Universität Wien
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180088 VO-L Introduction to Philosophy of LLMs (2025W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie

Hinweis der SPL Philosophie:

Das Abgeben von ganz oder teilweise von einem KI-tool (z.B. ChatGPT) verfassten Texten als Leistungsnachweis (z.B. Seminararbeit) ist nur dann erlaubt, wenn dies von der Lehrveranstaltungsleitung ausdrücklich als mögliche Arbeitsweise genehmigt wurde. Auch hierbei müssen direkt oder indirekt zitierte Textstellen wie immer klar mit Quellenangabe ausgewiesen werden.

Die Lehrveranstaltungsleitung kann zur Überprüfung der Autorenschaft einer abgegebenen schriftlichen Arbeit ein notenrelevantes Gespräch (Plausibilitätsprüfung) vorsehen, das erfolgreich zu absolvieren ist.
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
Register/Deregister for this course

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

There is no session on 13 November 2025.

  • Thursday 16.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 23.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 30.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 06.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 20.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 27.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 04.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 18.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 08.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 15.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 21.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal III NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 22.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course aims to examine philosophical questions regarding the nature of language, communication, authorship, and intelligence in the light of the disruptive LLM technologies. The course introduces LLMs and investigates the philosophical significance of this technology with regard to issues concerning language, consciousness, truth, authorship and writing. Through a blend of theoretical analysis, accessible explanations, and practical examples, the lectures provide students with a comprehensive overview of some key philosophical discussions raised by LLMs.

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment
Written exam in-person; first exam date will be last day of class.
The focus is not on the reproduction of knowledge but on the critical discussion of the approaches and texts that have been discussed in the lecture and on the application of these to specific issues.

Exam procedure:
You must be correctly REGISTERED for this exam VIA U:SPACE!

Task
At the given starting time of the exam, the exam sheet, including the essay task, will be distributed. You will be asked to fill in your student details (see cover sheet below) and to complete the essay task.

Time
90 min

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Assessment scale
1 - The candidate makes a very original contribution to thinking about the particular theme they have chosen by applying the course material and even moves beyond the material provided. They eloquently articulate their own thesis and ideas about this philosophical issue. Their arguments are clear and convincing and the essay is coherent and well-structured.
2 - The candidate knows how to apply the theory about ethics of robotics in a very good way. They successfully use the material offered in the course to analyse and discuss the philosophical problem and robotics. In general, the essay is coherent and convincing. Minor shortcomings mainly consist in a lack of originality and coherence.
3 - The candidate can apply the theory about ethics of robotics in a satisfactory manner. They use the material offered in the course to analyse and discuss the philosophical problem and technology/media but various aspects could be improved in terms of originality, clarity and coherence.
4 - The candidate shows some kind of knowledge related to the course and their application of the theory to the technology and issue they have chosen is appropriate. In general, however, good and convincing arguments are missing. The student rather reproduces their knowledge from the course than presenting their own thesis and arguments with regard to the essay task.
5 - The student does not show sufficient knowledge about the course content and fails to apply the theory about philosophy of technology to a particular technology/medium and philosophical issue. The essay lacks convincing arguments, clarity, coherence and a clear relation to the course.

Examination topics

Content delivered in the lectures + lecture slides, all assigned readings, including Foucault’s essay and the chapters by Flusser.
Coeckelbergh, M., and Gunkel, D. 2025. Communicative AI: A Critical Introduction to Large Language Models. Cambridge: Polity.
Recommended literature on Moodle (not obligatory!)

Reading list

Coeckelbergh, M., and Gunkel, D. 2025. Communicative AI: A Critical Introduction to Large Language Models. Cambridge: Polity.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: We 14.01.2026 15:46