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Tech and Ethics: Impact on Society

Explore the ethical implications of technology on society, from revenge theory to bureaucratic norms, and the evolving political landscape post-Cold War. Delve into the conflicts between statists and dynamists in navigating technological advancements. Edward Tenner's Revenge Theory sheds light on the complex choices and consequences in our tech-driven world. Can concerns about revenge effects justify technocratic stasis? Discover the intersection of technology, bureaucracy, and ethics in shaping our collective future.

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Tech and Ethics: Impact on Society

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  1. MIT271: Technology & Human Values March 26, 2002: Intentions — Options and Revenge

  2. Administration • Tests back Thursday • REMINDER: Exam • 10-12 • Sunday April 28 • Natural Science 7 • Study Questions available last class

  3. Related Upcoming Courses • Summer Intersession: Geography105A: Conservation and Development • Summer Day: Philosophy 020: Introduction to Philosophy (with me) • Fall 2002: • Philosophy 245 Media Ethics • MIT2?? Images and Persuasion in Science • MIT2?? Objectivity

  4. Virginia Postrel

  5. Redefining the political landscape after the Cold War • The old left-right distinction often fails to hold • With new technological issues in politics, the conflict is more between statists, who may be right or left, and dynamists; and among different types of stasist

  6. Types of stasist • Reactionaries: value stability, reverse change • cultural vitality (religious, environmental) • e.g. Unabomber, Strong • Technocrats: value control, plan change • traditional ideals of the good life • e.g. Dyson, Gelernter

  7. The One Best Way • The technocratic notion of progress • A western expectation: uniform, comprehensive institutions guided by experts • Debates focus on deciding for every new development how it is to be implemented — competing technocratic schemes

  8. Edward Tenner: Revenge Theory • Technologies and their sustaining bureaucracies have some troubling sides • “The point is understanding choices.” [emphasis mine]

  9. Repeating • Easier/faster chores may have to be done more often, or require additional chores • e.g. household appliances, computerized revision, repetitive stress disorders

  10. Recomplicating • Elaborate systems required to sustain new technology make it hard to understand • Especially the simplifying abilities of computers

  11. Recongesting • System becomes slower and less comfortable • E.g. private cars offering apparent speed

  12. Regenerating • Solution revives or amplifies problem • E.g. pest control

  13. Rearranging • Problem merely shifted • E.g. air-conditioning, disaster control

  14. Question • Can technocratic stasis be justified by concerns about revenge effects?

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