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Ethics and Technology

Ethics and Technology. What are Ethics?. A branch of philosophy that studies human actions Deals with good vs. evil / right vs. wrong Justice / equity Virtue Sample ethical questions consider … What is proper behavior under different situations? Unintended consequences. Sources of Ethics.

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Ethics and Technology

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  1. Ethics and Technology

  2. What are Ethics? • A branch of philosophy that studies human actions • Deals with good vs. evil / right vs. wrong • Justice / equity • Virtue • Sample ethical questions consider … • What is proper behavior under different situations? • Unintended consequences

  3. Sources of Ethics • Religion • Judeo-Christian ethic • Eastern religions • Family (parents) • Schools • Character education programs • Professional training • CPA, MD, JD, etc • Ex – Professional Rules of Conduct

  4. Ex: Ethical Values for Young People • Trustworthiness • Respect • Responsibility • Fairness • Caring • Citizenship • The Golden Rule? • Study: Lying, cheating teens become lying, cheating adults

  5. How do Ethics and Technology Relate? • Technology: the practical application of science to society, commerce, or industry • Tech. is basically tool making; thus tech itself is incapable of possessing moral or ethical qualities • Two subdivisions • Development of new tech • Tech’s extending or limiting the power of individuals

  6. Ethics and Technology Developing New Tech +/- Power of Individuals Cloning Genetic screening for parents Q: Just b/c we can do something, should we? • Creation of nuclear weapons • Job replacing technology • Q: What are the ethical implications of a tech creation?

  7. Nuclear Weapons • Nuclear (fission) bomb (“Atomic bomb”) • Dropped on Hiroshima, Nagasaki • Least “technical” bomb to build • Yield = 500 kt (500,000 tons of TNT) • Hydrogen (fission + fusion) bomb • Thermonuclear device • Developed 1952 in US, 1955 USSR • Yield = sky’s the limit (largest detonated = 50 megatons, or 50 million tons of TNT) • For comparison’s sake… • 5 MT bomb = more destructive force than all explosives used during WWII • 20 MT = more destructive force than all explosives used in history

  8. Ethics of Nuclear Weapons • Strategic framework • Cold War: Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) = deterrence • Post Cold War focus on non-proliferation • Non-proliferation = limiting the spread of nukes • Purpose: keep “nuclear club” small, to reduce danger of unstable regime obtaining nukes

  9. Ethics of Nuclear Weapons • Nukes pose a threat • Mankind • Civilization • World eco-system • Efforts to regulate their use persist • International Court of Justice outlawed their use (1999) • Non-Proliferation Treaty (1970) • Nuclear arms reduction treaties • Are these regulations realistic?

  10. Just b/c we can do something, should we? • Therapeutic Cloning • AKA embryo cloning • Production of human embryos for use in research • Goal: create human embryos in dish, then after 5-7 days, harvest stem cells for research, disease treatment • Harvesting kills human embryo: ethical concerns?

  11. Just b/c we can do something, should we? • Reproductive cloning process • Starvation and implantation of DNA from cells of one organism into an egg whose DNA nucleus has been removed • Resulting egg and nucleus are shocked (chemically treated) so that the egg behaves as if it had been fertilized • Embryonic development begins, with entire genetic code of original organism being reproduced

  12. Cloning • Problems with cloning • Experiments on mammals have resulted in clinical failures, resulting in “miscarriage” (98%+) • In human terms, hundreds of abortions or births of massively deformed offspring likely (size, no immune function) • Other defects from reprogramming of the egg don’t manifest themselves until later in life, resulting in spectacular unforeseen death of clones • No idea of effects of cloning on higher level thinking 11 week old human embryo

  13. Uses of Cloning • Gene therapy (used to treat certain genetic conditions) • Genetically engineered food (taste, disease resistance) • Anticipated uses • Develop specially qualified animals (food, human disease treatment) • Repopulate endangered animals • Produce healthy human organs from donor, for replacement in donor

  14. Some Ethical Questions Concerning Cloning • Is a cloned embryo the same thing as a conceived embryo? • Does a clone have a soul? • Does a cloned child have the right to an open future? • Does a human clone have the same rights as conceived human? • If humans “make” their children rather than “have” them, are they playing God?

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