Os desafios colocados pela tecnologia à responsabilidade ética

Carl Mitcham*

O termo «responsabilidade» — um dos conceitos mais frequentemente utilizados nas discussões sobre a ética na ciência e tecnologia — evoluiu, essencialmente a partir da modernidade, em diferentes contextos jurídicos, filosóficos, religiosos e políticos como reacção ao progresso científico e tecnológico. Actualmente, há uma hiperbolização dos comprometimentos sob a alçada da responsabilidade ética científica e tecnológica, na qual talvez confiemos em demasia.

Palavras-chave: Tecnologia, ética, Responsabilidade

Les défis que pose la technologie à la responsabilité éthique

Le terme «responsabilité» — l’un des concepts les plus fréquemment utilisés dans les discussions sur l’éthique de la science et de la technologie — a évolué, essentiellement à partir de la modernité, dans différents contextes juridiques, philosophiques, religieux et politiques en réaction au progrès scientifique et technologique. Il existe de nos jours une hyperbolisation des engagements sous la tutelle de la responsabilité éthique, scientifique et technologique, à laquelle nous faisons peut-être trop confiance.

Technology’s challenges to ethical responsibility

With the rise of modernity, the word responsibility — one of the most frequently used concepts in discussions of ethics in science and technology — developed within different legal, philosophical, religious and political contexts as a reaction to scientific and technological progress. Currently there is an exaggeration in the range of commitments regarding the scope of ethical responsibility in science and technology. It may be that we believe in it too much.

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* Colorado School of Mines.