Black Mirror and Philosophy

In this course we will explore a variety of philosophical questions that arise in the television series Black Mirror. Black Mirror explores themes often at the intersection of philosophy and technology, including personal identity, mortality, empathy, love, consciousness, human nature, God, cybernetics, technological solutionism, artificial intelligence as a substitute for human interaction, and how technology may potentially determine the future of humanity. The course will consist in watching specific Black Mirror episodes paired with philosophical articles on related themes. We will reflect on the episodes and the philosophical questions they give rise to in conjunction with specific authors’ interpretations of the episodes. The course serves as an exploration of core philosophical topics through a dystopian sci-fi medium. 3 hrs lect.