Ethics lect 9

Technology

The making and using of tools to accomplish desired purposes.

Engineering Ethics

The moral principles governing the practice of engineering as it relates to societal and environmental consequences.

ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)

The organization responsible for accrediting engineering programs in the United States based on a set of defined criteria.

Microethical Issues

Ethical issues confronted and resolved by individual engineers.

Macroethical Issues

Ethical issues concerning social policy regarding technology.

Technological Optimism

The view that technology generally has a beneficial impact on human well-being.

Technological Pessimism

The belief that technology has detrimental effects on human well-being.

Technological Determinism

The idea that technological development follows its own intrinsic logic and is not easily influenced by human actions.

Moore's Law

The observation that computing power typically doubles approximately every two years.

The Precautionary Principle

The guideline that engineers should ensure their products are safe and unlikely to cause harm before they are widely released.

Technological Unemployment

Job loss caused by technological advancements, often depicted in contrasting historical examples like Kodak and Instagram.

Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)

Robots designed to function autonomously on the battlefield, raising ethical concerns about their use.

Informational Privacy

The right to control access to information about oneself.

Physical Privacy

The right to control access to one’s physical space.

Decisional Privacy

The right to make personal decisions free from external interference or observation.

Proprietary Privacy

The right to control the use of one's identity and personal information.

Genetic Experimentation

The manipulation of genetic material to achieve specific outcomes, raising ethical questions.

Eugenics

A movement aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human population, which is viewed as ethically controversial.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Living organisms modified through genetic engineering to exhibit traits not naturally theirs.

Actor-Network Theory (ANT)

A theoretical framework that explores the social networks surrounding technology development and use.

Thick Descriptions

Detailed accounts of a process, emphasizing the ethical decisions and social implications involved.