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Engineering and the Problem of Moral Overload
| Title | Engineering and the Problem of Moral Overload |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2012 |
| Authors | Hoven, Jeroen, Lokhorst Gert-Jan, and Poel Ibo |
| Journal | Science and Engineering Ethics |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 143 - 155 |
| Date Published | 3/2012 |
| ISSN Number | 1471-5546 |
| Keywords | ENGINEERING , professional responsibility |
| Abstract | When thinking about ethics, technology is often only mentioned as the source of our problems, not as a potential solution to our moral dilemmas. When thinking about technology, ethics is often only mentioned as a constraint on developments, not as a source and spring of innovation. In this paper, we argue that ethics can be the source of technological development rather than just a constraint and technological progress can create moral progress rather than just moral problems. We show this by an analysis of how technology can contribute to the solution of so-called moral overload or moral dilemmas. Such dilemmas typically create a moral residue that is the basis of a second-order principle that tells us to reshape the world so that we can meet all our moral obligations. We can do so, among other things, through guided technological innovation. |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11948-011-9277-z |
| Short Title | Sci Eng Ethics |

