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

Heinz Nix­dorf In­sti­tute

Associated Professional Group

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Pub­lic­a­tions

2025

Rezension: Thomas Meyers neue Arendt Biographie. Sinnbild der Verstrickung von Theorie und Praxis

S. Thomas, HannahArendt.Net 14 (2025) 240–242.

DOI

Rezension: Hanna Meretoja: Die Nacht der alten Feuer

S. Thomas, HannahArendt.Net 14 (2025) 237–239.

DOI

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.

DOI

Healthy Distrust in AI systems

B. Paaßen, S. Alpsancar, T. Matzner, I. Scharlau, ArXiv (2025).


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.

DOI https://links.springernature.com/f/a/xjbXcT06ufIgbHT1duGaHQ~~/AABE5gA~/RgRpMhXcP0SiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLnNwcmluZ2VyLmNvbS8xMC4xMDA3L3M0MzY4MS0wMjQtMDA2MjItMz91dG1fc291cmNlPXJjdF9jb25ncmF0ZW1haWx0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW9hXzIwMjQxMjAzJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PTEwLjEwMDcvczQzNjgxLTAyNC0wMDYyMi0zVwNzcGNCCmdG3JBPZxsDc2FSIXN1emFuYS5hbHBzYW5jYXJAdW5pLXBhZGVyYm9ybi5kZVgEAAAHLA~~

Explainability and AI Governance

W. Reijers, T. Matzner, S. Alpsancar, in: M. Farina, X. Yu, J. Chen (Eds.), Digital Development. Technology, Ethics and Governance, Routledge, New York, 2025.

DOI

2024

Warum und wozu erklärbare KI? Über die Verschiedenheit dreier paradigmatischer Zwecksetzungen

S. Alpsancar, in: R. Adolphi, S. Alpsancar, S. Hahn, M. Kettner (Eds.), Philosophische Digitalisierungsforschung  Verantwortung, Verständigung, Vernunft, Macht, transcript, Bielefeld, 2024, pp. 55–113.


AI explainability, temporality, and civic virtue

W. Reijers, T. Matzner, S. Alpsancar, M. Philippi, in: Smart Ethics in the Digital World: Proceedings of the ETHICOMP 2024. 21th International Conference on the Ethical and Social Impacts of ICT. Universidad de La Rioja, 2024., Longrono, 2024.


Unpacking the purposes of explainable AI

S. Alpsancar, T. Matzner, M. Philippi, in: Smart Ethics in the Digital World: Proceedings of the ETHICOMP 2024. 21th International Conference on the Ethical and Social Impacts of ICT, Universidad de La Rioja, 2024, pp. 31–35.


Der Sog des Neuen und der Schock des Alten Jahrbuch Technikphilosophie 2024

S. Alpsancar, ed., Der Sog des Neuen und der Schock des Alten Jahrbuch Technikphilosophie 2024 , Nomos, Baden Baden, 2024.


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