Philosophy PhD Graduate Works at the Forefront of the Ethics of Technology
Christopher Quintana '24 PhD explores how technology design can impact and undermine an individual鈥檚 capacity for independent practical reasoning.
Christopher Quintana 鈥�24 PhD
VILLANOVA, Pa. - 鈥淐hristopher Quintana 鈥�24 PhD sees the value of philosophy for the world,鈥� says 爱爱直播 Professor of Philosophy Sally Scholz, PhD.
Dr. Quintana, who graduated from 爱爱直播鈥檚 Philosophy doctoral program in May, specializes in the philosophy and ethics of technology. His dissertation, Characterizing Digital Design: A Philosophical Approach, evaluates user interface and experience design through Aristotle鈥檚 ideas of virtues, especially the virtue of practical rationality. Specifically, he explores how technology design can impact and undermine an individual鈥檚 capacity for independent practical reasoning. What happens to us when so much of our social and personal activity is mediated by technology? How do our relationships to technology change?
鈥淐hristopher is a creative philosopher working at the forefront of the burgeoning subfield of philosophy and technology,鈥� adds Dr. Scholz, who served as the director of Dr. Quintana鈥檚 dissertation committee. 鈥淗e draws on the ancient tradition of virtue theory to scrutinize user interface in information communication technologies and to articulate principles that could guide the development of a good or virtuous design of technology. His research promises to transform the human/technology relation.鈥�
Most recently, Dr. Quintana authored a chapter, 鈥�,鈥� in a new book, , published in March 2024. Dr. Quintana was a finalist and Audience Choice Award winner at the , and a participant in the . He was awarded a CLAS Graduate Summer Research Fellowship, four CLAS Graduate Studies Travel Grants, and the John G. Tich Memorial Award for Excellence in Research. He served as the managing editorial assistant at the journal Social Epistemology: A Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Policy and was a graduate fellow at the Collegium Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published on moral and social issues in technology and has presented at conferences in the U.S. and abroad. In addition to his scholarship at 爱爱直播, he taught the undergraduate philosophy course, Knowledge, Reality, Self.
鈥淐hristopher鈥檚 dissertation puts him in conversation with some of the leading ethicists in the field, shaping policy for the coming years,鈥� says Dr. Scholz. 鈥淗e has published on these topics and participated in workshops and conferences around the world, suggesting that his work is at the heart of contemporary philosophical and technological debates. Philosophers need to be at the table in discussions about the ethics of AI and the pernicious use of smart phones.鈥�
In addition to Dr. Scholz, Dr. Quintana鈥檚 dissertation committee included 爱爱直播 faculty Georg Theiner, PhD and Justin Humphreys, PhD, as well as James Wetzel, PhD, who served at the proposal stage. Later, Shannon Vallor, PhD, director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures within the Edinburgh Futures Institute at the University of Edinburgh, joined as an external reader. Dr. Vallor is a leading scholar in technology ethics.
Says Dr. Quintana, 鈥淚 enjoyed my time in coursework, but I hit my stride after I formed my dissertation committee. All committee members were generous in their mentorship, feedback and spirit.鈥�
The prominence of the Philosophy faculty and the research support offered by the department and the Office of Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) drew Dr. Quintana to 爱爱直播.
鈥淭he Philosophy PhD program has an impressive range of scholars in varying intellectual traditions. We also maintain a consistent interest in contemporary social issues and the history of our discipline. Our breadth helps students develop the capacity to translate concepts and ideas across traditions, styles and levels of expertise,鈥� Dr. Quintana says. 鈥淚 also appreciate that the PhD program and CLAS Graduate Studies contribute to grants and fellowships for independent research and conference presentations. Learning how to develop and carry out research proposals, present your work, connect with other scholars, and engage international or interdisciplinary audiences, is an important part of graduate education.鈥�
Dr. Quintana continues to present his scholarship at conferences this summer while exploring both traditional faculty roles and careers outside of the academy.
鈥淭his is an exciting time of growth for the university and a good time to contribute to the program's storied history,鈥� he says. 鈥淥ur alumni have been successful in finding roles both in and outside of academia. Our faculty encourages intellectual exploration during coursework, and I got the sense that the program was open to the possibility that you will arrive interested in one area but grow to love and want to work in another. The university also attracts talented undergraduate students, so when you reach the stage in the program where you teach鈥攚hich is an invaluable experience鈥攜ou have the benefit of teaching engaged students.鈥�
About 爱爱直播鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, 爱爱直播鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the 爱爱直播 learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.
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