Morality in a Technological World
Knowledge as Duty

Lorenzo Magnani argues that existing moral constructs often cannot be applied to new technology.

Lorenzo Magnani (Author)

9780521877695, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 August 2007

306 pages
23.4 x 15.5 x 2.3 cm, 0.62 kg

Review of the hardback: 'Magnani clearly articulates the complexity of morality, and the development of a process of treating people as things through which 'we can begin to make peace with inevitable technological advances'. He challenges us to think both cognitively and philosophically about moral and ethical dilemmas, in light of new approaches to technological development. In doing so he awakens important discussions around consciousness, humanity, free will and responsibility, and their interconnectedness; in fact, how do we treat people as things, rather than means? He opens up a space in which we can fruitfully discuss the balance between individual, corporate, national and supra-national needs and expectations, in terms of developing individual self-efficacy and agency. In a period of accelerating technological change, where both individually and collectively we are casting longer data shadows within expanding networks, this is an important and timely discussion.' Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society

The technological advances of contemporary society have outpaced our moral understanding of the problems that they create. How will we deal with profound ecological changes, human cloning, hybrid people, and eroding cyberprivacy, just to name a few issues? In this book, Lorenzo Magnani argues that existing moral constructs often cannot be applied to new technology. He proposes an entirely different ethical approach, one that blends epistemology with cognitive science. The resulting moral strategy promises renewed dignity for overlooked populations, both of today and of the future.

1. Respecting people as things
2. Treating people as means
3. Hybrid people, hybrid selves
4. Knowledge as duty
5. Freedom and responsibility
6. Creating ethics
7. Inferring reasons.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], Philosophy [HP]