Contexts of Science and Contexts of Science and TechnologyTechnology

EST 202 - Lecture 3

Chap 4

1

IntroductionIntroductionTwo Kinds of Context

◦Micro/MacroFive Key Dimensions Environmental DemensionCell Phones (New Technology)Group Discussion

2

Micro ContextMicro ContextActivity 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 ContextsMacro ContextsComprehensive, 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.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 DimensionsFive Key DimensionsPractitioner 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.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.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 contFive Dimension contEnvironmental

◦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 contFive Dimension contEnvironmental

◦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 DimensionsSummary Five Dimensions

1. Practitioner2. Technical3. Political Economic4. Cultural 5. Environmental

11

Intro to Ethics and Intro to Ethics and TechnologyTechnologyIn 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 ClarificationEthical Clarification1. Facts: determine the facts of

each situation2. Patients and Interests: Identify all persons or “protectable interests” that will be impacted by the outcome of this conflict3. Key Concepts, Criteria, Principles: What is the ethical issue to be discussed?4. Ethical Arguments

13

Ethical ArgumentsEthical ArgumentsDefinitions 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 IssueEthical Moral IssueViolations 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 Ehtical Distribution of TechnologyTechnologyAn 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 Science or Technology Precipitated Value Precipitated Value ConflictsConflictsA 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 Infliction of Harm without prior consentprior consentInfliction 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, multi-generation air pollution, carcinogen producing work places, operation of “hair-trigger” military defense systems

18

Public Harms of Public Harms of AggregationAggregation 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

PractitionersPractitionersExperimentation 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 Practitioners – whistle BlowingBlowingWhen 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 mis-treatement and then put on extended sick leave

21

Cell PhonesCell PhonesHow do they affect society?History

◦Telegraph◦Telephone in everyone’s home◦Cell Phones everywhere

22

Article

Cell Phone DebateCell Phone DebateSplit 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 SocietyCell Phones and SocietySociety Effect

◦Always available◦Blackberry and Email◦Classes and using Phones at School◦Text Messaging◦Cheating◦Using for illicit conversations (drug

deals)

24

Group WorkGroup WorkGive 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 CollapseBridge CollapseOlder bridgePoor initial designsNot enough money to fix or

rebuild bridges throughout the world.

Demonstrates an infrastructure problem in US.

26

SummarySummaryMicro/Macro5 Key DimensionsBridge collapse and society

implicationsNew Technologies changing

society.

27