Ethics of Technology

Around 25-30 years ago, in the early 1990’s, I wrote a series of articles on TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT

Here is an abridged version of an article on the Ethical aspect of Technology Management – How Technology affects Human Life – the pros and the cons...

HOW TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS HUMAN LIFE

An Essay

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

DEFINITION OF TECHNOLOGY

In our everyday lives, most of us use a number of words that we assume have a universal, agreed-upon, and accepted meaning for all people in all contexts.

Often, the more frequently the word is used, the more we take for granted that our usage is the only possible usage of the term.

One such popular word freely bandied about and very much in-vogue jargon now-a-days is “technology”.

Let us explore the meaning of the word “technology”.

The word “technology” comprises two parts – “technikos” & “ology”

The historical derivation of the term technology comes from the Greek word technikos, meaning “of art, skillful, practical”

The portion of the word ology indicates“knowledge of” or a “systematic treatment of.”

Thus, the literal verbatim derivation of the term technology is literally“knowledge of the skillful and practical”

However, this definition is too general in nature and we have to transcend this narrow view of technology since every technology starts from a human purpose, from the intention to satisfy some human need or behaviour.

Indeed, technology is the manipulation of nature for human purpose – yes, manipulation of nature, so let us use a slightly different definition of technology.

We will define technology as the knowledge of the manipulation of nature for human purposes.

This definition retains the notions of both knowledge and practicality (human purposes) but adds the new concept of manipulation of nature.

This implies that all practical or technical skills ultimately derive from alterations or manipulation of nature.

Technology depends on a base in the natural world (Science) but extends the natural world through the phenomenon of manipulation (Engineering).

Since we want to manipulate nature, the ability to predict what nature will do when manipulated is most useful, indeed imperative.

ETHICS OF TECHNOLOGY

By our very definition, technology manipulates nature for human purposes.

Technology manipulates nature.

Man is a part of nature.

By manipulating nature, man manipulates himself.

Thus, technology manipulates man, influences, even governs human behaviour, and in turn impinges on societal behaviour, traditions and culture.

Technology is an entity that intervenes in the life of human beings in multifarious ways, directly or indirectly, trying to alter behaviours.

Thus, Technology has an Ethical Dimension.

The very raison d’etre of technology is human purpose.

What is the fundamental purpose of human life?

Is it to increase standard of living?

Is it to improve quality of life?

Or is it to have greater satisfaction in life?

We can distill all these various aspects into a single holistic concept:

“VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE”

Thus, the cardinal aim of technology is to enhance the value of human life.

TECHNOLOGY and the VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE

Let us define the value of human life as the balance or ratio between satisfaction or happiness and pain or suffering.

VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE = HAPPINESS/SUFFERING

In the context of this definition, the ultimate purpose of technology is to enhance the value of human life, with a long-term perspective, by maximization of happiness and satisfaction and a concomitant reduction or minimization of pain and suffering (physical, mental and emotional).

As a generalization, people want a better life.

A better life may usually mean things like freedom from want, access to and possession of at least some of the “nonessentials”, comforts or luxuries, good health, a reasonable life expectancy, the absence of emotional stress, satisfying human relations (resulting from gratifying work experience and meaningful interpersonal relationships), intellectual stimulation, and personally rewarding leisure activities.

HUMAN NEEDS and VALUES

Human needs and values change through time as technology advances.

Man tends to accept the fruits of new technology more readily (satisfaction, pleasure, happiness, comfort) whereas he is reluctant to accept changes in his personal life.

Thus, social and cultural changes always lag behind technology causing a mismatch and disconnect which consequently leads to unhappiness, dissatisfaction, pain and suffering (emotional) and concomitant lowering of the value of human life.

A crude but practical way of classifying human values is to divide needs into those that are essentially physiological and those that are psychological.

Most new technologies cater to the physiological aspect by performing Dangerous, Dirty, or Difficult jobs (the 3 D’s) thereby enhancing the value of human life.

As regards the psychological aspect, an example pertaining to Information Technology (IT) may be in order.

Information Technology (IT) caters to two unique categories of psychological needs of humans:

 

Cognitive Needs – which refer to the human need for information so as to be ready to act or make decisions that may be required, and

Affective Needs – which refer to the emotional requirements of human, such as their need to do challenging work, to know their work has value, to feel personally secure, and to be in control.

Undue emphasis on cognitive needs and consequent neglect of affective needs may cause emotional pain that counterbalances the gains from technology and this may be detrimental to the “value of human life” as a whole.

 

TECHNOLOGY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Effects and Consequences of Technology

In our haste to milk technology for immediate economic advantage, we often lose sight of the long-term consequences: the higher order and indirect effects, especially the delayed and unintended effects of technology.

The Sorenson multiple effect network methodology is a useful technique for an analyzing the impact and consequences of technology.

Let us introduce the term malefit to represent harmful effects and consequences of a technology in contrast with benefit as a useful output.

We may categorize the consequences of a technology (Effects versus Consequences) as:

EFFECTS versus CONSEQUENCES

(i)         First Order : Benefits

(ii)        Second Order : Direct Malefits

(iii)       Third Order : Indirect Malefits

(iv)       Fourth Order : Unintended Malefits

(v)        Fifth Order : Delayed Malefits

Such analyses definitely help in assessing the impact of various consequences of a technology on the value of human life in the long-term perspective in holistic manner.

Early identification of factors detrimental to the value of human life may prove useful in technology impact assessment to reduce mismatches and smoothen out incongruities.

CONCLUSION

We must not lose sight of our basic premise that the cardinal aim of technology is to increase the value of human life by maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering.

 

Ethical Technology Management comprises a harmonious blend of rational thinking and empathetic understanding wherein one studies, analyses and mitigates the conflicting interplay between human cognitive and affective processes.

It may be apt to conclude with a comment by RM Pirsig, who states that:

“The way to solve the conflict between human values and technological needs is not to run away from technology. That is impossible. The way to resolve the conflict is to break down the barriers of dualistic thought that prevent a real understanding of what technology is…not an exploitation of nature, but a fusion of nature and the human spirit into a new kind of creation that transcends both”.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

 

Earlier Posted by me Vikram Karve at 1/08/2014 08:24:00 PM at url:  https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2014/12/does-technology-affect-human-life.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/01/how-technology-affects-human-life.html

How to Complain

Musings of a Navy Veteran on Grievance Management in Professional and Personal Life (Workplace/Marriage/Familial Relationships)

HOW TO COMPLAIN

Musings

By

VIKRAM KARVE

If you have a grievance – you must try to resolve that grievance.

And – in order to resolve your grievance – as a first step to mitigation of your grievance – you must make a complaint – so that the concerned persons are aware of your grievance.

This applies in both workplace relationships and personal relationships – especially marriage.

So – if you have a grievance – you must complain.

In many cases the person causing you the grievance may not be aware that his actions are causing you agony.

Your complaint may make him realize his mistake and he may take corrective action.

Complaining is a part of constructive communication in a relationship.

What is the best way to complain…?

Here is the “Art of Complaining” in a nutshell:

1. Complain to the person who you think is harming you – not to anyone else.

2. Make your complaint immediately – or as soon as possible – when you are alone with the person. Use temperate and courteous language while making the complaint.

3. Keep the complaint private – not public. Avoid complaining in front of others. 

4. Object only to actions – do not make personal attacks. State the specific facts of your grievance.

5. Make only one complaint at a time.

6. Clearly tell the person what you want them to do in order to resolve your grievance.  

7. Most importantly – make the complaint in good faith. Avoid threats, comparisons and extraneous/inappropriate/sarcastic comments.

This prompt “one to one” method of complaining is much better than “gossiping” or “gunnysacking”.  

For example – if a wife has a grievance against her husband – she should directly complain to her husband – instead of talking to her mother, sister, friends, relatives, in-laws etc.

The same applies in workplace relationships as well.

Never “bottle up” your grievances inside you.

The habit of “bottling up” grievances may result in “gunnysacking”.  

(Gunnysacking is a metaphor to describe the act of “storing up” grievances acquired in the course of a relationship rather than resolve them when they first occurred)

Bottling-Up of grievances (Gunnysacking) will cause resentment to build up inside you – and – it will slowly make you bitter and vindictive in nature.

One day – the “gunnysack” may “burst” – and all your bottled resentment may “explode” out – resulting in a major conflict – and – your relationship may be damaged beyond repair.

In order to end this unpleasant topic on a pleasant note – let me tell you a story which metaphorically encapsulates the essence of “gunnysacking”. 

“GUNNYSACKING”

Once upon a time – there was a docile man – who used to work in an office.

He was a very meek and obsequious person

The docile man’s boss was a tyrant and a terrible sadist.

The tyrant boss used to scold, bully and harass the servile and docile man.

The tyrant sadistic boss had made the docile man’s life miserable.

One day – the boss suddenly died of a heart attack.

Just before his funeral – all members of his staff went to pay their last respects to the departed soul.

Suddenly – the docile man picked up a big stone – and – he threw the stone at the dead body of his boss.

Everyone was shocked and surprised at docile man’s strange behaviour. 

They asked the docile man why he had behaved in such a despicable and unbecoming manner.

Everyone asked him the reason why he had thrown the stone at the dead body of the boss.

The docile man calmly explained:

“All these days – I was carrying a stone in my heart. 

Today – I have thrown the stone out...”

MORAL OF THE STORY 

Do you carry such “stones” in your heart...? 

Is your heart filled with“stones” of bitterness – “stones” of regret – “stones” of ill-will – “stones” of rancor, resentments, acrimony – and – “stones” of vengeance.

Remember – you are bearing the burden of all these “stones” that you carry within you – and – this burden – due to the weight of all the “stones” you carry in your heart –it causes you pain. 

So – there is no point carrying “stones” in your heart – which cause you pain.

Whatever is causing you bitterness inside – get it off your chest – right now – once and for all.  

Just throw out all these “stones” right now – forget about them.

And – move on in life with a clean slate. 

Once you have thrown out all the “stones” from your heart – once your heart is clean – just experience how light and joyful you feel. 

It is true.

The Less “baggage” you carry inside you – the better your journey of life will be in the “outside” world. 

CONCLUSION 

IS “GUNNYSACKING” GOOD FOR RELATIONSHIPS…?

“Gunnysacking” is like carrying stones in your heart. 

In the story above – the docile man threw out the “stone” from his heart after his boss had died. 

But – just imagine what will happen if your “Gunnysack” of “stones” bursts when the person against whom you bear these resentments is alive – and you “throw” the entire lot of “stones” at your boss or spouse in one go...? 

Won’t the relationship be damaged beyond repair...? 

Why not try to resolve a grievance immediately by articulating the issue when it occurs – or at the first possible instance – as explained above in the tips on “How to Complain”...?  

Isn’t timely complaining better than “gunnysacking”...? 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh. 

2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

This is an Abridged Version of My Blog Post posted online earlier at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/03/do-you-keep-stone-in-your-heart.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/03/dont-carry-stones-in-your-heart-recipe.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/07/vengeance-is-mine-how-to-take-revenge.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/03/how-to-take-revenge.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/09/do-you-carry-stones-in-your-heart.html  etc