PHIL 80M: Phil/Science Studies
University of California, Santa Cruz
Focuses on the urgent ethical and political issues raised by data science and society, building on consideration of foundational issues in moral philosophy and a technical understanding of advances in machine learning. Topics include: algorithmic bias and discrimination, predictive policing, self-driving cars, consent to data collection, surveillance and privacy rights, democracy and free speech online, attentional modification, technology and disability, and the singularity. Each unit pairs readings from philosophical and legal scholarship with case studies documented in scientific articles, news stories, and podcasts. (Formerly Philosophical Foundations of Science Studies.)
Average GPA: 3.47
Grade distribution records: 111 students across 3 terms.
Grade distribution
| Grade | Students | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 13 | 11.7% |
| A | 30 | 27.0% |
| A- | 22 | 19.8% |
| B+ | 10 | 9.0% |
| B | 9 | 8.1% |
| B- | 5 | 4.5% |
| C+ | 2 | 1.8% |
| C | 2 | 1.8% |
| C- | 2 | 1.8% |
| D | 1 | 0.9% |
| F | 2 | 1.8% |
| P | 9 | 8.1% |
| NP | 3 | 2.7% |
| W | 1 | 0.9% |
Based on 111 student grade records across 3 terms and 3 professors.
Instructors
- Robbie Kubala 59 students, Average GPA 3.45
- Dion N Farquhar 40 students, Average GPA 3.62
- Byron Kaldis 12 students, Average GPA 3.01