Swierstra, T.E. (Tsjalling)
Research profile
Dr. Tsjalling Swierstra (1960) studied in Groningen and Amsterdam. He graduated cum laude in philosophy in 1987 and cum laude in political science in 1988, both at the University of Amsterdam. He received his PhD in 1998 at the University of Groningen. His dissertation, De sofocratische verleiding [The sophocratic temptation], (Kok-Agora, Kampen, 1998) defends the thesis that dominant conceptions of practical reason still bear the imprint of Platonic elitism. In 1996 he joined the philosophy department of Twente University, where he teaches ethics and social philosophy since. He researches philosophical, ethical, questions concerning technology in general, and concerning medical biotechnology in particular. He has received several grants. In recent years he published articles and books on cloning, new reproductive technologies, genomics and general technology ethics. The leading theoretical question that connects his work is: how can the dynamic interaction between moral and technological development be analysed, anticipated and evaluated. Analysing this exchange means developing the conceptual tools to explore the multiform ways ethics influences the course of technologies, and vice versa.
Anticipating the exchange means looking for structural patterns in the ways moralities and technologies co-develop, and then extrapolating them in the form of ethico-technological scenarios. Evaluating them makes it necessary to develop a form of technology-ethics that is self-consciously dynamic and anti-foundationalist and takes into account that its normative standards are bound to change as a consequence of technological development itself. Taken together, these theoretical threads will hopefully combine into a form of technology ethics that will be able to do justice to the dynamic character of a technological culture like ours.
He co-supervised three dissertations: about the cultural domestication of new technologies (Smits 2002), about privacy and closed circuit television (Dubbeld 2004) and about rehabilitation technology (Struhkamp 2004). Currently he is co-supervising a dissertation on genomics and public debate (Valkenburg).
He is member of the editorial board of Krisis. Tijdschrift voor empirische filosofie (Crisis. Journal for empirical philosophy), co-editor (with Prof. I. de Haan) of the series `Innovations in Political Theory? of the Amsterdam University Press. Furthermore he is board member of The Netherlands Graduate School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC) where he is coordinator of the program on Modern Culture; of the Dutch Society of the Philosophy of Medicine and of the national Committee Biotechnology with Animals.
In mid 2009, Dr Swiestra was appointed as Professor of Philosophy and Ethics in the Lifesciences, from a humanistic perspective, in the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). His chair is supported by the Socrates Foundation.
3TU.Ethics Projects
Developing scenarios of moral controversies concerning new biomedical technologies
The ethical consequences of converging technologies
Scientific publications (selection)
Rijswoud, E, Stemerding van, D., and T.E. Swierstra. 2008. Genetica, Genomics en gezondheidszorg. Een toekomstverkenning. Nijmegen: Centre for Society and Genomics 
Swierstra, T.E. 2008. Ook de pil is techniek. Over onze toekomstige moraal. In De kwestie. Werkboek Ethiek voor de gezondheidszorg, edited by I. d. Beaufort, M. Hilhorst and e.a. Den Haag: Boom.
Swierstra, T.E., and E Tonkens. 2008. In het jaar 2034. Inleiding. In De beste de baas? Zelfrespect en solidariteit in een meritocratische samenleving, edited by T. E. Swierstra and E. Tonkens. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
Swierstra, T.E., and E Tonkens. 2008. Meritocratie en de erosie van zelfrespect. In De beste de baas? Zelfrespect en solidariteit in een meritocratische samenleving edited by T. E. Swierstra and E. Tonkens. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
Swierstra, T.E., and E. Tonkens. 2008. Een links beschavingsoffensief. Deugden en competenties voor een pluralistische, dynamische samenleving. In Bedrogen door de elite? Kritische beschouwingen bij Theodor Dalrymple's cultuuranalyse edited by J. Zeedijk and P. v. Bortel. Kampen: Pelckmans & Klement.
Swierstra, T.E., and E. Tonkens. 2008. Keuzevrijheid als burgerplicht. In Mondige burgers, getemde professionals edited by E. Tonkens. Amsterdam: Van Gennep
Swierstra, T.E. & Tonkens, E. 2008. Naar een aidocratie. Conclusies. In De beste de baas? Zelfrespect en solidariteit in een meritocratische samenleving, edited by T. E. Swierstra and E. Tonkens. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
Tonkens, E., and T.E. Swierstra. 2008. Meetlust: de wil tot meten. In De beste de baas? Zelfrespect en solidariteit in een meritocratische samenleving, edited by T. E. Swierstra and E. Tonkens. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.available online
Tonkens, E., and T.E Swierstra. 2008. Respect, man! De kennissamenleving als aanslag op (zelf)respect. In Burger in uitvoering (Jaarboek van de Kennissamenleving-4) edited by G. Albers. Amsterdam: Aksant.available online
Tonkens, E. , and T.E Swierstra. 2008. Meten is ingrijpen. Prestatiemeting gewogen. In Mondige burgers. Prestatiemeting gewogen edited by E. Tonkens. Amsterdam: Van Gennep.
Swierstra, T.E. 2007. Verantwoordelijkheid in een Technologische Cultuur. In Macht en Verantwoordelijkheid. Essays voor Kees Schuyt, edited by J. W. Duyvendak. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.available online
Swierstra, Tsjalling, and Arie Rip. 2007. Nano-ethics as NEST-ethics: Patterns of Moral Argumentation About New and Emerging Science and Technology. Nanoethics 1 (1):3-20.available online
Swierstra, Tsjalling, and Jaap Jelsma. 2006. Responsibility without Moralism. Normativity in Techno-Scienctific Design Practice. Science, Technology and Human Values 31 (3):309-332.available online
Swierstra, Tsjalling, and Evelien Tonkens. 2006. Meritocratie en de Erosie van Zelfrespect. Krisis: Tijdschrift voor Empirische Filosofie 7 (3):3-23.
Swierstra, T.E. 2005. Plicht. Krisis: Tijdschrift voor Empirische Filosofie, 37-40.
Swierstra, T.E., and J. Jelsma. 2005. Trapped in the Duality of Structure: An STS Approach to Engineering Ethics. In Inside the Politics of Technology. Agency and Normativity in the Co-Production of Technology and Society, edited by H. Harbers. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.available online
Swierstra, T.E., and Setargew Kenaw. 2005. From an Autopsy of the Old Eugenics to the Challenges of the New Science of Genetics. Ethiopian Journal of the Social Sciences and Humanities 3 (1):105-116.available online
Swierstra, T.E., and D. Willems. 2005. Ethics and Diversity in Clinical Research. In Diversity among Patients in Medical Practice: Challenges and Implications for Clinical Research, edited by W.N. Wieringa and A. P. Hardon. Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam Press.available online
Kirejczyk, Martha; van Berkel, Dymphie & Swierstra, Tsjalling. 2001. Nieuwe voortplanting: afscheid van de ooievaar. Den Haag: Rathenau Instituut, Studie 44.available online
Swierstra, Tsjalling. 2000. Kloneren in de polder, het maatschappelijk debat over kloneren in Nederland: februari 1997 – oktober 1999. Den Haag: Rathenau Instituut, Studie 39.available online
Professional/Popular publications (selection)
Swierstra, T.E. and Tonkens, E. 2007. Lof der Zelfspot. In De Autonome Mens. Nieuwe Visies op Gemeenschappelijkheid edited by E. Wit. Amsterdam: Boom.available online
Swierstra, T.E. 2006. Heeft Techniek Ethiek Nodig? In Bedrijfsgevallen. Morelebeslissingen van Ondernemingen, edited by H. van Luijk. Assen: Van Gorcum.available online
Swierstra, T.E. 2005. Hoe Samen te Leven met Techniek? Wijsgerig Perspectief op Maatschappij en Wetenschap 3 (45):18-28.
Swierstra, T.E. 2005. Toch maar een Vierde Weg. In Debat Ter Discussie. Wie Mag Meepraten over Medische Technologie?, edited by M. Trappenburg. Den Haag: Rathenau Instituut.
Swierstra, T.E., J. Keulartz, and M. Korthals. 2005. Precedent, Hellend Vlak, Gewenning. Ethische Strategieen in de Omgang met Genomics. Filosofie en praktijk, 50-62.available online
Swierstra, T.E., L. Nauta, and R. Gabriels. 2005. Linkse Sprakeloosheid. Introductie. Krisis: Tijdschrift voor Empirische Filosofie(6) 3, 3-5.
Swierstra, T.E., and E. Tonkens. 2005. Kiezen als Burgerplicht? Conclusies over de Voorwaarden voor Keuzevrijheid in Beleid. In Vrijheid Verplicht, edited by M. Hurenkamp and M. Kremer. Amsterdam: Van Gennep.available online
Swierstra, T.E., and E. Tonkens. 2005. Meritocratie versus Zelfrespect: De Prijs van Gelijke Kansen. Pedagogiek 2 (25):83-88.
Swierstra, Tsjalling, and Evelien Tonkens. 2005. Hoe doe je Vrijheid? Helling. Tijdschrift voor Linkse Politiek 2005 (3):34-35.available online
Teaching
Technology and ethics 2
Society and Technology
Business ethics
Ethics of Governing
Medical Ethics for general practitioners
Ethics of Medical Technology
