Description

About the speaker:
Cees Zweistra (1986) studied corporate law and philosophy in Utrecht and London. After his studies, he worked for a year as a teacher in India and Nepal, among other places. In 2013, he began a PhD thesis at TU-Delft entitled 'Empathy, Ethics and Technology'. In 2018, Cees hopes to complete the dissertation. In addition to his PhD, he works as a lawyer. In 2016, Cees and his wife Judith took over the Centre Erasme. The Centre Erasme organises winter and summer schools of philosophy in the Netherlands and France.

About the lecture:
The rise of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been called the second industrial revolution. As with the first industrial revolution, there is much cause for hope and optimism but there are also downsides. This evening will focus on a shadow side. In academic literature, it is known as the 'empathy gap'. The 'gap' refers to a growing inability among users of social ICT - Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, etc- to empathise with another person.

In 2011, this was a phenomenon that mainly interested academics. Meanwhile, there are daily pieces in newspapers about the disruptive influences of social ICT on social relationships. Young and old alike are glued to their smartphones and online social networks. But as is the case with addicts, our everyday social interaction suffers under this obsession. Why is this problematic? Because we become more lonely? Because we become less creative and productive? Because our ability to make sense of complex situations declines?

Probably so but I want to show that the empathy gap is symptomatic of a more fundamental problem caused by social ICT: our ability to act morally declines. I want to introduce this perspective from a specific reading of the French-Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995). The evening does not end in a minor way. Having recognised the problem, a new perspective on a responsible relationship with social ICT opens up.

Please register in advance via: verenigingvoorwijsbegeerte@gmail.com

Speaker(s)

Cees Zweistra

Location

Parkhotel The Hague

Molenstraat 53, 2513 BJ The Hague

Organiser

Philosophy & Technology

Society for Philosophy

Name and contact details for information

Jac van den Broek

jacbrk@gmail.com

Apply via

Association for Philosophy

verenigingvoorwijsbegeerte@gmail.com