In 2026, the second edition be taught of Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies: Conceptual Engineering, Social Disruption, and Technology. This course will take place February 16th to 20st, location TBA.
Aim of the course
This is the second PhD school organised by the “Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies” (ESDiT) consortium, in collaboration with 4TUethics and the OZSW. The course engages with debates about conceptual engineering in the context of socially disruptive technologies, analysing ways in which socio-technical change can disrupt conceptual schemes. We will look at theoretical debates as well as concrete case-studies. Various senior researchers from the ESDiT consortium will participate as instructors.
The aim is to become familiar with key approaches to studying and evaluating socially disruptive technologies, in particular through the lens of conceptual engineering.
Course information
ECTS: 3EC (readings, participation, presentation) or 5EC (readings, participation, presentation, blog post)
Date: February 16th to 20st, 2026
Location: Utrecht University Campus
Course coordinators: dr. Jeroen Hopster, dr. Adam Henschke
Course program
Various other instructors will participate (names TBA). Each day students will engage with the work of two to three instructors, including lectures and seminars taught by Adam Henschke, Jerpen Hopster, and several researchers from the ESDiT consortium (tentatively: Ibo van de Poel, Gunter Bombaerts, Julia Hermann, Dominic Lenzi, as well as others).
Each day’s format follows the same pattern – General introduction/overview (10:00-10:30) Break, first session (10:45-12:30), Lunch, Second session (13:30-:15:15) Break, Consolidation exercise (15:30-17:00).
- Feb 16: Concepts and conceptual engineering
- Feb 17: Conceptualising disruption, and technological disruptions
- Feb 18: Different concepts (sustainability, democracy, health)
- Feb 19: Reflections and criticisms of conceptual engineering and disruption (including intercultural critiques)
- Feb 20: Student presentations
Costs and registration
Costs:
- Free to PhD students who are a member of the 4TU Center for Ethics and Technology and/or OZSW and/or another Dutch research school in the Humanities (LOGOS);
- Free to Research Master students who are a member of the 4TU Center for Ethics and Technology and/or OZSW and/or another Dutch research school in the Humanities (LOGOS);
- All others pay a tuition fee of €300
How to register:
- Members of the OZSW: make sure you are logged in on the website. After you have successfully registered for the course, it will appear in your ‘profile page’.
- PhD researchers may register via the registration button the OZSW website.
- ReMA students may apply for a waiting list (as the primary target group for this activity is PhD researchers) by sending an email to secretariaat@ozsw.nl
The registration deadline is January 31, 2026. If registration has been closed because the maximum amount of participants has been reached, you can submit your name to the waiting list by sending an email to secretariaat@ozsw.nl. Please also indicate whether you are a ReMA student or PhD candidate and whether you are a member of the OZSW or not.
The OZSW registration and cancellation policy applies to this activity (to be found here).