Title: Reverse Adaptation in the Philosophy of Technology
Speaker: Prof. NebKujundzic (University of Prince Edward Island)
Date: Wednesday 26 February 2025
Time: 17:30
Location: tba
The world is a constantly evolving ecosystem, and engineers have an opportunity to lead sustainable adaptation efforts through intentional design and development of technologies. However, while traditional engineering design methodologies assume designers develop technology using pre-established business and policy goals, they do not explicitly consider how the nature of technology may result in negative environmental outcomes. Prof. Kujundzic will suggest approaching design from a philosophy of technology lens, specifically “reverse adaptation”, which posits that it is humans who adapt to technology, not the other way around. Future adaptive and sustainable design processes must account for technological driving forces. By understanding the behaviour of technology and harnessing the reality of reverse adaptation, designers can attempt to include the value of sustainability in design so that as people adapt to the goals of the technology, they will also adapt to the goal of sustainability.
Neb Kujundzic studied Philosophy and Literature at the University of Sarajevo, ex-Yugoslavia. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo, Ontario and his teaching experience includes Wilfrid Laurier University, Cape Breton University, and University of Prince Edward Island. Since 2019 he serves as Affiliate Professor at the University of Malta. His research interests include Philosophy of Technology, Philosophy of Language and Metaphysics. His experience at the University of Prince Edward Island includes serving as the Philosophy Chair, a member of the Board of Governors, and the Dean of Arts.
For further information please contact the Department’s Research Seminars series convenor, Prof. Jean-Paul De Lucca.