Contexts of Science and Technology EST 202 – Lecture 3 Chap 4 1

Contexts of Science and Technology EST 202 - Lecture 3 Chap 4 1

Introduction Two Kinds of Context Micro/Macro Five Key Dimensions Environmental Demension Cell Phones (New Technology) Group Discussion 2

Micro Context Activity evaluated close to the geographic region. AT&T’s Bell Labs Composition of teams Social structure in the lab Resources (equipment) and Money Policies of the Organzation 3

Macro Contexts Comprehensive, Global extending beyond the borders of a specific organization (encompass a region, nation or the world society). Aspects of Society Politics' of many societies Economic on the global scale (how markets are linked) Environmental disaster in one region will effect other countries. 4

Macro Context cont. European Union 27 countries, 490 million people, 100 billion euro a year budget. Shared values – democracy, freedom and social justice. EU countries using the euro: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland and Slovenia. EU countries not using the euro: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. 5

Five Key Dimensions Practitioner Dimension Motives of the person. Alexander Bell – device to help hearing impared. Technical Dimension Technology innovation may aries from fixing a different problem. Vaseline Post it Notes 6

Five Key Dimensions cont. Political-Economic Dimensions Focus on political and economic forces Apollo mission – US to stay ahead The Cold War between Russia and US Scientific Developments Cure Dieseses – support by government to help society of a whole. Cure for Cancer, AIDS, etc. 7

Five Key Dimensions cont. Cultural Dimension The culture of a societies view of a technology Energy – Wind Turbines on Long Island Coal Coal Mine Diaster in Utah 8

Five Dimension cont Environmental How the new technology enhancment affects the environment. Disposal problems Cell phones, computers, PDA’s, Monitors, Camera’s, Paper from Printers, Ink cartridges, Energy use of Technology Switches, routers, networks, etc. 9

Five Dimension cont Environmental How the new technology enhancment affects the environment. Disposal problems Cell phones, computers, PDA’s, Monitors, Camera’s, Paper from Printers, Ink cartridges, Energy use of Technology Switches, routers, networks, etc. 10

Summary Five Dimensions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Practitioner Technical Political Economic Cultural Environmental 11

Intro to Ethics and Technology In - the last few decades many ethical issues have developed in the field of Science and Technology, including advances in - reproduction - genetic engineering - weapons - life- prolonging technology What are other examples? 12

Ethical Clarification 1. Facts: determine the facts of each situation 2. Patients and Interests: Identify all persons or “protectable interests” that will be impacted by the outcome of this conflict 3. Key Concepts, Criteria, Principles: What is the ethical issue to be discussed? 4. Ethical Arguments 13

Ethical Arguments Definitions of Ethical Theories Utilitarian Theory refers to an action or policy that is right if and only if it is likely to produce a greater surplus of good over bad, as compared to any other effective alternatives Deontological Theory maintains that actions are inherently right or wrong independent 14

Ethical Moral Issue Violations of Supposedly Exceptionless Moral Principles: The use or failure to use, or withdrawal of a particular scientific procedure or item of technology that violates moral principles that some believe are exceptionless. Life must ALWAYS be preserved. - Example: Withdrawal of life-prolonging medical equipment; war, harvesting fetal tissue 15

Ehtical Distribution of Technology An Issue with who should have access to the benefits of technology. The allocation of science and technology may not bring equitable benefits to all. - “Distributively just” issues often emerge when demand for the benefit exceeds its supply - Example: Need for - human organs - medical technologies - Aids medication 16

Science or Technology Precipitated Value Conflicts A technological advance allows something new to be done that precipitates a value conflict. This conflict is between two or more cherished values within one person. These conflicts would not exist if it were not for technological innovation. Example: - Life extending technologies related to human life preservation or death with dignity - Genetic Disorder Tests that identify Down’s Syndrome, 17

Infliction of Harm without prior consent Infliction of Harm or Exposure - Activities that may benefit one group can also harm or pose significant threat of harm to others without their consent -Examples: Animal research, multigeneration air pollution, carcinogen producing work places, operation of “hair-trigger” military defense systems 18

Public Harms of Aggregation If one person is involved in a negative action, the result will not have the same social impact as many persons acting in negative ways. Example: One person throwing out garbage on the highway is quite different than thousands throwing out their fast food lunch papers. The aggregate of pollution created by 400 million cars 19

Practitioners Experimentation and Research vs helping people Practitioners – the Cost, benefits, risks they are doing and are they doing everything they can do. Example: US Public Health placebos to 431 black men in Alabama 20

Practitioners – whistle Blowing When engineers or scientists have knowledge of a deliberate or negative action on part of colleagues or business they need to decide if they should go public (“blow the whistle”). Examples: NASA Challenger accident – Senior engineer testimony to congress about the launch. He was subjected to mistreatement and then put on extended sick leave 21

Cell Phones How do they affect society? History Telegraph Telephone in everyone’s home Cell Phones everywhere Article 22

Cell Phone Debate Split Class into two sides Cell phones are the best new technology in the last 10 years Cell phones are a major society problem since they interfere and cause problems in life. In addition – could cause Cancer. 23

Cell Phones and Society Society Effect Always available Blackberry and Email Classes and using Phones at School Text Messaging Cheating Using for illicit conversations (drug deals) 24

Group Work Give out article on Bridge Collapse Analyze the article and list the dimensions that are impacted by the Bridge Collapse, What do you think should be done to fix older bridges around the world? 25

Bridge Collapse Older bridge Poor initial designs Not enough money to fix or rebuild bridges throughout the world. Demonstrates an infrastructure problem in US. 26

Summary Micro/Macro 5 Key Dimensions Bridge collapse and society implications New Technologies changing society. 27