When technology and humanity cross
1. What is the human rights-based approach to science, technology, and development?
A human rights-based approach to science, technology, and development sets
the parameters for the appraisal of how sts promote human well-being. It seeks to place
a concern for human rights at the heart of how the people engages with urgent global
challenges. In a general sense, a human rights-based approach recognises that science is
a socially organised, human activity which is value-laden and shaped by organisational
structures and procedures. It asks how governments can create and implement policies
to ensure safety, health and livelihoods; to include people's needs and priorities in
development and environmental strategies; and to ensure they participate in decision-
making that affects their lives and resources.
2. How do the documents and their key principles present in Table 2 position human
rights in the intersection of technology and humanity?
It encompasses the human culture, the necessary policies, and protocols for a
more humane and just society. It also affirms everyone's right to participate in and
benefit from scientific advance and be protected from scientific misuses. The right to
the benefits of science comes under the domain of 'culture', so is usually examined from
a cultural rights perspective. The documents and their key principles also includes the
environmental and economic issues such pollution-free production, efficient resource
use, biodiversity protection, and brain drains.
3. Why should human rights be at the core of scientific and technological advancement?
Mukherjee stated that good science and respect for human rights rely heavily on
each other. Every scientific and technological advancements are made for the
betterment of the humanity. On the other hand, science and technology can cause
serious harm to the social and ecological systems on which life depends. Human rights
approaches can shed light on the ethical implications of new technologies and examine
how policy can keep up with rapidly developing science.
4. What is the danger of using human rights as merely decorative moral dimension of
scientific and technological policies?
Human rights should be integral to the journey toward the ultimate good. They
should guide humans not only to flourish as individuals, but also to guide each other in
flourishing collectively as society. Using human rights as decorative moral dimension of
scientific and technological policies could lead to unjust and inhumane society. Uneven
distribution of goods would only grow, resulting to environmental degradation.
5. Do you agree with Mukherjee’s assertion that a human rights-based approach to
science, technology, and development can form the very heart of sustainable futures?
Explain.
Yes. Human rights-based approach to science, technology, and development can
lead us to a more compassionate society. It will help us sustain and protect the poor and
vulnerable from the excesses of market-driven science and technology. This approach
can also guide us to a more effective and sustainable way of bridging the gap between
poor and rich countries on both tangible and intangible aspects. Eventually, all these will
lead us to flourish together through science and technology.
“The ethical dilemmas of robotics”/ “Is Google making us stupid?”
1. Ethical dilemmas
a. What are the ethical dilemmas posed by robotics?
Robots pose a threat to humans’ safety. Robots were once confined to
specialist applications in industry and the military, where users received extensive
training on their use, but they are increasingly being used by ordinary people. As
these robots become more intelligent, it will become harder to decide who is
responsible if they injure someone. One area of robotics that raises some difficult
ethical questions, and which is already developing rapidly, is the field of emotional
robotics.
b. Which among the instruments for a human rights-based approach to science,
technology, and development discussed in this section may be useful in
contending with the ethical dilemmas of robotics?
I think the Universal Declaration of Humans Rights would be useful in contending
the ethical dilemmas of robotics. This document aims to protect us from the
misuses of scientific studies. This document seems like a good way to keep
robots from harming people.
c. How can the instrument inform lawyers and ethicists, engineers, and scientists
in answering the moral and legal questions raised by the development in
robotics?
With the use of the document above, these experts can be enlightened
with the everyone’s right to be protected from scientific misuses. The
document can also guide them about the challenging and bringing forth
of the development of robotics.
2. Google
a. Do you agree that google is making humans stupid? Why or why not?
Yes. Although I was reading about how Carr got extremely distracted when
reading long pieces of writing, I could feel myself doing the same thing while reading
his article. People nowadays depend on getting results immediately instead on
working hard to get one. We put efficiency and immediacy above all else in life. This
assessment of the “efficiency” and “immediacy” of the internet rings true in every
way imaginable.
b. What moral and ethical duty must be imposed upon the ‘duty bearer’, in this
case google, in protecting the well-being and dignity of humans?
The moral and ethical duty of Google in protecting the well-being and
dignity of humans is to keep in confidence the personal information we
shared.
c. What responsibilities do the ‘right-holders’ , in this case google users, carry in
ensuring a human rights-based approach to the use of the internet?
The most important thing to remember if google users want to protect their
personal information is to not overshare information. They’ve got to be vigilant because
the technological improvements in recent years have made it easy to obtain data without
the consent of the owner.
