This book works toward general ethics of technology by studying the somewhat uncharted territory between critical thinking on technology in continental philosophy, practically motivated applied ethics, and sociological studies on science and technology.

This book works toward general ethics of technology by studying the somewhat uncharted territory between critical thinking on technology in continental philosophy, practically motivated applied ethics, and sociological studies on science and technology.

This paper is a dialogue that considers compassion as a grounding for ethics. Its approach is thematic but it draws significantly from Arthur Schopenhauer’s account of compassion. In Schopenhauer’s thought, values are functions of a subject’s willing and therefore inevitably tied to an ego-centric viewpoint. Real ethics needs to find a good beyond subjective valuations. Schopenhauer finds an ethical phenomenon beyond values in Mitleid, “suffering-together,” compassion. Compassion is a pre-reflective benevolent feeling toward another’s suffering. Compassion can occur only if the (...) ego-world duality is overcome at least to some extent. In this way compassion is a metaphysical sentiment. (shrink)

This article introduces the central ideas of G. H. von Wright’s cultural philosophy concerning the techno-scientific form of life. Georg Henrik von Wright (1916-2003) was best known for his achievements in the field of modal logic and for his association with LudwigWittgenstein. However, his work also included a critical analysis of science and technology. von Wright was concerned about ecological problems, human alienation, and the breakdown of traditional value systems. He analyzed the historical roots of modern techno-science. According to him, (...) understanding the conceptual framework of modern natural science can help us in facing the problems produced by the powerful use of technology. As the most troubling feature of techno-science, he considered its manipulative approach toward reality. (shrink)