Beyond Right and Wrong — Applying Ethical Theories to Real-World Tech Dilemmas

We are living in a world where the question isn’t that could we build that technology, but should we build that considering ethical concerns.
Across different fields ranging from AI surveillance to genetic engineering , the innovation is moving at a faster pace than our moral standards. To move within these unexplored regions, understanding of three key aspects is important which are morals, ethics, and laws Morals are beliefs like whether this is right or wrong which are usually shaped by religion, experiences and culture Ethics are societal standards Laws are rules enforced by governments to maintain law and order
In tech world, there is dilemma between what is legal and what is ethical. Engineers are continuously building , coders are deploying and by the time there is some debate on the consequences , the technology is already embedded in our daily lives . The rapid expansion necessitates the need of a framework where right decision should be made in the gray areas where the laws haven’t been written yet and where morals alone are insufficient. Three Pillars of Ethical Theory
Following are the three pillars of ethical theories: 1. Deontology (Duty Based Ethics):
This theory was proposed by Immanuel Kant, and the focus is on act itself. It states that an action is morally right if it follows the rule regardless of the outcome.
For example, it’s wrong to lie even if it could save someone’s feeling.
If it is seen in tech context, a company which follows strict data confidentiality policies would refuse authorities for the access of data even if it helps the authorities to catch criminals or fugitives 2. Utilitarianism (Consequentialism)
This theory was founded by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill; this mainly focuses on outcomes. This theory states that an action is right if it produces greatest good for greatest number.
For example, a social media company might justify collection of personal data in pursuit of good user experience for millions of users, but this might be a case of exploitation. 3. Virtue Ethics
This theory is rooted in philosophy of Aristotle and states that virtue ethics focuses on character rather than outcome or actions. The key question here is what would a virtuous person do?
Honesty, compassion, and fairness, which are some examples of virtues, guides moral behavior. In tech context it means designing systems which reflect integrity and responsibility i.e. creating ethical tools not just efficient tools. Case Studies: When Technology Test Our Ethics 1. Self-Driving Cars and the Trolley Problem
Let’s us consider a scenario where self-driving car is faced with unavoidable accident, it has two choices either to kill the pedestrians or harming passengers Deontology : It is wrong to intentionally kill someone, the car should avoid any deliberate harm
: It is wrong to intentionally kill someone, the car should avoid any deliberate harm Utilitarianism : The car should prioritize minimum loss of lives even if means killing one and saving the rest
: The car should prioritize minimum loss of lives even if means killing one and saving the rest Virtue Ethics: The decision should be aligned with compassion and integrity prioritizing fairness and transparency on how algorithms are designed
There is no right answer but understanding these frameworks helps in designing responsible AI design 2. AI and Job Displacement
As AI is taking place of human resources in the name of automation, the companies face ethical decisions Deontology : Employers should provide support or retaining as they have a duty to their employees
: Employers should provide support or retaining as they have a duty to their employees Utilitarianism : If productivity is increased in the name of automation and is benefiting the whole society then this can be justified.
: If productivity is increased in the name of automation and is benefiting the whole society then this can be justified. Virtue Ethics: Employer would ensure progress is not coming at a cost of human resource which would lead him to balance innovation with sympathy Conclusion:
No a single theory listed above can answer all the questions but altogether they present a moral compass helping us navigate the era of modern technology. With the rapid face of innovations, deployment and incorporation of new technologies in our lives there is high need of understanding why we make certain choices, and it is equally important as how we make them.
The future of tech world depends on our ability to how to create it ethically along with what we create