Paper Example on Ethics in Technology

The modern epoch is characteristically clothed in an immeasurable pace of technological growth. Primarily, technology is changing and modifying almost all if not all, spheres of human existence. As a result, failure particularly by business organizations and other fundamental government and private institutions to embrace technological changes by sticking to outdated modes of operations and functionality is a catalyst towards an imminent catastrophe. However, in as much as technology is revolutionizing civilization and the entirety of the human society, several lapses continue to manifest in terms of the weak points and negative repercussions of technology (Brandon, 2019). Regarding this, ethics in technology becomes very handy in an attempt to curb the proliferation of such negative aspects. Chiefly, therefore, technology in ethics is a scholarly field of study that is aimed at the comprehension and resolving of moral issues that revolve around the development and practical application of electronic and mechanical technology (Rosenblith, 2019).

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Facts Surrounding Ethics in Technology

There is a widespread misconception that technology lacks the knack to posses ethical and moral qualities; a misconception that is principally rooted in the verity that technology is simply tool making. However, there is a mushrooming shift in people's believes by accepting the notion that each aspect of technology is gifted with and glowing ethical obligations all through as provided by the brains behind the technology (Reynolds, 2018). Nonetheless, whether merely a solidified embodiment of human values or a lifeless amoral tool, ethics in technology generally incline towards two gravitas subdivisions.

The first subdivision revolves around the ethics that are involved in the development of new technologies. Within this framework, ethics in technology critically makes an inquiry regarding whether it is always, never or contextually correct or erroneous to devise and implement a new technological innovation. On the other hand, the second subdivision is the ethical questions that are aggravated by the way technology penetrates or limits the power of people. In other words, how the entrant changes usual ethical questions on new capabilities (Brandon, 2019).

Moreover, in the second subdivision, the ethics entails rudiments such as computer viruses and computer security. The ethics, therefore, attempts to inquire whether the very act of innovation is ethically current or incorrect. For instance, the ethics probe about the presentiment of a scientist having an ethical commitment to producing or failing to build a nuclear weapon. Therefore, the gravitas focal point becomes the ethical questions revolving around the production of technologies that either conserve or waste resources and energy (Brandon, 2019). Also, close attention is paid to the ethical questions revolving around the innovation of new manufacturing technologies and processes that are most likely to constrain employment opportunities or subject the third world into suffering.

As for the first subdivision, the ethics technology essentially narrows down into the ethics of several human endeavors as changed by the emerging technologies. For instance, bioethics is presently submerged into a pool of questions emanating from the new life-preserving technologies, new implantation, and cloning technologies. From the perspective of law, the entrant of new modes of anonymity and surveillance are attenuating peoples' and organizations' right to privacy (Muller, 2019). The internet age is clothing free speech and old ethical questions of privacy in new urgency and shape. For example, tracing tools such as biometric analysis and identification, RFID and genetic screening jointly use past ethical questions to amplify their worth.

Definition of Key Ethics in Technology Issues

Through the application of appropriate methods and theories stemming from several spheres, technoethics (ethics in technology) provides an understanding of ethical facets of technological practice and systems. Technoethics also examines technology-related social policies as well as interventions and avails guidelines on how to ethically apply innovations in technology (Brandon, 2019). Therefore, ethics in technology provides a framework of methodologies and frameworks to provide guidance to several different areas of inquiry in human-technological ethics and activity.

Additionally, technoethics strives to bond both bio-centric and technocentric viewpoints by availing a conceptual ground for the clarification of the roles of technology to the people affected by technology (Reynolds, 2018). Also, it goes ahead to assist in guiding the solving of ethical problems and in the making of a decision in areas of activity that depend on technology. Significantly, technoethics, as a bio-technocentric field, is equipped with an interactive orientation to both human activity and technology. Therefore, it provides a structure of ethical reference that rationalizes that reflective scopes of technology are a pivotal necessity in the realization of completed excellence of man.

Definitionally, therefore, ethics principally addresses matters of what is right, just, and fair. It goes ahead to describe moral tenets that influence demeanor. Mainly, the focal point of ethics is the value and actions of individuals in the overall society. In other words, things which are done by the people and their; people's perception of how they ought to act in the world. On the other hand, technology is a branch of knowledge focused on the use and creation of technical means as well as their interrelation with the environment, society, and life. The scope of technology is, however, very vast and includes vital fields such as engineering, industrial arts, pure science, and applied science (Muller, 2019). Therefore, it is an indisputable verity to assert that technology is prime to human development and a pivotal effort for the understanding of human existence, social consciousness, and society.

The Affected Groups/People

Primarily, almost all if not all spheres of technology have been affected by the proliferation of evil and criminalistic technological and unethical tendencies. Chief examples of the areas that are heavily affected include copyright, privacy and GPS technologies, privacy, and security, cyber criminality, among others (Reynolds, 2018). For instance, digital copyright continues to be subject to heated discussions. This is because several ethical considerations surround producers, artists, and end-users. Some digital material is deemed to be unethical in some countries and thus denied the license for airing due to their relationship with the respective nations as well as the impact of the use of the content.

Cybercrime, on the other hand, is affecting both individuals, governments, and their institutions as well as business organizations. Cybercrime is growing at a terrific speed and subjecting people and organizations to dire consequences and losses (Rosenblith, 2019). The genetically modified organism is another that is subject to severe ethical contestation. The use of genetically modified organisms is more prevalent in the developed world; however, several ethical questions are being raised on the health risks involved in the consumption of GMO products. This is because GMO products affect everybody that consumes them.

In response to these issues, cybercrime, for instance, can only be curbed through the establishment and installation of practical cybersecurity tools that will protect organizations and institutions from hackers and other forms of cyber-attacks (Muller, 2019). As for Genetically Modified Organism, all health and environmental concerns should be taken with a lot of gravity. Also, the economic impact scrutiny of these products should be sought before to determine their negative repercussions before being allowed into the market for consumption. Therefore, the move will help to establish both the beneficial and harmful effects of GMOs.

The consequence of these options on cybercrime and GMOs is that security will be improved in cyberspace and therefore shield businesses and government institutions from a lot of losses caused by cyberattacks. Also, cybersecurity will guarantee the privacy of both people and organizations. On the other hand, GMO options will ensure that people are not fed on health-threatening food such as foods that may result in the development of cancerous cells (Rosenblith, 2019). The GMO options will as well help in the protection and conservation of the environment by standing against unhealthy and pollutive environmental practices.

Nonetheless, from a religious perspective, more so as a Christian, my view of the ethics in technology issue, is a total agreement with the prevalence of ethics in technology, especially in cybersecurity and GMOs. My values and beliefs as a Christian are centered on underscoring the fundamentality of only upholding goodwill and care to others. Therefore, I stand in total disagreement with all forms of unethical and immoral technologic practices.

In conclusion, however, when confronted with this type of ethical issue, I will opt to pay immediate attention to the achievement of a positive relationship between human values and technology. I will take the lead in championing the development of technological systems whose goals and conduct are aligned to social benefits in the entirety of their functionality and operations. Also, the technical systems will be designed and operated in a manner that is compatible with the fundamental provisions of human rights, dignity, cultural diversity, and freedom.

References

Brandon, D. G. (2019). The Partnership of Ethics and Technology. Ethics in an Age of Pervasive Technology, 121-121. doi:10.4324/9780429051692-22

Muller, G. (2019). Modern Technology and Judeo-Christian Ethics. Ethics in an Age of Pervasive Technology, 72-77. doi:10.4324/9780429051692-15

Reynolds, G. (2018). Ethics in Information Technology. Cengage Learning.

Rosenblith, W. (2019). Technology and Institutions. Ethics in an Age of Pervasive Technology, 172-173. doi:10.4324/9780429051692-37