Humans and Technology

This course is part of the UBC Future Global Leaders on-campus program for high school students ages 15–18. Combines morning classes and afternoon pre-university workshops.

Examine the relationship between humans and technology and explore some of the central philosophical questions concerning the relationship between humans and technology, including: What is technology? What is a mind? How do technologies change us, as humans? What would it mean for a machine to have consciousness? What does it mean to “enhance” human nature? What makes a technology morally good or bad? Using concrete examples, we also examine how digital technologies in particular impact our daily lives and how we can design, develop and use digital technologies in ways that benefit us all.

By the end of the course, you have a good understanding of some of the central philosophical questions concerning the relationship between humans and technology and some of the major social, ethical, and political implications of emerging technologies. You also develop your critical thinking skills, including your ability to understand issues from multiple perspectives and develop creative solutions.

This is a good choice if you are interested in philosophical discussion, how technology impacts our lives and what the future relationship between humans and technology might look like. The skills you develop in this course will serve you well in any future academic program.

KAROLINE PAIER is a PhD candidate in the Department of Philosophy at UBC. Her research explores how science can be improved through collaborative methodologies between scientists and so-called “outsiders” and what it means to produce “research from the margins”.

Course format

This course is held on the UBC Vancouver campus. You attend class from 9am–12pm and university preparation workshops from 1:30–3pm, Monday through Friday. University preparation workshops prepare you for success at university and improve your chances of getting into the university and career of your choice. 

Choose to live in a student residence on campus or commute daily to UBC Vancouver:

Commuter Option includes lunch in residence dining hall, Monday through Friday, and UBC Recreation Card.

Residence Option includes private room and full board, airport pick-up and drop-off, local medical insurance for all international students (and custodianship if required for visas), weeknight and weekend social activities (e.g., trips to Grouse Mountain, Granville Island and Robson Street), and UBC Recreation Card.

Cost details

*All fees are subject to change

To register

A Family Account in UBC’s Lifelong Learning registration system is required to register for UBC Future Global Leaders on-campus.

After you add the course to your cart and go to check out, you’re asked to create a new Family Account or log in if you already have a Family Account.

A parent or guardian needs to set up the Family Account with their primary email address. After the account is created, the parent/guardian adds the student as a family member to their Family Account using the student’s primary email address (the student’s email address cannot be the same as the parent/guardian email address).

Add the student to the course session in your cart and complete the checkout process.

After completing the checkout process, and while logged into your Family Account, select New Application to access the FGL information package. Your registration is not final until the information package has been completed and submitted. You may partially complete the information package and return to it at any time within your Family Account.

If you are located in Russia, you will need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to create a Family Account, register for a course, fill out the information package and complete payment. If you do not have a VPN or need assistance, please contact us.