Philosophy of Software Architecture (Dec. 2026)

• Dates: December 10, 17, 21 (2026) @ 7 PM CET
• Instructor: Barry O’Reilly
• Price: €160 (excluding VAT)

Disclaimer: This course will not discuss AI and consciousness

Course Description

This is a three-part course and discussion on the philosophy of software architecture.

The course will look at the history of software engineering and ask awkward questions about what we actually believe, how we think, and whether or not this actually works in the real world.

We will talk about a diverse range of philosophical ideas, from Plato, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Bergson, Whitehead, and Deleuze.

The course will give participants a new set of ideas and concepts from which to view their work.

Here’s an article I wrote about Barry’s book The Architect’s Paradox, where I reflect on the philosophy of software architecture in general, and on the philosophical underpinnings of residuality theory in particular.

Course Structure

3 sessions, December 10, 17, 2, (2026).

Session 1: What does it mean to have a philosophy of software architecture?

In this session, we will look at the default philosophy of architecture, and introduce some ideas from Plato (and friends) that perhaps explain why we think the way we do, and why that might be getting in the way.

Session 2: Alternative Philosophical Frameworks

In this session, we will look at some different ways to think about the world around us, and how stepping back and thinking about our philosophical assumptions can help get us out of the dramatic pendulum swings our industry loves. We’ll look at the concepts of Systems Thinking and Complexity Sciences and the parallels between software and Western philosophy’s development.

Session 3: 20th Century Philosophy and Software Architecture

In this session we will tie everything together and look at the major fault lines in 20th-century philosophy and how they have informed the development of software architectures tools and ideas. In conclusion, we’ll talk about what those tools might look like if we had chosen a different path.

About the Instructor

Barry O’Reilly (@TechnologyTulip) is finishing a Ph.D. in Complexity Science and Software Design and is a 25-year veteran of IT Architecture and a former Chief Architect at Microsoft.

Host

Mahmoud Rasmi (@decafquest), I bring philosophy into practical contexts, helping leaders and organizations examine different perspectives and make decisions involving competing values, uncertain outcomes, and ethical dilemmas.

Sample lecture: Watch on YouTube

Dates and Schedule

• Duration: 3 sessions
• Schedule: Thursday (Dec. 10), Thursday (Dec. 17), Monday (Dec. 21)
• Session length: 1.5 hours per session
• Dates: December 10, 17, 21, 2026
• Time: 7 PM CET
• Format: Synchronous online via Zoom
• Recording: If you can’t attend, you will have the option to watch the recorded lectures

Important Information

• All course content, including Zoom links and session recordings, will be made available to you via the Payhip course management library and will be shared with you via email.
• You will receive the link to the sessions a few days before the course starts
• Since we are not an institution, you will not be able to claim credits for the course
• No coursework will be assigned

Money Back Guarantee

If for some reason you think this workshop isn’t a good fit for you, you can ask for a full refund within 24 hours after the first session, no questions asked.