Converging New Technologies, Human Being, and Education
Vasco d’Agnese (University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Italy)

5:30-7:15 pm

Converging new technologies (especially biotechnology and ICT) have reshaped the interplay between human beings and technics, blurring the lines (organic/inorganic, exterior/ interior, organism/machine) (Braidotti, 2019; Haraway, 2016). Bios and technê intersect to challenge our understanding of human being, life and education. What human figure is taking shape with this neuro-bio-technology? What education will emerge from this rupture? First, I recapitulate some of the salient technological transformations. Second, drawing on Heidegger and Stiegler, I consider the conception of life and human being such transformations imply. I conclude with remarks about the kind of education that might emerge in response.

Vasco d’Agnese is Full Professor of Education in the Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Italy. His principal research interests are in Heidegger, Dewey and Postmodernism. He is the author of Dewey, Heidegger and the Future of Education. Beyondness and Becoming (Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019). Recent publications include “Fear, Angst, and the ‘Startling Unexpected’. Three Figures of Teaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic”, Studies in Philosophy and Education, 2022, and “Educating by slogans: Rhetoric and dominion in educational neoliberalism”, Policy Futures in Education, 2022.

For further inquiries: Yuxin Su (yuxin.su.16@ucl.ac.uk).

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