How do we orient ourselves to texts and knowledge across time and technological advancements? How do texts and knowledge in turn orientate and transform us, and how do they influence the world we navigate, particularly in an increasingly interconnected and global landscape?
Since the invention of writing, fundamental reorientations of thinking and pursuing knowledge have often occurred hand in hand with innovative forms of writing: Parmenides created didactic poetry of the divine in order to teach his doctrine of true being; Plato used the dialogue to question established doctrines; and Montaigne employed the essay form to explore truth through self-observation. These innovative modes of inquiry represent more than literary shifts; they also embody reorientations of ethics and the search for knowledge. This tradition has carried forward into modern times with Nietzsche's questioning of truth and morality, Wittgenstein's redefinition of language and meaning, and Derrida's deconstruction of philosophical certainties. In our contemporary world, the explosion of digital media and AI technologies has revolutionized not only how we communicate but also how we conceptualize knowledge and ethical responsibility. In addition, these shifts highlight the growing significance of cross-cultural and transnational exchanges in shaping how knowledge is produced and shared globally.
In this seminar, we seek to explore, via the concepts of the philosophy of orientation, how different forms of writing orient us in different ways and create different worlds of orientation across time and technological innovations. We also aim to address compelling ethical questions: How do AI and digital technologies shape or challenge our understanding of truth and knowledge? What ethical responsibilities arise when using AI-generated texts to inform our thinking and interactions? How do innovations in communication reshape our moral landscape? How do global perspectives and the cross-pollination of knowledge across cultures influence ethical standards?
We welcome all orientation-philosophical explorations of (but not limited to):
Since the invention of writing, fundamental reorientations of thinking and pursuing knowledge have often occurred hand in hand with innovative forms of writing: Parmenides created didactic poetry of the divine in order to teach his doctrine of true being; Plato used the dialogue to question established doctrines; and Montaigne employed the essay form to explore truth through self-observation. These innovative modes of inquiry represent more than literary shifts; they also embody reorientations of ethics and the search for knowledge. This tradition has carried forward into modern times with Nietzsche's questioning of truth and morality, Wittgenstein's redefinition of language and meaning, and Derrida's deconstruction of philosophical certainties. In our contemporary world, the explosion of digital media and AI technologies has revolutionized not only how we communicate but also how we conceptualize knowledge and ethical responsibility. In addition, these shifts highlight the growing significance of cross-cultural and transnational exchanges in shaping how knowledge is produced and shared globally.
In this seminar, we seek to explore, via the concepts of the philosophy of orientation, how different forms of writing orient us in different ways and create different worlds of orientation across time and technological innovations. We also aim to address compelling ethical questions: How do AI and digital technologies shape or challenge our understanding of truth and knowledge? What ethical responsibilities arise when using AI-generated texts to inform our thinking and interactions? How do innovations in communication reshape our moral landscape? How do global perspectives and the cross-pollination of knowledge across cultures influence ethical standards?
We welcome all orientation-philosophical explorations of (but not limited to):
- innovations of the forms of writing or knowledge systems across time, including digital forms of communication and AI technologies
- how AI-generated texts and knowledge inform the ways we think, communicate, and interact with each other
- the distinctions and connections between different genres of writing, such as philosophy, literature, digital texts, AI-produced texts
- how different forms of writing and knowledge acquisition shape different ways of thinking and orientation
- digital forms of knowledge sharing across cosmopolitan and transnational contexts
- differences of knowledge production regarding cultures, classes, races, and ethnic groups
- the ethical implications of AI in shaping human understanding and its impact on truth, justice, and equity
- the relationship between philosophical and ethical theories and texts