Ethics and Information Technology 7 (2):99-107 (2005)
Authors |
|
Abstract |
In this paper, we focus attention on the role of computer system complexity in ascribing responsibility. We begin by introducing the notion of technological moral action (TMA). TMA is carried out by the combination of a computer system user, a system designer (developers, programmers, and testers), and a computer system (hardware and software). We discuss three sometimes overlapping types of responsibility: causal responsibility, moral responsibility, and role responsibility. Our analysis is informed by the well-known accounts provided by Hart and Hart and Honoré. While these accounts are helpful, they have misled philosophers and others by presupposing that responsibility can be ascribed in all cases of action simply by paying attention to the free and intended actions of human beings. Such accounts neglect the part played by technology in ascriptions of responsibility in cases of moral action with technology. For both moral and role responsibility, we argue that ascriptions of both causal and role responsibility depend on seeing action as complex in the sense described by TMA. We conclude by showing how our analysis enriches moral discourse about responsibility for TMA.
|
Keywords | Computer Science Ethics User Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction Management of Computing and Information Systems Library Science Technology Management |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
DOI | 10.1007/s10676-005-4585-0 |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
No references found.
Citations of this work BETA
A Normative Approach to Artificial Moral Agency.Dorna Behdadi & Christian Munthe - 2020 - Minds and Machines 30 (2):195-218.
Computing and Moral Responsibility.Merel Noorman - forthcoming - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Responsible Computers? A Case for Ascribing Quasi-Responsibility to Computers Independent of Personhood or Agency.Bernd Carsten Stahl - 2006 - Ethics and Information Technology 8 (4):205-213.
Robots: Ethical by Design.Gordana Dodig Crnkovic & Baran Çürüklü - 2012 - Ethics and Information Technology 14 (1):61-71.
View all 14 citations / Add more citations
Similar books and articles
A Critique of Positive Responsibility in Computing.James A. Stieb - 2008 - Science and Engineering Ethics 14 (2):219-233.
Technological Delegation: Responsibility for the Unintended.Katinka Waelbers - 2009 - Science and Engineering Ethics 15 (1):51-68.
Moral Luck and Computer Ethics: Gauguin in Cyberspace. [REVIEW]David Sanford Horner - 2010 - Ethics and Information Technology 12 (4):299-312.
Moral Responsibility—What is All the Fuss About?Kenton Machina - 2007 - Acta Analytica 22 (1):29-47.
Moral Responsibility, Technology, and Experiences of the Tragic: From Kierkegaard to Offshore Engineering.Mark Coeckelbergh - 2012 - Science and Engineering Ethics 18 (1):35-48.
Causation and Responsibility: An Essay in Law, Morals, and Metaphysics.Michael S. Moore - 2009 - Oxford University Press.
Responsible Computers? A Case for Ascribing Quasi-Responsibility to Computers Independent of Personhood or Agency.Bernd Carsten Stahl - 2006 - Ethics and Information Technology 8 (4):205-213.
Recent Work on Free Will and Moral Responsibility.Neil Levy & Michael McKenna - 2009 - Philosophy Compass 4 (1):96-133.
The Price of Frankfurt’s Compatibalism.Bindu Madhok - 2002 - Journal of Philosophical Research 27:577-584.
Moral Responsibility for Harm Caused by Computer System Failures.Douglas Birsch - 2004 - Ethics and Information Technology 6 (4):233-245.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2009-01-28
Total views
94 ( #125,697 of 2,518,088 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
2 ( #272,129 of 2,518,088 )
2009-01-28
Total views
94 ( #125,697 of 2,518,088 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
2 ( #272,129 of 2,518,088 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads