Many of our social encounters are technologically mediated. We use live video streams (e.g., Zoom, Teams, FaceTime), instant messaging platforms (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal), images, videos and stories (e.g., Snapchat, Instagram), videos (e.g., YouTube, TikTok, Twitch), comments and posts (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, threads on YouTube and Twitch), gaming platforms (e.g., WoW, Elder Scrolls), and even virtual reality to engage with other people and even AI. How, though, does this technological mediation impact our experience of others? How do these encounters compare to ones we have offline?

In this module, we consider what happens when we communicate and interact with one another when we are not strictly face-to-face with each other in the physical world but encounter each other in online spaces. We will engage with philosophical questions such as what happens to our bodies when we go online, how does technology scaffold and support our emotions and affectivity, how should we think about digital worlds and spaces, how do we encounter others in massively multiplayer online games, and how do we express ourselves to others when we are texting and using emojis, whether we can make genuine friends online, and whether we can have relationships with AI.

• Explain and critically analyse the philosophical questions and issues that contemporary philosophers are engaging with in philosophy of technology, philosophy of emotions, and philosophy of sociality with regards the internet 

• Explain and understand how philosophy can be applied to real-world contemporary challenges and issues 

• Apply philosophical concepts and construct philosophical arguments to real-world contemporary events and circumstances  

The module will be delivered through a mix of large group and small group sessions, including, where relevant, asynchronous materials such as lecture recordings. Full details on the delivery mode of this module will be available on Learning Central at the start of the academic year.

Transferable / Employability Skills: 

It is worth bearing in mind that, even though the point of the module is to do philosophy, many of the skills you’ll be developing are also highly valued by graduate employers. These include: 

• Critical Thinking: e.g. the ability to understand, structure and critically evaluate the key points and arguments made in written texts and discussions––achieved through e.g. reading, small group activities in lectures and seminars, plenary discussions in seminars, reflecting on lecture materials, essay and exam preparation and writing. 

• Communication: the ability to formulate and articulate your critical thinking, both orally and on paper, in ways that others can grasp and engage with––achieved through e.g. small group work in seminars, seminar discussions, essay/exam writing. 

• Organisation: the ability to organise and coordinate workloads––achieved through balancing e.g. reading, seminar preparation, essay/exam preparation. 

• Working with others: e.g. co-constructing ideas, responding sensitively to others––achieved through e.g. small group work in seminars, group presentations. 

A blend of coursework and group video discussion assessments.

Critical Commentary: 25%

Group Video Discussion: 25%

Essay: 50%

This module is assessed according to the Marking Criteria set out in the Philosophy Course Guide. There are otherwise no academic or competence standards which limit the availability of adjustments or alternative assessments for students with disabilities. 

Topics covered on the module may include the below (note they are subject to change).

Encountering others

Bodies on screens

Internet, emotions, and others

Digital worlds

Avatars

Chatbots

Friendship in digital spaces

Relationships with AI