Research
Many current technological developments, such as autonomous driving, AI-assisted medical diagnoses or robots designed to help educate children demonstrate the potential to serve a greater cause, but also raise societal and ethical concerns. By explicating normative implications of technologies, Ethics of Technology serves as a rational assessment for deciding how to design, regulate, adopt and cope with the (latest) technological advancements.
Main focus
Ethical evaluations need sound philosophical reflections of technologies. Philosophy of Technology analyses human-technology relations in concrete applications, uncovers forms of subjectification and objectification of typical socio-technical configurations, and exposes epistemological aspects that are intertwined with normative questions (e.g. explainable AI). Philosophy of Technology also explores different concepts of technology and the ongoing technisation of the modern world.
Networks and projects
Publications
2026
Responsibilities in sXAI
K.J. Rohlfing, S. Alpsancar, C. Schulte, in: Social Explainable AI, Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore, 2026, pp. 157–177.
Tasking AI Fairly. How to Empower AI Practitioners With sXAI?
S. Alpsancar, E. Stamboliev, in: Social Explainable AI, Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore, 2026, pp. 557–581.
The Risk of Manipulation and Deception in sXAI
S. Alpsancar, M. Klenk, in: Social Explainable AI, Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore, 2026, pp. 583–616.
Values and Norms in sXAI
W. Reijers, S. Alpsancar, in: K. Rohlfing, K. Främling, B. Lim, S. Alpsancar, K. Thommes (Eds.), Social Explainable AI. Communications of NII Shonan Meetings, Springer, Singapore, 2026, pp. 179–195.
Social Explainable AI
K.J. Rohlfing, K. Främling, B. Lim, S. Alpsancar, K. Thommes, eds., Social Explainable AI, Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore, 2026.
2025
Rezension: Thomas Meyers neue Arendt Biographie. Sinnbild der Verstrickung von Theorie und Praxis
S. Thomas, HannahArendt.Net 14 (2025) 240–242.
Rezension: Hanna Meretoja: Die Nacht der alten Feuer
S. Thomas, HannahArendt.Net 14 (2025) 237–239.
Algorithmische Kulturen des Pflanzensammelns? Das Beispiel der Computerisierung des Botanischen Gartens und Botanischen Museums Berlin
S. Alpsancar, in: U. Hashagen, R. Seising (Eds.), Algorithmische Wissenskulturen. Der Einfluss des Computers auf die Wissenschaftsentwicklung, Springer, Wiesbaden, 2025, pp. 327–365.
Explanation needs and ethical demands: unpacking the instrumental value of XAI
S. Alpsancar, H.M. Buhl, T. Matzner, I. Scharlau, AI and Ethics 5 (2025) 3015–3033.
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