Information systems research seminar

Phenomenology, Technology and Ethics: Thinking about the Morality of our Machines

Lucas Introna
Lancaster University Management School

1 December 2005, 3 - 5pm,

Discuss this video on the ISIG discussion blog

This talk will attempt to show how phenomenology can provide us with a particular horizon for understanding technology as well as allowing for a particular way to approach the question of ‘the morality of our machines.’ This will contrast with the more commonly held constructivist view of technology. For this purpose the presentation will draw on Latour's account of the morality of technology as discussed in his paper “Morality and Technology: The End of the Means” published in Theory, Culture & Society in 2002. In the discussion I hope to demonstrate:

That our way of approaching technology (one might say our ontology of technology) opens up particular ways of framing the ethical question already present in technology

That phenomenology can provide us with a horizon to ask important ethical questions mostly lost in the constructivist approach

Finally, that Latour is possibly more of a phenomenologist than he suggests (or more specifically that he owes more to Heidegger that meets the eye).



For any further queries regarding this seminar please contact Emma Keys, Research Coordinator.The seminar is open to all and is free of charge. Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis (space cannot be reserved in advance).

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