People
Leader
Jaana Parviainen
- Senior Research Fellow
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- +358504106764
- jaana.parviainen@tuni.fi
About me
I hold a PhD in philosophy (1998) from University of Tampere and received the title of docent in philosophy in 2002. My current research interests include ignorance studies and social epistemology relating to expertise and the politics of digitalisation in the post-capitalist society. My philosophical expertise covers social epistemology, the philosophy of technology and the phenomenology of embodiment.
Responsibilities
Research and leadership in research
Field of expertise
The Philosophy of Technology, Social Epistemology, Phenomenology, Ignorance Studies, Body Studies
Research topics
The Philosophy of Technology, Social Epistemology, Phenomenology, Ignorance Studies, Body Studies
Research unit
TaSTI: Research Centre for Knowledge, Science, Technology and Innovation Studies Tieteenalat
Research career
My dissertation in philosophy (Bodies Moving and Moved, 1998) was a pioneering research focusing on contemporary dance within the context of the philosophy of the body. In my postdoctoral research, I have evolved a phenomenological approach to the technology of philosophy, published in several articles and as the monograph, Meduusan liike (2006). My aim has been to rethink the theoretical foundations of human-technology interaction from a phenomenological perspective and body studies. Drawing on the philosophy of technology, critical theory and phenomenology, my recent research on the philosophy of technology has focused on virtual environments, wearable technologies, big data, the digitalisation process of schools, smart cities, artificial intelligence and care robotics.
Since 2008, I have led five research projects to develop theoretically and epistemologically relevant conceptualization and approaches to understanding embodied capabilities and competences required of professionals in post-capitalist economies. In the research project ‘The Working Body in the Post-industrial Economy’ (WORKBOD, 2011-2014), funded by Academy, in collaboration with co-researchers we used various case studies and theoretical frameworks to outline a detailed and more general view of how digitalized work cultures modify the conditions for working bodies in the 2010s.
Throughout my research career, I have focused special attention on how researchers in empirical sciences and philosophy can cooperate in studies to develop research questions, frameworks and outcomes that are practically, empirically, theoretically and/or methodologically ambitious. Approximately half of my published books, papers and scientific articles are collaborative efforts. I have co-written research papers and articles with about 40 researchers in various disciplines, including management studies, education, sociology, information sciences, engineering, media studies, social policy, cultural anthropology and political sciences.
I have published about 80 blind peer-reviewed articles and/or papers, three monographs and five edited books. I have supervised four doctoral dissertations and worked as an opponent in ten public defenses. My work has earned two research awards. I was also elected a member of the Board of the University of Tampere (2013–2018) as a representative of teachers and researchers. I have led a number of interdisciplinary research projects funded by the Academy of Finland, Kone Foundation, the Ministry of Education, the Finnish Work Environmental Fund, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Tekes, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Wihuri Foundation and Gyllenberg Foundation.
My ongoing research project "Democracy, Language and the Politics of Algorithms Steering Vulnerable Citizens in Society" (DIG1t0, 2022-2025) concerns the automation of public administration and digital services and its impact on the conditions for democracy, especially from the perspective of vulnerable citizens. We are seeking answers to the questions what kind of epistemic (in)justice automated systems and digital services provide to vulnerable citizens and how such politics of algorithms transforms the conditions of democracy in society. In particular, we will focus on the complex role of language as part of using and designing public digital services.
This project utilises the methodology of citizen science. Three experts by experience from Mielen ry contribute to the scientific process by gathering data and generating results in collaboration with professional researchers. This multidisciplinary project creatively combines empirical linguistic studies and social science research with AI ethics, philosophical epistemology and political theory. Utilising diverse qualitative data, the project relies on multimodal interaction analysis, document analysis and argumentation analysis in its methodology. The results are disseminated to the public through a live science theatre performance, bringing researchers and citizen researchers on stage.
Member of the Board of the University of Tampere as a representative of teachers and researchers (2013–2018)
Parviainen, J. & Coeckelbergh, M. (2024) Sophia the Robot as a Political Choreography to Advance Economic Interests: An Exercise in Political Phenomenology and Critical Performance-Oriented Philosophy of Technology. In: Diachronic Perspectives on Embodiment and Technology: Gestures and Artefacts (Eds.) Thiemo Breyer, Alexander Gerner, Niklas Grouls, Johannes Schick. Springer, pp. 57-66
Jensen, R., Jonasson, C., Gartmeier, M. & Parviainen, J. (2023) Learning from errors in digital patient communication: Professionals’ enactment of negative knowledge and digital ignorance in the workplace. Journal of Workplace Learning https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-12-2022-0177
Kinnunen, T., Parviainen, J. & Haho, A (2023) The Skills and Ethics of Professional Touch: From Theory to Practice. Palgrave Macmillan
Parviainen, J. (2023) The politics of imaginary technologies: Innovation ecosystems as political choreographies for promoting care robotics in health care. In: Handbook of Critical Studies of Artificial Intelligence, ed. Simon Lindgren. Edward Elgar, 793-803. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803928562.00080
Parviainen, J. & Koski, A. (2023) ‘In the future, as robots become more widespread’. A phenomenological approach to imaginary technologies in healthcare organisations’. In: The Oxford Handbook of Phenomenologies and Organization Studies, eds. François-Xavier de Vaujany, Jeremy Aroles, and Mar Perezts. Oxford University Press, 277–296.
Sendra, A., Torkkola, S. & Parviainen, J. (2023) AstraZeneca vaccine controversies in the media: Theorizing about the mediatization of ignorance in the context of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Health Communication https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2023.2171951
Sendra, A., Torkkola, S. & Parviainen, J. (2023) Non-knowledge in medical practices: Approaching the uses of social media in healthcare from an epistemological perspective. Journal of Digital Social Research 5(1): 70-89. https://doi.org/10.33621/jdsr.v5i1.152
Parviainen, J. Koski, A., & Alanen, P. (2022). Tackling the Corona pandemic: Managing nonknowledge in political decision-making. In M. Gross & L. McGoey (eds.), Routledge International Handbook of Ignorance Studies (2nd edition) (pp. 211–220). London: Routledge
Auvinen, P., Parviainen, J., Lahikainen, L. & Palukka, H. (2021) Discussion protocol for alleviating epistemic injustice: The case of community rehabilitation interaction and female substance abusers. Social Sciences 10(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10020045
Parviainen, J. & Koski, A. & Torkkola, S. (2021) ‘Building a ship while sailing it’. Epistemic humility and the temporality of non-knowledge in political decision-making on the COVID-19. Social Epistemology: A Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Policy 10.1080/02691728.2021.1882610
Parviainen J., Ridell S. (2021) Infrastructuring Bodies: Choreographies of Power in the Computational City. In: Nagenborg M., Stone T., González Woge M., Vermaas P.E. (eds) Technology and the City. Philosophy of Engineering and Technology, vol 36. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52313-8_8
Parviainen, J. & Coeckelbergh, M. (2020) The political choreography of the Sophia Robot: From robot rights and citizenship to political performances for the social robotics market. AI & Society. DOI: 10.1007/s00146-020-01104-w
Van Aerschot, L. & Parviainen, J. (2020) Robots responding to care needs? A multitasking care robot pursued for 25 years, available products offer simple entertainment and instrumental assistance. Ethics and Information Technology Available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-020-09536-0
Parviainen, J., Van Aerschot, L., Särkikoski, T., Pekkarinen, S., Melkas, H. & Hennala, L. (2019) Motions with emotions? A phenomenological approach to understand the simulated aliveness of a robot body. Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology, 23(3): 318–341. https://www.pdcnet.org/collection/show?id=techne_2019_0023_0003_0318_0341&file_type=pdf
Parviainen, J. & Lahikainen, L. (2019) Negative expertise in the conditions of manufactured ignorance: Epistemic strategies, virtues, and skills. Synthese, pp. 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-019-02315-5
Dosentit - yhteiskunnan moniosaajat
Juuti, R. (Toimittaja), Björkman, J. (Toimittaja), Heikkilä, M. (Toimittaja), Juuti, P. (Toimittaja), Parviainen, J. (Toimittaja) & Viitaniemi, E. (Toimittaja), 2026, Tampereen dosenttiyhdistys. 96 SivumääräTutkimustuotos: Kokoomateos › Tieteellinen
HELPDESK 112: Hätähuutoja digiviidakossa
Parviainen, J., Eilola, L., Koski, A., Rantala, J., Teräsahde, S., Kuusipalo, P., Alastalo, M., Ryti, H., Palukka, H. & Haaksiluoto, P., 27 helmik. 2026Tutkimustuotos: Esitys › Art in non-art work
Kohti tietämättömyyden yhteiskuntaa?
Parviainen, J., 23 huhtik. 2026, Dosentit - yhteiskunnan moniosaajat. Tampereen dosenttiyhdistys ry, s. 56–68 12 SivumääräTutkimustuotos: Luku › General public
‘This is a matter of life and death for efficiency’: the implications of datafication within public services for epistemic (in)justice
Parviainen, J., Teräsahde, S., Alanen, P., Koski, A. & Rantala, J., 13 kesäk. 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) julkaisussa: AI and Society. 18 SivumääräTutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu
Building and Eroding the Citizen–State Relationship in the Era of Algorithmic Decision-Making: Towards a New Conceptual Model of Institutional Trust
Parviainen, J., Koski, A., Eilola, L., Palukka, H., Alanen, P. & Lindholm, C., maalisk. 2025, julkaisussa: Social Sciences. 14, 3, 178.Tutkimustuotos: Katsausartikkeli › vertaisarvioitu
Experiencing Social Exclusion and Distrust: Mental Health Rehabilitees Struggling With Digital Administrative Burdens
Palukka, H., Koski, A., Parviainen, J. & Eilola, L., 16 heinäk. 2025, julkaisussa: Social Inclusion. 13, 9950.Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu
Filosofit teknojättien etiikkapesulassa: Tekoälyn etiikka hyvetalouden markkinoilla
Parviainen, J., 19 syysk. 2025, julkaisussa: Niin & näin. 2025, 3, s. 75-84Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen
Luottamus algoritmisen päätöksenteon aikakaudella
Parviainen, J., 26 huhtik. 2025, julkaisussa: Alusta!.Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › General public
Technology Ethics 2024: Proceedings of the Conference on Technology Ethics 2024 (Tethics 2024), Tampere, Finland, November 6-7, 2024
Olsson, T. (Toimittaja), Sahlgren, O. (Toimittaja), Parviainen, J. (Toimittaja), Westerstrand, S. (Toimittaja), Harviainen, J. T. (Toimittaja), Laitinen, A. (Toimittaja) & Rantala, J. (Toimittaja), 2025, CEUR-WS. (CEUR Workshop Proceedings; Vuosikerta 3901)Tutkimustuotos: Kokoomateos › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu
AstraZeneca Vaccine Controversies in the Media: Theorizing About the Mediatization of Ignorance in the Context of the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign
Sendra Toset, A., Torkkola, S. & Parviainen, J., 2024, julkaisussa: Health Communication. 39, 3, s. 541-551Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu
Vice-leader
Arto Laitinen
- Professor
- Social Philosophy
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- +358503187018
- arto.laitinen@tuni.fi
About me
Professor of Social Philosophy 2013-. Tutkimusaiheitani ovat sosiaalinen ontologia, arvojen, normatiivisuuden ja käytännöllisen järjen luonne, yhteiskunnallisten ideaalien ja patologioiden luonne, etiikka, filosofinen ihmistutkimus, Hegel ja viime vuosina lukuisat robotiikkaan ja tekoälyyn liittyvät filosofiset kysymykset, monitieteisten hankkeiden osana. Olin historian, filosofian ja kirjallisuustieteen yksikön (aiemmin "tieteenalaryhmän") päällikkö vv.2017-2021. Konsistorin jäsen olin ensin vuodet 2019-21 (josta vuoden 2021 varapuheenjohtaja), ja nyt vv. 2022-25 (josta syyskuusta 2024 alkaen puheenjohtaja). Olen toiminut päätoimittajana journaalissa Ajatus ja toimittajana journaalissa Journal of Social Ontology. Työn alla olevat laajemmat hankkeet ja kirjakäsikirjoitukset liittyvät sitoumuksiin (Commitment and Self-Evaluation: Individual and Collective - hanke, Suomen Akatemia), kollektiiviseen intentionaalisuuteen (Kirjakäsikirjoitus työnimellä Essays on Collective Intentionality, Springer), yhteiskunnallisten vääryyksien ja patologoiden luonteeseen (kirjakäsikirjoitus työnimellä: Social Wrongs: From Structural Injustice to Social Pathology, Palgrave, Arvi Särkelän kanssa), vastuuseen (yhteinen Future of Responsibility - hankehakemus) sekä persoonuuteen (yhteinen kirjakäsikirjoitus).
Responsibilities
Professor, philosophy (Research period, Fall 2021).
Head of unit; History, Philosophy and Literature (until 15.4.2021).
Research fields
Social philosophy, ethics, philosophical anthropology, social ontology
Chair, Academic Board of Tampere University (Konsistori), until the end of 2025.
Researchers
Arvi Särkelä
- Lecturer
- Postdoctoral Reseacher
- Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences
- ETH Zürich
- arvi.saerkelae@phil.gess.ethz.ch
Johanna Ahola-Launonen
- Academy Research Fellow
- Dept. Management Studies
- Aalto University
- johanna.ahola-launonen@aalto.fi