Ethical Dimensions of Technology: Responsibility for the Future

Bioethical Challenges in Technology

Understanding Bioethics

Discoveries and technological advancements bring immense benefits to humanity. However, this progress also raises serious moral dilemmas. Key concerns include the legitimacy of experimentation on animals and humans, and the impact of advances in genetic engineering. For these reasons, the development of a serious and effective bioethics – a discipline tasked with studying and addressing ethical issues related to life – is a responsibility we owe to ourselves and future generations.

Philosophical Solutions: Return to Nature

One proposed solution, a 'return to nature,' suggests that if the root of societal ills lies within the current system of industrial and technological development, then the only remedy is to revert to a pre-technological state of life. This position is championed by the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who based his ideas on a conception of humanity similar to the myth of the 'noble savage.' According to Rousseau, human beings are inherently good, generous, and free by nature, and it is civilization that corrupts, enslaves, and brutalizes them. While Rousseau's literal return to a state of nature is not widely advocated, ideas like the hippie movement share similar sentiments. Many thinkers, however, consider this regression unfeasible, as it would mean abandoning the significant benefits and accomplishments that technology provides.

The Concept of Technoethics

Science is neutral because its primary aim is to expand our knowledge. Technology, however, can be employed either appropriately or inappropriately. For this reason, technology itself is not intrinsically good or bad; its ethical value depends on its application. It is crucial that technicians not only understand but also actively participate in Technoethics, thereby feeling responsible for the consequences of their work.

Mario Bugna on Technician Responsibility

According to Mario Bugna, one of the causes of uncontrolled technological growth is that technicians often do not feel morally responsible for the consequences of their projects. Bugna argues that a technician should feel responsible for everything they do, design, or plan, even if they haven't established the purposes themselves and are merely fulfilling orders. Orders must be challenged when they contravene our moral principles. Bugna states that we cannot manipulate the world like a piece of clay; simultaneously, we must take responsibility for what is done or what one refuses to do. Particularly, the skill of experts is needed to repair damage done or at least to prevent future damage.