Research themes
Moral issues in the use and regulation of technology
This theme focuses on ethical issues regarding the use of technology and regarding technology policy and regulation. Once developed, technical artifacts and systems are used by consumers, professionals and organizations to a variety of ends and in a variety of settings. Such uses may violate ethical standards. For example, the use of computer systems to access personal data may violate standards of privacy, and the use of engineered tissues to replace healthy tissues may violate principles of non-maleficence. The aim of this research theme is to analyze and propose morally adequate standards and principles for the use of particular technologies. It will also be studied how particular uses of technologies cohere with, or emerge, from cultural and institutional values and beliefs. The focus will be on new and emerging technologies.
The regulation of technology will be studied within this theme. Regulation relates to technology development, technology transfer and technology use. It will be studied which technology policies and laws ought to be adopted in order to implement accepted moral standards for the development of specific technologies and for their uses. Also procedures with respect to collective decision-making about technology will be studied as part of this theme, and it will be studied how uncertainties created by new and emerging technologies can be dealt with.
As part of this theme, public debates about moral issues in technology will also be analyzed. What arguments are put forward in these debates? How can arguments be reconstructed philosophically? How can public debates be improved? It will also be considered how public perceptions and debates play a role in regulation and how they should be accounted for in policy.
Projects belonging to this research theme
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