Friday, February 13, 2009
Book launch ‘Ethics of Technological Risks’
Location: The Hague campus of TUD, Lange Voorhout 44, room LV0/Stijlkamer
Time: 14.30 - 18.00.
What has risk to do with ethics? On February 13th the Swedish researcher Sven Ove Hansson will argue that problems of risk are largely ethical, since they involve issues such as voluntariness, fairness, and rights. He will do so during the launch of a new book titled “The Ethics of Technological Risk”, edited by (former) 3TU.Ethics members Sabine Roeser and Lotte Asveld. Several speakers will share their ideas on the topic during this event. Based on perspectives presented in the book, Corien Prins will address a specific case, namely the risk of name and shame related practices made possible by the internet (’do-it-yourself justice’ and ‘eye-for-an-eye’ types of revenge).
Media appearances resulting from the book (launch)
- “Angst is een goede raadgever” - De Volkskrant, 02-21-2009
- “Techniek is nooit neutraal” - Trouw, 02-17-2009
- “Risico’s van technologie” - Noorderlicht Radio
Listen Online, 02-17-2009 - “Rationele Angst” - TU Delta, 02-11-2009
- “L’éthique doit précéder la technologie” - L’Atelier, 02-11-2009
Book reviews
- “Kun je dat maken? Nou en of!” - Recensie, 03-28-2009
- Book Review - Science and Engineering Ethics, 03-16-2009
- “The Ethics of Technological Risk” - Kennislink, 02-19-2009
Program
| 14:30 - | Coffee/tea |
| 15:00 - | Opening by Sabine Roeser (TU Delft) |
| 15:10 - | Risks, ethics and internet-driven name and shame |
| Corien Prins (Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society) | |
| 15:35 - | Reply by Jeroen van den Hoven (3TU.Center for Ethics and Technology) |
| 15:45 - | Discussion |
| 16:00 - | Break |
| 16:15 - | Column by Lotte Asveld (Rathenau Institute) |
| 16:25 - | What has risk to do with ethics? | Sven Ove Hansson (Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm) |
| 16:50 - | Reply by Frans Brom (Rathenau Institute & Wageningen University) |
| 17:00 - | Discussion |
| 17:15 - | Drinks |
Abstracts of presentations
What has risk to do with ethics?
Matters of risk are often quite technical. Should we therefore leave it to experts to determine which risks are acceptable and which are most in need of mitigation? Hansson argues that problems of risk are largely ethical, since they involve issues such as voluntariness, fairness, and rights. In order to find ways to deal responsibly with risk we need first of all to recognize the ethical issues that are involved.
Risks, ethics and internet-driven name and shame
The online world facilitates a new dimension of vigilantism – often referred to as digilantism. Several characteristics of Internet, among them its interconnectedness and the lack of traditional institutional control mechanisms, allow for various forms of ‘do-it-yourself justice’ and ‘eye-for-an-eye’ types of revenge. The development may have advantages in strengthening previously weak people (e.g. victims of crime). However, digilantism may also bring risks to innocent individuals as well as broader societal values. Based on perspectives presented in the book, this talk will briefly sketch some of these name and shame-related risks.
Practical information
Participation and registration
Participation is for free. Because of the limited number of places available and catering arrangements we would, however, like to ask you to register, using this registration form.
The book
Asveld, Lotte and Sabine Roeser, eds. (2009). The Ethics of Technological Risk. London: Earthscan Publishers. Hardback - November 2008 - 320 pages - ISBN: 9781844076383
Content of the book
This volume brings together top authors from the fields of risk, philosophy, social sciences and psychology to address the issue of how we should decide how far technological risks are morally acceptable or not. The underlying principles are examined, along with methodological challenges, public involvement and instruments for democratization. A strong theoretical basis is complemented by a range of case studies from some of the most contentious areas, including medical ethics and GM crops.
About the editors
Editors of the book are Lotte Asveld and Sabine Roeser, former respectively current researcher within the Department of Philosophy (TU Delft) / 3TU.Ethics. The book is a result of a conference that the two editors together organized at TU Delft on the same topic in 2006.
More information
- Order form for the book (with a 20% discount)
- More information about the book (including some reviews, a longer introduction and the table of contents)
- Persbericht 9 februari 2009 - “Wanneer zijn nieuwe technologieën moreel aanvaardbaar?”
- Interview ”Angst is wél een goede raadgever” met Sabine Roeser, co-redacteur van het boek. Uit Eos Magazine (maart 2007), interview door René Rector.
- Interview ”Neem emoties serieus bij risicobeoordelingen” met Sabine Roeser. Uit de voorlichtingsbrochure ‘TBM in Beeld’ (2008).
Location
Note for the press
Voor meer informatie over het boek en het programma kunt u contact opnemen met Sabine Roeser, e-mail: , 015 - 27 88 77 9.
