Question 1

What is the purpose of a technology assessment, and why are such analyses morally important?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a technology assessment is to evaluate the potential impacts, risks, and benefits of a particular technology on society, the environment, and the economy. This involves analyzing the ethical, social, and environmental implications of the technology, as well as its potential economic and political consequences.

Such analyses are morally important because they help to ensure that the development and implementation of new technologies are done in a responsible and ethical manner. By considering the potential impacts on different stakeholders, including marginalized communities and future generations, technology assessments can help to prevent or mitigate harm and ensure that the benefits of technology are distributed equitably.

Additionally, technology assessments can help to promote transparency and accountability in decision-making processes related to technology development and deployment. This can help to prevent the misuse or abuse of technology for unethical or harmful purposes. Overall, technology assessments play a crucial role in promoting ethical and responsible innovation, and in ensuring that technological advancements contribute to the greater good of society.

Question 2

What is the role of informed consent when new technologies are introduced in society?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent plays a crucial role when new technologies are introduced in society. It ensures that individuals are fully aware of the potential risks and benefits associated with the use of these technologies. This allows individuals to make an informed decision about whether or not they want to participate in or use the new technology.

Informed consent also promotes transparency and accountability among those introducing the new technology. It requires them to provide clear and accurate information about how the technology works, what data it collects, and how it will be used. This helps to build trust between the developers and the public, as well as ensuring that individuals have the autonomy to make decisions about their own participation.

Additionally, informed consent helps to protect individuals from potential harm or exploitation. By understanding the potential risks, individuals can make decisions that align with their own values and preferences. This is particularly important when new technologies have the potential to impact privacy, safety, or other fundamental rights.

Overall, informed consent is essential for ensuring that the introduction of new technologies is done in an ethical and responsible manner, and that individuals have the information and agency to make decisions that are in their best interest.

Question 3

Should new technologies be treated as ongoing social experiments? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

Yes, new technologies should be treated as ongoing social experiments. When new technologies are introduced, they often have unforeseen social impacts that can affect individuals, communities, and society as a whole. Treating new technologies as ongoing social experiments allows for careful observation and analysis of their effects on various aspects of society, such as communication, privacy, and employment. This approach also encourages ongoing dialogue and collaboration between technology developers, policymakers, and the public to address any negative consequences and maximize the benefits of new technologies. By treating new technologies as ongoing social experiments, we can better understand their implications and make informed decisions about their use and regulation.

Question 4

What is the best objection to treating new technologies as ongoing social experiments? Explain why.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the best objection to treating...

Question 5

How should new technologies be introduced in society by morally conscientious engineers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How should new technologies be introduced in...

Question 6

Which of the following is a clear example of a negative and unforeseen consequence of the use of cell phones?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a clear...

Question 7

In 1972 the United States created the Office of Technology Assessment performed a similar function to which federal agency?

Accepted Answer

The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) was created to provide Congressional members and committees with objective and authoritative analysis of the complex scientific and technical issues of the late 20th century, much like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assesses health and safety issues related to food, drugs, and cosmetics.

Question 8

Which of the following best expresses the mission of the OTA?

Accepted Answer

The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) was created to provide Congressional members and committees with objective and authoritative analysis of the complex scientific and technical issues of the late 20th century. Its mission was to assess the beneficial and adverse impacts of new technology, helping inform policy decisions.

Question 9

How might we evaluate the government's assessment of the Internet?

Accepted Answer

The government's assessment of the Internet can be considered somewhat accurate because it predicted many uses of the technology but not all, reflecting a general understanding of its potential without foreseeing every development or application.

Question 10

In 1989 the US Office of Technology Assessment wrote in a report that "the current Internet is, to an extent, an experiment in progress, similar to the early days of the telephone system. . . . Patterns of use are still evolving; and a reliable network has reached barely half of the research community." This quote

Accepted Answer

The quote suggests viewing the development and adoption of new technologies, like the Internet, as ongoing social experiments, highlighting the evolving nature of their use and integration into society.

Question 11

If we think of the introduction of new technologies in society as social experiments, then which of the following criteria would be relevant for evaluating the moral permissibility of such experiments?

Accepted Answer

All the options listed are relevant criteria for evaluating the moral permissibility of introducing new technologies in society as social experiments. Being able to stop the experiment ensures control over unforeseen negative impacts. Informed consent respects the autonomy and rights of individuals affected. Fair distribution of hazards and benefits ensures justice and equity in the experiment's outcomes.

Question 12

If we think of the introduction of new technologies in society as social experiments, then which of the following criteria would be relevant for evaluating the moral permissibility of such experiments?

Accepted Answer

All the options listed are relevant criteria for evaluating the moral permissibility of introducing new technologies in society as social experiments. They encompass concerns about irreversible effects, informed consent, and risk minimization, which are fundamental ethical considerations in both human subject research and the broader introduction of new technologies into society.

Question 13

If we think of autonomous military robots as an ongoing social experiments, we could object that they are morally problematic because

Accepted Answer

All the options listed (A, B, and C) present valid moral concerns regarding the use of autonomous military robots as ongoing social experiments. The inability to stop the experiment, lack of informed consent, and unfair distribution of hazards and benefits are all significant ethical issues.

Question 14

Which of the following concerns about autonomous military robots best expresses Russell's worry?

Accepted Answer

Russell's worry about autonomous military robots is primarily focused on the ethical implications of being able to conduct warfare or deadly attacks without risking one's own soldiers, thus potentially lowering the threshold for engaging in conflict.

Question 15

Some argue that the question "Is X an ethically acceptable technology" should be replaced by the question "Is X an ethically acceptable social experiment?" Which of the following is the best objection to this idea?

Accepted Answer

The two questions address different aspects: a technology might be ethically acceptable in its design and use, but the broader implications and effects of its integration into society (the "social experiment") could raise additional ethical concerns not covered by the narrower question of the technology's ethical acceptability.

Question 16

Some ethicists think that rather than evaluating new technology as good or bad, we should evaluate it as a good or bad social experiment to try. Which of the following cases might show problems with treating technology as social experiment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some ethicists think that rather than evaluating...

Question 17

The case of stem cells show that evaluating technology as a social experiment fails to solve the ethical questions because

Accepted Answer

The ethical debates between utilitarians, who focus on outcomes, and deontologists, who focus on duties and principles, remain unresolved in the context of stem cell research, highlighting the limitations of viewing technology as a social experiment in addressing ethical questions.

Question 18

One of the main criticisms of evaluating technology as a social experiment is

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the main criticisms of evaluating...

Question 19

The best argument against replacing the question of the acceptability of technology with its acceptability as a social experiment is

Accepted Answer

This approach essentially reframes the question rather than replacing it, as it still centers on evaluating the technology's impact and acceptability within a societal context.

Question 20

Which of the following is a principle of the Nuremburg Code?

Accepted Answer

The Nuremberg Code, established in 1947, outlines ethical principles for conducting research on human subjects. All the options listed (A, B, C) are principles included in the Nuremberg Code, emphasizing the importance of consent, societal benefit, and proportionate risk.

Quiz 13: Technology Assessments and Social Experiments

What is the purpose of a technology assessment, and why are such analyses morally important?

What is the role of informed consent when new technologies are introduced in society?

Should new technologies be treated as ongoing social experiments? Explain your answer.

What is the best objection to treating new technologies as ongoing social experiments? Explain why.

How should new technologies be introduced in society by morally conscientious engineers?

Which of the following is a clear example of a negative and unforeseen consequence of the use of cell phones?

In 1972 the United States created the Office of Technology Assessment performed a similar function to which federal agency?

Which of the following best expresses the mission of the OTA?

How might we evaluate the government's assessment of the Internet?

If we think of the introduction of new technologies in society as social experiments, then which of the following criteria would be relevant for evaluating the moral permissibility of such experiments?

If we think of the introduction of new technologies in society as social experiments, then which of the following criteria would be relevant for evaluating the moral permissibility of such experiments?

If we think of autonomous military robots as an ongoing social experiments, we could object that they are morally problematic because

Which of the following concerns about autonomous military robots best expresses Russell's worry?

Some argue that the question "Is X an ethically acceptable technology" should be replaced by the question "Is X an ethically acceptable social experiment?" Which of the following is the best objection to this idea?

Some ethicists think that rather than evaluating new technology as good or bad, we should evaluate it as a good or bad social experiment to try. Which of the following cases might show problems with treating technology as social experiment?

The case of stem cells show that evaluating technology as a social experiment fails to solve the ethical questions because

One of the main criticisms of evaluating technology as a social experiment is

The best argument against replacing the question of the acceptability of technology with its acceptability as a social experiment is

Which of the following is a principle of the Nuremburg Code?