Ethics and New Technology
A Challenge or celebration?
Does virtual technology elevate or relegate the Lordship of Christ? This is a key question for discerning a proper theological ethic of the virtual world.
‘So what’s so great about being on-line?!’ - increases our presence in the world, increases the presence of the world.
Changes human doing, being, seeing, knowing, relating (a total environment).
Ethical implications are different on-line - choices (consequences) and character (virtue).
Ethics follow technological innovation.
From the inception of on-line communities there was not the same interest in ethics? [See... the first Constitution on on-line existing.]
Immersion
A tale of two worlds and the ethical cross-over.
Society does not attribute value to virtues, such as purity.
Internet as a drug.
Wisdom and the web?
The power of a constant environment (Jacques Ellul)
“A fish discovers water” - we need to recognize the technology, need to see the choices.
Technology removes choice, but also saturates us with potential choices.
Defined by technology - the need for efficiency (Ellul)
Heidegger on freedom and neutrality.
The worse thing is to regard technology as neutral in terms of its ethical implications and not as powerful force.
Efficiency versus theological propriety. Need to critique use of technology in order to remain human (McCloughry).
Ethical Issues
- Content
- Choice
- Community
- Control
- Culture
- Church
Internet a real world, but a different world. The same problems, manifested on a different platform. Accountability the antedote to ethical failure and addictions. (see Augustine on addictions).
Postman, Technopoly
Technique - a mode of expression
Technology - the means of expression
Technopoly - the domination of technology over human expression, the point at which you can longer see it.
Technology a distraction from being present (Schapiro and 2 John 12). Once again trinitarian and incarnational theology have something to say to this.
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