PHILOS 244: Artificial Intelligence & Data Ethics

Fall 2026 · UW–Madison

Ethical questions about AI, human cognition, society, and governance. These notes explore how AI systems affect human agency, relationships, institutions, and moral responsibility.

Topics

• Ethical theory and artificial intelligence
• Cognition, neurotechnology, and human relationships
• Fairness, privacy, creativity, and misinformation
• AI governance, safety, consciousness, and work

Notes

• Discussion handouts and activities
• Argument and essay-writing guides
• Written exam preparation: instructor review handout
• 60 practice MCQs: three mixed sets with explanations
• October 28 exam review: instructor emphasis and confirmed corrections
• Syllabus, policies, and weekly readings
• Lecture notes
• Topic notes: organoids, relationships, feminism, and fairness
• Algorithmic fairness: recorded lectures, slides, and inquiry
• Readings by Canvas topic
• Creativity and art readings
• Algorithmic fairness readings: search, bias, and statistical evidence
• Book chapters
• September 16: Cognitive technologies, offloading, and dependence
• September 23: Brain-computer interfaces and neuroethical concerns
• September 28: Essay structure and philosophical arguments
• October 5: Essay prompts, evidence, and the rubric
• October 21: Algorithmic bias, Gendler’s dilemma, and exam guidance
• October 26: Looping effects, knowledge, inquiry, and the exam cutoff
• Essay Writing assignment

Resources

• Course Canvas