180232 SE AI and democracy (2025W)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
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.
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).
- Registration is open from Mo 22.09.2025 00:00 to We 24.09.2025 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Fr 31.10.2025 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
There is no session on 13 November 2025.
- Thursday 16.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Thursday 23.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Thursday 30.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Thursday 06.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Thursday 20.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Thursday 27.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- N Thursday 04.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Thursday 18.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Thursday 08.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Thursday 15.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
- Wednesday 21.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
- Thursday 22.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Across the world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used as a tool for political manipulation and totalitarian repression. Stories about AI are often stories of polarization, discrimination, surveillance, and oppression. Is democracy in danger? And can we do anything about it?In this seminar, we will examine the key risks posed by AI for democracy. We will deal with questions of how we can make democracy more resilient in the face of AI, and, more positively, what AI can do for democracy. The goal is to explore ways of making current technologies more democratic to ensure that AI promotes, rather than hinders, the common good and helps us to revamp humanism for the 21st century.
Assessment and permitted materials
In the first session students will be introduced to the topic and the recent literature in the field. The course will be assessed by means of
• student presentations (30%)
• regular attendance and significant participation in discussions
• commentaries on the literature
• a short essay at the end of the course (max. 3000 words) (70%)
• student presentations (30%)
• regular attendance and significant participation in discussions
• commentaries on the literature
• a short essay at the end of the course (max. 3000 words) (70%)
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Presentation and paper.
Examination topics
No exam; grade based on presentation and paper.
Reading list
Main text: Coeckelbergh, M. 2024. Why AI Undermines Democracy and What To Do About It. Wiley & Sons.Additional relevant literature, mainly contemporary journal articles (new ones this time), will be provided on Moodle throughout the semester.
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Fr 28.11.2025 06:46