D.E. Wittkower
D.E. Wittkower is a Professor of Philosophy at Old Dominion University, where he teaches on philosophy of technology, cybersecurity, and information ethics. In addition to being Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sociotechnical Critique, he is editor or author of six books on philosophy for a general audience, and author or coauthor of forty-seven book chapters and journal articles. He has also written for Slate, Speakeasy, and Passcode, and has recorded a dozen audiobooks that, combined, have been accessed over a million times.
His research focuses on and branches out from the intersection of phenomenology of technology and feminist ethics of care. He has published work on topics including self and self-performance on Facebook, friendship online, the function and value of boredom on SNS, the role of the cute in digital culture, the phenomenology of audiobooks, the Occupy movement, ethics of care and employee loyalty, disempowerment and exploitation in crowdfunding, the crisis in copyright, technological influences in the construction of white male normativity, Philip K. Dick, and the iPod. His current work concerns disability, trust, privacy, and the Internet of Things.
He received a Ph.D in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University in 2006, where his training concentrated on German philosophy and the history of value theory (ethics, aesthetics, social/political philosophy), but also included training in Pragmatist and Analytic philosophical traditions. He is Phi Beta Kappa (1997), and was given the 2011 Award for Distinguished Teaching by the College of Humanities and Fine Arts (Coastal Carolina University).
His research focuses on and branches out from the intersection of phenomenology of technology and feminist ethics of care. He has published work on topics including self and self-performance on Facebook, friendship online, the function and value of boredom on SNS, the role of the cute in digital culture, the phenomenology of audiobooks, the Occupy movement, ethics of care and employee loyalty, disempowerment and exploitation in crowdfunding, the crisis in copyright, technological influences in the construction of white male normativity, Philip K. Dick, and the iPod. His current work concerns disability, trust, privacy, and the Internet of Things.
He received a Ph.D in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University in 2006, where his training concentrated on German philosophy and the history of value theory (ethics, aesthetics, social/political philosophy), but also included training in Pragmatist and Analytic philosophical traditions. He is Phi Beta Kappa (1997), and was given the 2011 Award for Distinguished Teaching by the College of Humanities and Fine Arts (Coastal Carolina University).
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Videos by D.E. Wittkower
Please note that where there are embedded videos in the Powerpoint the recording here plays out the entire video even when, in the presentation, I played only a few seconds of the embedded video. So, you will need to skip ahead sometimes.
Books by D.E. Wittkower
P.W. Singer, author of Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century and Children at War, Director of the Brookings Institution's Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence.
“Ender’s Game and Philosophy” brilliantly captures the philosophical richness and contemporary relevance of this science-fiction classic, exploring its provocative implications for everything from modern drone warfare and just war theory to the nature of other minds, the limits of moral responsibility and the ethics of the ‘noble lie.’ Yet perhaps its most original contributions explore a subject too often passed over by philosophers – our special duties to children, and the dangers that contemporary political, educational and parenting techniques may pose for their moral development. A must-read for fans of the novel, and for anyone seeking to understand its enduring hold on the philosophical imagination.”
Shannon Vallor, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Santa Clara University and author of 21st Century Virtue.
“For those interested in taking up Orson Scott Card’s challenge to decode “the layers of meaning” in his books, this is a stimulating addition to the Ender series. The essays here range from the ethics of war and cheating in sports to the extended mind, queer theory, empathy, and Hinduism. In each case the authors thoughtfully engage with the Ender books to draw out philosophical challenges and insights that will surprise and illuminate. A thoughtful companion to the Ender series and an invigorating introduction to philosophy for fans.”
Kevin Macnish, Teaching Fellow in Applied Ethics at the University of Leeds and consultant on automated surveillance
Little did I know that there was a philosopher lurking within me! Thanks to D. Wittkower's "The Philosopher's Book of Questions & Answers- Questions to Open Your Mind", I've gotten to know my philosopher self and many of my peers in ways I'd not before. Several of us have been reading this excellent book and meeting monthly for informal discussions of the thought-provoking questions posed and then addressed within their historical, philosophical contexts-- usually 3 brief topics per gathering. Dr. Wittkower has beautifully organized a great collection of life's universal questions into an easy-to-read and digest format. He writes with clarity, insight and humor, making philosophy accessible and relevant to contemporary daily life, and, dare I say entertaining.. Who'd have thought a book of questions and answers could be a page turner? In this fast- paced, digital world, it's refreshing to find a book that encourages us to slow down and ponder the essence of life as did those a thousand years ago, those who came and went before I -Phones and Facebook! This book can be enjoyed equally by individuals, couples, discussion groups, book groups, dinner party attendees (!), students, or just as a great tool to have on hand for conversation starters. It would be equally at home at the kitchen table, the nightstand, in a classroom, or as a companion on a long train ride. I will be giving this book as a gift and I highly recommend it. Beth M., Oregon
This book is an excellent and personalized introduction to philosophical concepts for the lay reader. You'll want your own copy of this book in order to literally fill-in-the-blanks, answering philosophical questions about your life and thoughts, and then reading the intro to concepts that relate to the subject to help you see where you stand on philosophical issues. It's a fantastic read for someone who would like to learn more about philosophy and have a guide to help you understand how you can make sense of your own life. This book is the guide. In this regard, the book fills a niche in philosophy that I've not seen from any other book. It's both self-directed learning (you can skip the topics that really don't interest you), part self-help (you can better understand yourself), and part general overview of key philosophical issues. It's obvious D.E. Wittkower wants to make philosophy accessible for all, and he does this beautifully.
That said, I've been thinking about how to use this book in an intro philosophy course, and, while I think some of the exercises for self-reflection would be good, I would hesitate to use it in its entirety because, though the material gives and excellent overview, it doesn't delve deeply enough into any one issue with enough rigor for a college-level course. This book also spends a great deal of time on "continental" traditions in philosophy, which it does well, but I would want to integrate more "pragmatist" and "analytic" traditions in a course. If I were teaching intro philosophy to non-traditional and returning students, I might be more likely to use this as a text.
That said, you should get a copy for your own use and enjoyment. It might not be a perfect college textbook - but that makes it all the better for most audiences, right?
—Charles Ess, author of Digital Media Ethics, and co-editor of Trust and Virtual Worlds and Information Technology Ethics
“The works of Philip K. Dick have long proved to be fertile ground for the cinematic imagination and now, as demonstrated by Philip K. Dick and Philosophy, they prove to be equally fertile ground for the philosophical imagination. As these contributors show, some of the deepest questions that we confront – questions about identity, free will, and our place in the universe – are perfectly illustrated by the memorable characters populating Dick’s fictional worlds, from the Nexus-6 androids, to the Precogs, to the customers of Rekal, Inc. For anyone who’s ever wondered if they might be a replicant, this book should be required reading.”
—Amy Kind, contributor to Star Trek and Philosophy and Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy.
“Wittkower has assembled an impressive collection of original and thought-provoking essays exploring a vast range of philosophical topics and displaying the breadth and depth of Dick’s writing with great style. Philip K. Dick and Philosophy is an intelligent, exciting, and highly entertaining read that will be valued by academic philosophers and philosophically-inclined readers of Dick alike.”
—Marya Schechtman, author of The Constitution of Selves
“Philip K. Dick was one of the 20th century’s most penetrating writers concerned with the human condition. Mortality and self-knowledge obsessed him and his work on these topics is some of the most thoughtful we have seen. Amazingly, Dylan Wittkower has managed to assemble a collection of thinkers who not only understand Dick but whose essays will help the rest of us understand him better. This is a collection of substantial writings each of which contributes to P.K. Dick scholarship (a subject worthy of such concern) and contributes to a humanistic side of philosophy we have not seen enough of lately.”
—Joseph C. Pitt, author of Thinking About Technology"
—Luciano Floridi, author of The Philosophy of Information
"Facebook has evolved into a significant cultural platform, home to everything from folks hanging out to serious political movements. By critically interrogating everyday practices involving Facebook, Facebook and Philosophy offers an insightful examination of our mediated lives. This book is a must-read for anyone who doubts the social importance of Facebook (and a sheer delight for those obsessed with updating their status)."
danah boyd, co-author of "Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out"
http://www.opencourtbooks.com/books_n/facebook.htm
—Lee Goldberg, writer of several Monk TV episodes and author of the bestselling Adrian Monk novels, including Mr. Monk Is Miserable
http://www.opencourtbooks.com/books_n/monk.htm
—Clay Shirky, author of Here Comes Everybody
http://www.opencourtbooks.com/books_n/ipod.htm
Papers by D.E. Wittkower
Landon Winner has argued that ‘artifacts have politics’, demonstrating that code can have discriminatory effects, but work in philosophy of technology has not identified what kinds of user exclusion constitute an injustice. Previous theoretical work on affordances has also left non-affordances substantially untheorized, providing no clear basis for distinguishing problematic from unproblematic non-affordances. This paper presents a three-fold division of non-affordances as exclusionary of users due to (a.i) unproblematic mutually exclusive proper functions, due to (a.ii) unproblematic demographically distributed service provision, and due to (b) problematic discriminatory exclusion. Within this third category, two kinds of discriminatory exclusion are identified: (b.i) direct exclusion through interfaces that do not accommodate relevant user groups, and (b.ii) indirect exclusion through recapitulation of existing social prejudices. Within discriminatory forms of exclusion, (b), two ...
In this chapter, I outline an interpersonal phenomenology of privacy oriented by ethics of care, considering privacy as it appears in parenting, friendship, romantic and sexual relationships, and care for elderly and disabled persons. This phenomenology identifies three distinctive dynamics of privacy in interpersonal contexts, having to do with autonomy, intimacy, and consent. These elements of the phenomenology of privacy in interpersonal contexts are then applied to a variety of kinds of IoT devices and systems: GPS navigators, the Amazon Alexa virtual assistant, Nest, and two medical robots—PARO and RIBA.
The most distinctive and useful of these differences are drawn together into conclusions on two major themes. First, that privacy in a legal-juridical context is commodified relative to privacy in interpersonal contexts: in the legal-juridical context, loss of privacy is framed as negative loss where it may appear instead as a positive gain in interpersonal contexts. Second, the strongly divergent understanding of consent as needing constant renewal rather than being a box to be checked in clickthrough licensing seems to demand transformative reforms from companies interested in engineering ethics.
Please note that where there are embedded videos in the Powerpoint the recording here plays out the entire video even when, in the presentation, I played only a few seconds of the embedded video. So, you will need to skip ahead sometimes.
P.W. Singer, author of Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century and Children at War, Director of the Brookings Institution's Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence.
“Ender’s Game and Philosophy” brilliantly captures the philosophical richness and contemporary relevance of this science-fiction classic, exploring its provocative implications for everything from modern drone warfare and just war theory to the nature of other minds, the limits of moral responsibility and the ethics of the ‘noble lie.’ Yet perhaps its most original contributions explore a subject too often passed over by philosophers – our special duties to children, and the dangers that contemporary political, educational and parenting techniques may pose for their moral development. A must-read for fans of the novel, and for anyone seeking to understand its enduring hold on the philosophical imagination.”
Shannon Vallor, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Santa Clara University and author of 21st Century Virtue.
“For those interested in taking up Orson Scott Card’s challenge to decode “the layers of meaning” in his books, this is a stimulating addition to the Ender series. The essays here range from the ethics of war and cheating in sports to the extended mind, queer theory, empathy, and Hinduism. In each case the authors thoughtfully engage with the Ender books to draw out philosophical challenges and insights that will surprise and illuminate. A thoughtful companion to the Ender series and an invigorating introduction to philosophy for fans.”
Kevin Macnish, Teaching Fellow in Applied Ethics at the University of Leeds and consultant on automated surveillance
Little did I know that there was a philosopher lurking within me! Thanks to D. Wittkower's "The Philosopher's Book of Questions & Answers- Questions to Open Your Mind", I've gotten to know my philosopher self and many of my peers in ways I'd not before. Several of us have been reading this excellent book and meeting monthly for informal discussions of the thought-provoking questions posed and then addressed within their historical, philosophical contexts-- usually 3 brief topics per gathering. Dr. Wittkower has beautifully organized a great collection of life's universal questions into an easy-to-read and digest format. He writes with clarity, insight and humor, making philosophy accessible and relevant to contemporary daily life, and, dare I say entertaining.. Who'd have thought a book of questions and answers could be a page turner? In this fast- paced, digital world, it's refreshing to find a book that encourages us to slow down and ponder the essence of life as did those a thousand years ago, those who came and went before I -Phones and Facebook! This book can be enjoyed equally by individuals, couples, discussion groups, book groups, dinner party attendees (!), students, or just as a great tool to have on hand for conversation starters. It would be equally at home at the kitchen table, the nightstand, in a classroom, or as a companion on a long train ride. I will be giving this book as a gift and I highly recommend it. Beth M., Oregon
This book is an excellent and personalized introduction to philosophical concepts for the lay reader. You'll want your own copy of this book in order to literally fill-in-the-blanks, answering philosophical questions about your life and thoughts, and then reading the intro to concepts that relate to the subject to help you see where you stand on philosophical issues. It's a fantastic read for someone who would like to learn more about philosophy and have a guide to help you understand how you can make sense of your own life. This book is the guide. In this regard, the book fills a niche in philosophy that I've not seen from any other book. It's both self-directed learning (you can skip the topics that really don't interest you), part self-help (you can better understand yourself), and part general overview of key philosophical issues. It's obvious D.E. Wittkower wants to make philosophy accessible for all, and he does this beautifully.
That said, I've been thinking about how to use this book in an intro philosophy course, and, while I think some of the exercises for self-reflection would be good, I would hesitate to use it in its entirety because, though the material gives and excellent overview, it doesn't delve deeply enough into any one issue with enough rigor for a college-level course. This book also spends a great deal of time on "continental" traditions in philosophy, which it does well, but I would want to integrate more "pragmatist" and "analytic" traditions in a course. If I were teaching intro philosophy to non-traditional and returning students, I might be more likely to use this as a text.
That said, you should get a copy for your own use and enjoyment. It might not be a perfect college textbook - but that makes it all the better for most audiences, right?
—Charles Ess, author of Digital Media Ethics, and co-editor of Trust and Virtual Worlds and Information Technology Ethics
“The works of Philip K. Dick have long proved to be fertile ground for the cinematic imagination and now, as demonstrated by Philip K. Dick and Philosophy, they prove to be equally fertile ground for the philosophical imagination. As these contributors show, some of the deepest questions that we confront – questions about identity, free will, and our place in the universe – are perfectly illustrated by the memorable characters populating Dick’s fictional worlds, from the Nexus-6 androids, to the Precogs, to the customers of Rekal, Inc. For anyone who’s ever wondered if they might be a replicant, this book should be required reading.”
—Amy Kind, contributor to Star Trek and Philosophy and Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy.
“Wittkower has assembled an impressive collection of original and thought-provoking essays exploring a vast range of philosophical topics and displaying the breadth and depth of Dick’s writing with great style. Philip K. Dick and Philosophy is an intelligent, exciting, and highly entertaining read that will be valued by academic philosophers and philosophically-inclined readers of Dick alike.”
—Marya Schechtman, author of The Constitution of Selves
“Philip K. Dick was one of the 20th century’s most penetrating writers concerned with the human condition. Mortality and self-knowledge obsessed him and his work on these topics is some of the most thoughtful we have seen. Amazingly, Dylan Wittkower has managed to assemble a collection of thinkers who not only understand Dick but whose essays will help the rest of us understand him better. This is a collection of substantial writings each of which contributes to P.K. Dick scholarship (a subject worthy of such concern) and contributes to a humanistic side of philosophy we have not seen enough of lately.”
—Joseph C. Pitt, author of Thinking About Technology"
—Luciano Floridi, author of The Philosophy of Information
"Facebook has evolved into a significant cultural platform, home to everything from folks hanging out to serious political movements. By critically interrogating everyday practices involving Facebook, Facebook and Philosophy offers an insightful examination of our mediated lives. This book is a must-read for anyone who doubts the social importance of Facebook (and a sheer delight for those obsessed with updating their status)."
danah boyd, co-author of "Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out"
http://www.opencourtbooks.com/books_n/facebook.htm
—Lee Goldberg, writer of several Monk TV episodes and author of the bestselling Adrian Monk novels, including Mr. Monk Is Miserable
http://www.opencourtbooks.com/books_n/monk.htm
—Clay Shirky, author of Here Comes Everybody
http://www.opencourtbooks.com/books_n/ipod.htm
Landon Winner has argued that ‘artifacts have politics’, demonstrating that code can have discriminatory effects, but work in philosophy of technology has not identified what kinds of user exclusion constitute an injustice. Previous theoretical work on affordances has also left non-affordances substantially untheorized, providing no clear basis for distinguishing problematic from unproblematic non-affordances. This paper presents a three-fold division of non-affordances as exclusionary of users due to (a.i) unproblematic mutually exclusive proper functions, due to (a.ii) unproblematic demographically distributed service provision, and due to (b) problematic discriminatory exclusion. Within this third category, two kinds of discriminatory exclusion are identified: (b.i) direct exclusion through interfaces that do not accommodate relevant user groups, and (b.ii) indirect exclusion through recapitulation of existing social prejudices. Within discriminatory forms of exclusion, (b), two ...
In this chapter, I outline an interpersonal phenomenology of privacy oriented by ethics of care, considering privacy as it appears in parenting, friendship, romantic and sexual relationships, and care for elderly and disabled persons. This phenomenology identifies three distinctive dynamics of privacy in interpersonal contexts, having to do with autonomy, intimacy, and consent. These elements of the phenomenology of privacy in interpersonal contexts are then applied to a variety of kinds of IoT devices and systems: GPS navigators, the Amazon Alexa virtual assistant, Nest, and two medical robots—PARO and RIBA.
The most distinctive and useful of these differences are drawn together into conclusions on two major themes. First, that privacy in a legal-juridical context is commodified relative to privacy in interpersonal contexts: in the legal-juridical context, loss of privacy is framed as negative loss where it may appear instead as a positive gain in interpersonal contexts. Second, the strongly divergent understanding of consent as needing constant renewal rather than being a box to be checked in clickthrough licensing seems to demand transformative reforms from companies interested in engineering ethics.
A reading of gamification through Heidegger's reading of Nietzsche, providing an analysis of what makes some forms of gamification life-affirming and true to the earth, while so many others are nihilist.
Full volume here: https://punctumbooks.com/titles/digital-dionysus/
The ideational force of crowdfunding obscures the problems that can and have taken place and the systematic manner in which its structures range against the very ideals that fuel its success. While crowdfunding’s exchange is similar to the more traditional mode (money for material goods with use value, exchange value, or symbolic value), the salient differences reside in the absence of a finished product in the moment of expenditure, the particular mode of solicitation that it necessitates, and the contingencies that frame the model and the dynamic between creator and donor. These three aspects inform the exchange and provide a space of immunity for the creator against which the donor is left with little recourse in the event that the creator takes advantage of the good will of the donors. Crowdfunding, located in the hazy intersection of artist autonomy, economic potential, and the participatory functions of web 2.0, relies upon the offer of symbolic and experiential values that direct scrutiny away from the artist’s utilisation of the autonomy provided by the model. If the larger goal of Kickstarter or Indiegogo is to encourage a new standard of both artist-fan relations, and means of funding artistic projects without disruption from third party financiers, then the artist cannot
take advantage of the donors through ideational rhetoric and vague promises.
Unedited early pre-publication draft, posted for commentary and discussion only. Please contact dwittkow@odu.edu prior to citation or use.
"Organizations may then have a similar relation to our integrity as does our character. Our character is formed by a history of actions and interactions, but we may not identify with the actions that it brings us to habitually perform. When we recognize our vices—e.g., intemperance—and seek to act in accordance with our values and beliefs, we act against our character and contribute thereby to reforming our habits and character to better align with the version of ourselves with which we identify. Organizations may similarly bring us, through their own form of inertia and habituation, to act in ways contrary to our values and beliefs. A confrontation with this contradiction through context collapse may help us to better recognize the organization’s vices and to act according to the version of ourselves, in that organizational context, with which we identify—and contribute thereby to reforming our organization to better align with our values, and with its values as well."
I seek to articulate what “cats” are insofar as the internet is made of them by looking at cats both as content and as medium in viral and memetic communications, offering multiple and non-exclusive suggestions about why there are “all these cats” (Tim Berners-Lee).
Details for the workshop: http://ir15.aoir.org/?page_id=128
Press coverage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnEDduSL0P4
Book chapter related to my presentation: https://www.academia.edu/288256/_On_the_Origins_of_the_Cute_as_a_Dominant_Aesthetic_Category_in_Digital_Culture_in_Putting_Knowledge_to_Work_and_Letting_Information_Play_
Mind-map produced during the workshop: https://www.mindmup.com/#m:a1ce83deb03b240132c74e1227bcf4073b
New media communications are clearly experienced by users as capable of forming the shared activities which constitute a life lived alongside others in friendship, as evidenced by the large portion of communicative activities better understood in their active than in their communicative aspect: the Instagrammed sandwich, the dull microreportage of quotidian trivialities, and the steady stream of cat pictures. What must the user experience of the world be like, such that it can be retroactively and asynchronously experienced alongside absent others as a shared experience?
In the pre-sharing experience of the experience to be shared, the sharer must experience the experience as currently retroactively to have been alongside others, the identity of whom is to be later determined, forming an “enigma position” in the subject. In the viewing of the shared object of experience, the receiver must ideate the sharer’s experience, and must ideate the sharer’s retrospective ideation of the experience as having been alongside the receiver. Only once the shared has been received and the reception has been shared is asynchronous being-with at a distance constituted—the circle must be closed at both ends, otherwise consisting only of an abstract and generic being-possibly-with on the part of the sharer and a being-merely-alongside on the part of the receiver.
My talk begins at around 1:07:30 in the video.