New Perspectives on Technology, Values, and Ethics Theoretical and Practical Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science
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Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science 315 Wenceslao J. Gonzalez Editor New Perspectives on Technology, Values, and Ethics Theoretical and Practical Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science Volume 315 Series editors Alisa Bokulich, Department of Philosophy, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA Robert S. Cohen, Boston University, Watertown, MA, USA Jürgen Renn, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, Germany Kostas Gavroglu, University of Athens, Athens, Greece The series Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science was conceived in the broadest framework of interdisciplinary and international concerns. Natural scientists, mathematicians, social scientists and philosophers have contributed to the series, as have historians and sociologists of science, linguists, psychologists, physicians, and literary critics. The series has been able to include works by authors from many other countries around the world. The editors believe that the history and philosophy of science should itself be scientifi c, self-consciously critical, humane as well as rational, sceptical and undogmatic while also receptive to discussion of fi rst principles. One of the aims of Boston Studies, therefore, is to develop collaboration among scientists, historians and philosophers. Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science looks into and refl ects on interactions between epistemological and historical dimensions in an effort to understand the scientifi c enterprise from every viewpoint. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/5710 Wenceslao J. Gonzalez Editor New Perspectives on Technology, Values, and Ethics Theoretical and Practical Editor Wenceslao J. Gonzalez Faculty of Humanities University of A Coruña Ferrol , Spain ISSN 0068-0346 ISSN 2214-7942 (electronic) Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science ISBN 978-3-319-21869-4 ISBN 978-3-319-21870-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-21870-0 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015944709 Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifi c statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www. springer.com) Prologue New Account for Technology and Its Rel ation to Values and Ethics Wenceslao J. Gonzalez Recent decades have witnessed an intense development in technology in many ways, mainly in the area of information and communication technologies (ICTs). These technological advancements have been followed by relevant philosophical analyses, which include new approaches to the role of values, in general, and ethical values, in particular. This new account of technology involves its being accepted as value-laden, instead of its characterization as value-free. In this regard, technology appears to be directly connected to ethical values, rather than being completely “neutral” from the ethical point of view. Technology, Values, and Ethics focuses on a key issue today: the role of values in technology, with special emphasis on ethical values. This topic involves the analysis of internal values in technology (as they affect objectives, processes, and outcomes) and the study of external values in technology (social, cultural, economic, ecologi- cal, etc.). These values—internal and external—are crucial to the decision-making of engineers. In addition, they have increasing relevance for citizens concerned with the present and future state of technology, which gives society a leading position in technological issues. Within this context, the book follows three main lines of research: (1) new per- spectives on technology, values, and ethics; (2) rationality and responsibility in technology; and (3) technology and risks. This volume analyzes the two main sides involved here: the theoretical basis for the role of values in technology and a practi- cal discussion on how to implement them in our society. Thus, the book is of interest for philosophers, engineers, academics of different fi elds, and policy makers. The style is appealing for a wide audience. v vi Prologue I Contributions to New Perspectives on Technology, Values, and Ethics Concerning the fi rst part of the book, devoted to new perspectives on technology, values, and ethics, there are three papers: “On the Role of Values in the Confi guration of Technology: From Axiology to Ethics,” Wenceslao J. Gonzalez (University of A Coruña); “Values in Engineering and Technology,” Ibo van de Poel (Delft University of Technology); and “Values Regarding Results of the Information and Communication Technologies: Internal Values,” Paula Neira (University of Santiago of Compostela). They offer central elements of the general framework of the new account for technology and its relation to values and ethics. In the context of the relevant improvements of technology in recent times, Wenceslao J. Gonzalez emphasizes that the analysis of the problem of values is a crucial topic. This involves considering what the role of values in the confi guration of technology is and ought to be . The new scenario comes about for two main rea- sons: the frequent refl ection on values regarding information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the acceptance nowadays of technology as value-laden, rather than value-free. Both aspects are involved in the refl ection on ethical values. Thus, there is now an open door to new ethical analyses of technology as a human undertaking. Following the idea of technology as value-laden, Gonzalez offers key elements for the new framework in three steps. (i) The values are related to the structural dimension of technology as a human enterprise and can clarify the dynamic per- spective of this social undertaking. (ii) These values lead to an axiological analysis. This can consider the role of the “internal” values (those characteristic of technol- ogy itself) and the role of the “external” values (those around this human undertak- ing). (iii) The ethical values in technology, which are related to this free human activity, are also dual: endogenous and exogenous. Thus, they can be focused on this human undertaking related to the creative transformation of reality (endoge- nous perspective), or they can look at technology as intertwined to other human activities within a social setting (exogenous viewpoint). Accordingly, his philo- sophical analysis in Chap. 1 follows these three main steps. Meanwhile, within this general setting of new perspectives, Ibo van de Poel dis- cusses in Chap. 2 the role of values in engineering and technology. He argues that technology is not value-neutral as sometimes held. While values are regularly dis- cussed with regard to technology, the role of values in engineering is far less researched. He distinguishes between two kinds of values that play a role in engi- neering. Internal values are values that are perceived by engineers as internal to engineering and engineering practice. This includes values like technological enthu- siasm, effectiveness and effi ciency, reliability, robustness, maintainability, and rationality. External values relate to effects of technologies developed by engineers outside engineering practice. Typical examples of external values are health and safety, human well-being, sustainability, and justice. Prologue vii As Van de Poel argues, internal values are often conceived as ends in themselves (fi nal values) by engineers, while they are instrumental values in a moral sense. The moral appropriateness of effi ciency, for example, depends on the ends for which a technology is employed. An effi cient killing device may be morally improper, while an effi cient central heating system may be morally desirable. External values, like safety, health, and human well-being, are fi nal values; however, to be effective in engineering, these values need to be internalized. This can be done, for example, through technical codes and standards, which translate these external values into often quite specifi c requirements for new technologies or through design approaches like design for X and value-sensitive design. While some external values like safety and health have already been internalized in engineering over time, this internaliza- tion is now occurring or still to start for some other external values like human well- being, sustainability, and justice. Thereafter, in Chap. 3 Paula Neira goes a step forward and