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Philosophy of Technology

The topic I selected for the discussion is “Philosophy of Technology”. The reason for me to select this topic is that Philosophy of Technology is as equally important to introduction of new designs and developments of technology. It can help us explore the possibilities to exert more influence on the current and future innovations of technology. Philosophy of Technology creates an ethical framework in controlling the role of technology in our day to day lives.

This discussion is primarily focusses on Philosophy and Ethics of Technology. It is said that that humans usually have a reactionary approach to Technology and it is not a new phenomenon since the ancient philosophers had their own researches on emerging technologies of that time. The changes in technologies over time impacts us in many ways. For e.g. Due to the development of more and more advanced technologies, people feel that they may loose their ability to think and memorize information. Hence to understand the relationship with technology a philosophical approach may be necessary. The main ambition of Philosophy of Technology is to understand and derive ethical questions.

Phenomenology and Past Phenomenology are the two terms used by the guest in his publications. Phenomenology is the approach towards understanding the relationship between the subject and object in a system, i.e. our relationship with the Technology and Past Phenomenology approach to better understand the relationship between the human and technology. Phenomenologists says that the real basis is neither the subject or the object, but the relationship that exists between them. That means we can always think something, see something, hear something which can be related to in our real life. Post phenomenology mainly focuses on Human-Technology relationship and tells us ways to understand technologies and how to organize its interactions with the world.

According to the guest, Ethics of technology is not only about developing ethical frameworks to evaluate technology but also understand how technology changes on ethical frameworks. Developers developing new technologies should deal with ethical aspects of new and emerging technologies.  Mediation is a way to express technologies that we used. Mediation of technology gives us a framework that anticipates the future implications of the technology we are or would be developing. Ethics acts as a boundary between the human and technologies.

The field of AI, Robotics, Internet of things are some of the most emerging technologies. There are some central ethical questions that needs to be addressed not only related to the design of that technologies but also the legislation and Regulation of those technologies, which will enable the user to deal with them in a responsible way. These technologies are the mediators and not the replacement of humans.

The guest on the above discussed topic is Mr. Peter-Paul Verbeek, is a Professor of Philosophy of Technology at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Twente. He is chair of the Philosophy of Human-Technology Relations research group and co-director of the DesignLab of the University of Twente. He is also honorary professor of Techno-Anthropology at Aalborg University, Denmark and is chairperson of the UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Science and Technology (COMEST). His research areas focuses on the philosophy of human-technology relations, and aims to contribute to philosophical theory, ethical reflection, and practices of design and innovation.

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The Technology Trap

The topic I have selected for today is “The Technology Trap” and the future of work.

This topic mainly discusses about the type of employment during the industrial revolution and how it is transforming and what to expect in the future in terms of application of automation, robotics etc. at workplace. During the first industrial revolution the workers had a higher resistance to technological change since it was something very new to most of the people. In the ancient times only the rich had access to technologies and electrical equipment but comparing to where we are today it has changed a lot.  It has reduced the human ability in the process of participating in industrialization. Furthermore, there are many environmental changes that have affected humans due to the advancement in technologies in time. There were times when technologies were forced upon people even if they wouldn’t benefit from it.

In comparison to the second industrial revolution of the British and the American, The American revolution consisted more of mainly electric powered and not steam powered. Automobiles like tractors were widely started using when cheap labor started to disappear from the country side. As the time passed by workers started losing their jobs one by one for e.g. The Street light operators and elevator operators lost when automation began to be used. Increase of wages with increase of automation will not increase the living standard. In today’s world we see increase in political polarization and Influence of labor unions which have increased the improvement of working conditions. A study published in 2013 shows that 47% of US employments are at risk due to the emergence of AI And robotics. There are various other factors that depend beyond technological and technical capabilities.

I feel that majority of the people are not giving attention to the changes in emerging technologies and their possible impacts. Universities and other educational institutions should create awareness among students about the loosing of jobs in the future and also make them act and think of the work technology can do. Due to political polarization most of jobs are likely to be lost and few too come up. It can be possible that the working technology has the potential to increase equality but also depends on the policies that they are implemented.  Also I feel that the Growing innovation and use of new technology is making a person loose his ability and potential to think and work.

The guest I would like to mention is Dr. Carl Frey. He is the co-director of program of technology and employment at Oxford Martin School at Oxford University. His research areas mainly focus on how technology are reshaping the various types of employments and the changes and impacts of it in the future. He got attracted to technology at an early age before starting economics.  His book the technology trap gives us a comprehensive view on economic and political powers that have changed in the society and the changes that are likely to take place.