorny issue of risk assessment and management in the context of several recent crises in public confidence in scientific expertise, whilst Professor Eric Matthews will explore key issues in bio and medical ethics relating to reproductive technology. Finally Dr Dower will conclude with an overview of the global impact of technology, both in terms of the development of global identities, and in terms of our environmental and development obligations across borders.

While of course there are many other areas of importance in which technology has profound impacts upon our lives – not least the developments in IT and in military technology - the range of issues in this series will illustrate the contribution which normative reflection make to these pubic policy issues in the modern world. Speakers have been asked to make their lectures non-technical and accessible.

Students, staff and the general public are all encouraged to attend.

Anyone requiring further information for any of the lectures should contact the Philosophy Department, University of Aberdeen, on: (01224) 272366, or by email: philosophy@abdn.ac.uk

ANYONE WISHING TO INTERVIEW ANY OF THE ACADEMICS WHO WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE FORTHCOMING PHILOSOPHY LECTURES SHOULD CONTACT THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN’S PRESS OFFICER, ANGELA BEGG, ON: (01224) 272960.

Issued by Public Relations Office, External Relations, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen. Tel: 01224 272014 Fax: 01224 272086.

CPTS PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES

Presented by the Centre for Philosophy, Technology & Society, University of Aberdeen

Philosophy, Technology and Public Policy

Six public lectures to be held on Thursday evenings at 7.00 p.m. in New Kings 1, NK1

(c. 50 minutes, followed by discussion)

The purpose of these lectures will be to open up a number of ethical issues regarding modern technology in a way that appeals to students and staff in general as well as the general public.

All lectures are free of charge.

Thursday 7 February: Professor Gordon Graham, Department of Philosophy

Genetics with Everything: How far can we go?

Chair: Professor Iain Torrance

This lecture will be followed by a reception at 8.30pm

Thursday 14 February: Professor Tim Ingold, Dept of Sociology and Anthropology

Beyond Art and Technology: the Nature of Skill

Chair: Dr Jonathan Friday

Thursday 21 February: Professor Robin Webster, Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Design, RGU

What Kinds of Values should Architecture Embody?

Chair: Dr Nigel Dower

Thursday 28 February: Professor Michael Baker, Dept of Engineering

Cracked Rails and Mad Cows: Where do we go from here?

Chair: Professor Eric Matthews

Thursday 7 March: Professor Eric Matthews, Dept of Philosophy

Reproduction and the Family in an Age of Technology

Chair: Professor Robin Cameron

Thursday 14th March: Dr Nigel Dower, Director, Centre for Philosophy, Technology & Society

Technology, Globalisation and Ethics

Chair: Professor Rolnd Robertson

For further details contact Dr Nigel Dower, Director of the Centre, on: 272369, or email: n.dower@abdn.ac.uk

University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-272960 or email a.begg@abdn.ac.uk.