scholarly journals On formal ethics versus inclusive moral deliberation

AI and Ethics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Herzog né Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Autonomous Vehicles ◽  
Machine Ethics ◽  
Moral Progress ◽  
Moral Deliberation ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Correct Sequence ◽  
Moral Argumentation ◽  
Ethical Evaluations ◽  
Asymmetric Relationships ◽  
The Ideal

AbstractIn this article, I will advocate caution against a formalization of ethics by showing that it may produce and perpetuate unjustified power imbalances, disadvantaging those without a proper command of the formalisms, and those not in a position to decide on the formalisms’ use. My focus rests mostly on ethics formalized for the purpose of implementing ethical evaluations in computer science–artificial intelligence, in particular—but partly also extends to the project of applying mathematical rigor to moral argumentation with no direct intention to automate moral deliberation. Formal ethics of the latter kind can, however, also be seen as a facilitator of automated ethical evaluation. I will argue that either form of formal ethics presents an obstacle to inclusive and fair processes for arriving at a society-wide moral consensus. This impediment to inclusive moral deliberation may prevent a significant portion of society from acquiring a deeper understanding of moral issues. However, I will defend the view that such understanding supports genuine and sustained moral progress. From this, it follows that formal ethics is not per se supportive of moral progress. I will illustrate these arguments by practical examples of manifest asymmetric relationships of power primarily from the domain of autonomous vehicles as well as on more visionary concepts, such as artificial moral advisors. As a result, I will show that in these particular proposed use-cases of formal ethics, machine ethics risks to run contrary to their proponents’ proclaimed promises of increasing the rigor of moral deliberation and even improving human morality on the whole. Instead, I will propose that inclusive discourse about automating ethical evaluations, e.g., in autonomous vehicles, should be conducted with unrelenting transparency about the limitations of implementations of ethics. As an outlook, I will briefly discuss uses formal ethics that are more likely to avoid discrepancies between the ideal of inclusion and the challenge from power asymmetries.Please check and confirm that the authors and their respective affiliations have been correctly identified and amend if necessary.I confirm.Author names: Please confirm if the author names are presented accurately and in the correct sequence (given name, middle name/initial, family name). I confirm. Kindly check and confirm the country name for the affiliation [1] is correct.I confirm.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keng Siau ◽  
Weiyu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Machine Ethics ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Ai Ethics ◽  
Self Driving Cars

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology has achieved many great things, such as facial recognition, medical diagnosis, and self-driving cars. AI promises enormous benefits for economic growth, social development, as well as human well-being and safety improvement. However, the low-level of explainability, data biases, data security, data privacy, and ethical problems of AI-based technology pose significant risks for users, developers, humanity, and societies. As AI advances, one critical issue is how to address the ethical and moral challenges associated with AI. Even though the concept of “machine ethics” was proposed around 2006, AI ethics is still in the infancy stage. AI ethics is the field related to the study of ethical issues in AI. To address AI ethics, one needs to consider the ethics of AI and how to build ethical AI. Ethics of AI studies the ethical principles, rules, guidelines, policies, and regulations that are related to AI. Ethical AI is an AI that performs and behaves ethically. One must recognize and understand the potential ethical and moral issues that may be caused by AI to formulate the necessary ethical principles, rules, guidelines, policies, and regulations for AI (i.e., Ethics of AI). With the appropriate ethics of AI, one can then build AI that exhibits ethical behavior (i.e., Ethical AI). This paper will discuss AI ethics by looking at the ethics of AI and ethical AI. What are the perceived ethical and moral issues with AI? What are the general and common ethical principles, rules, guidelines, policies, and regulations that can resolve or at least attenuate these ethical and moral issues with AI? What are some of the necessary features and characteristics of an ethical AI? How to adhere to the ethics of AI to build ethical AI?

scholarly journals Derecho versus bioética en las tomas de decisiones médicas en torno a casos límites

2011 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Villanueva Canadas
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Monochorionic Twins ◽  
Assisted Human Reproduction ◽  
Optimal Resolution ◽  
Abortion Laws ◽  
Scientific Arguments ◽  
The Ideal

L’autore riflette sui dilemmi etici dei medici odierni e su quali siano le misure che devono individuare per risolverli. Nega che la bioetica sia la panacea per risolvere queste questioni come pure che la legge rappresenti l’ultima istanza dell’ideale di giustizia. La risposta risiede nella ricerca che ciascuno fa nella ricerca della soluzione ottimale di un problema. L’autore è particolarmente critico con linee di pensiero che difendono una visione neutrale della giustizia nelle questioni morali, lasciando che gli individui agiscano secondo le proprie credenze; accusa il liberalismo neutrale di creare una società senza valori e di promuovere leggi che stanno trasformando la società; esplora il futuro dell’umanità minacciato da tecniche che possono modificare il genoma e con essa creare nuovi tipi di esseri umani; riflette sul rapporto scienza-etica-legge per dimostrare che sia la bioetica che la legge dovrebbero avere solidi fondamenti scientifici. A titolo di esempio, egli ricorda come le leggi fondamentali per la procreazione assistita e la ricerca biomedica in Spagna, 14/2006 e 14/2007, si basavano su una sola Commissione senza una garanzia scientifica. L’autore sottolinea come l’aspetto essenziale per legiferare sulla natura giuridica dell’embrione umano è quello di stabilire scientificamente ed inequivocabilmente quando comincia la vita umana. Dopo aver preso in considerazione le diverse opinioni egli fa notare come tutti gli argomenti scientifici che supportano la natura giuridica dell’embrione e molte leggi sull’aborto che negano la personalità dell’embrione sino a un certo periodo dell’impianto, si basano sulle stesso tipo di speculazione mai provata. Nel 1922 G.W. Corner mise in relazione la struttura delle membrane fetali (corialità, amnios) con le differenti fasi ipotetiche di duplicazione embrionale. Corner presentò la sua teoria come una proposta teorica, una speculazione. (We may permit ourselves to (…) indulge in a brief speculation regarding the morphogenesis of human monochorionic twins). Un autore moderno, Rowena Spencer ha dimostrato che questa teoria non è affatto vera. L’autore conclude dicendo che solo una società che considera l’uomo come fine per se stesso senza considerare le circostanze sarà salva dall’autodistruzione. ---------- The author reflects upon the ethical dilemmas of nowadays doctors and which are the measures they have to try to solve them. He denies that bioethics is the panacea for solving these issues as well as the consideration of law as the last instance of the ideal of justice. The answer everybody looks for in the quest for the optimal resolution of a problem. The author is specially critical with lines of thought that advocate a neutral kind of Justice in moral issues letting individuals act according to their own believes. The author accuses neutral liberalism of creating a society without values and of promoting laws that are transforming society. The author explores the future of humanity threatened by techniques that may modify the Genome and therewith create new types of human beings. The author reflects upon the relation Science-Ethics-Law to demonstrate that both bioethics and law should have solid scientific foundations. As an example, the author mentions how the Fundamental Laws for assisted human reproduction and biomedical research in Spain 14/2006 and 14/2007 were based on the opinion of a sole commission without scientific warrant. The author outlines how the essential aspect in order to be able to legislate about the juridical nature of the human embryo is to establish scientifically and unequivocally when does a human life begin. After considering different opinions he analyzes that all the scientific arguments that support the juridical nature of the embryo and most abortion laws denying personhood of the embryo until after a certain period of implantation, are based upon the same type of never proven speculation. In 1922 G. W. Corner put in relation the structure of fetal membranes (chorionicity, amnion) with different hypothetical stages of embryonic duplication. Corner presented his theory as a theoretical suggestion, a speculation. (We may permit ourselves to (…) indulge in a brief speculation regarding the morphogenesis of human monochorionic twins). Modern author, Rowena Spencer has demonstrated that this theory is far from true. The author finishes by saying that only a society that considers man, as an end in itself notwithstanding circumstances will be saved from self-destruction.

scholarly journals How virtue signalling makes us better: Moral preferences with respect to autonomous vehicle type choices

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Kopecky ◽  
Michaela Košová ◽  
Daniel D. Novotný ◽  
Jaroslav Flegr ◽  
David Černý
Keyword(s):  
Autonomous Vehicles ◽  
Autonomous Vehicle ◽  
Biological Species ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Personal Choice ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Public ◽  
Vehicle Type ◽  
Research Questions

Autonomous vehicles (henceforth AVs) are expected to significantly benefit our transportation systems, their safety, efficiency, and impact on environment. However, many technical, social, legal, and moral questions and challenges concerning AVs and their introduction to the mass market still remain. One of the pressing moral issues has to do with the choice between AV types that differ in their built-in algorithms for dealing with situations of unavoidable lethal collision. In this paper we present the results of our study of moral preferences with respect to three types of AVs: (1) selfish AVs that protect the lives of passenger(s) over any number of bystanders; (2) altruistic AVs that minimize the number of casualties, even if this leads to death of passenger(s); and (3) conservative AVs that abstain from interfering in such situations even if it leads to the death of a higher number of subjects or death of passenger(s). We furthermore differentiate between scenarios in which participants are to make their decisions privately or publicly, and for themselves or for their offspring. We disregard gender, age, health, biological species and other characteristics of (potential) casualties that can affect the preferences and decisions of respondents in our scenarios. Our study is based on a sample of 2769 mostly Czech volunteers (1799 women, 970 men; age IQR: 25-32). The data come from our web-based questionnaire which was accessible from May 2017 to December 2017. We aim to answer the following two research questions: (1) Whether the public visibility of an AV type choice makes this choice more altruistic and (2) which type of situation is more problematic with regard to the altruistic choice: opting for society as a whole, for oneself, or for one’s offspring.Our results show that respondents exhibit a clear preference for an altruistic utilitarian strategy for AVs. This preference is reinforced if the AV signals its strategy to others. The altruistic preference is strongest when people choose software for everybody else, weaker in personal choice, and weakest when choosing for one’s own child. Based on the results we conclude that, in contrast to a private choice, a public choice is considerably more likely to pressure consumers in their personal choice to accept a non-selfish solution, making it a reasonable and relatively cheap way to shift car owners and users towards higher altruism. Also, a hypothetical voting in Parliament about a single available program is less selfish when the voting does not take place in secret.

scholarly journals On the Impact of the Rules on Autonomous Drive Learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Talamini ◽  
Alberto Bartoli ◽  
Andrea De De Lorenzo ◽  
Eric Medvet
Keyword(s):  
Autonomous Vehicles ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Technological Revolution ◽  
Optimal Behavior ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Experimental Campaign ◽  
Simulated Environment ◽  
Learned Behaviors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Traffic Rules

Autonomous vehicles raise many ethical and moral issues that are not easy to deal with and that, if not addressed correctly, might be an obstacle to the advent of such a technological revolution. These issues are critical because autonomous vehicles will interact with human road users in new ways and current traffic rules might not be suitable for the resulting environment. We consider the problem of learning optimal behavior for autonomous vehicles using Reinforcement Learning in a simple road graph environment. In particular, we investigate the impact of traffic rules on the learned behaviors and consider a scenario where drivers are punished when they are not compliant with the rules, i.e., a scenario in which violation of traffic rules cannot be fully prevented. We performed an extensive experimental campaign, in a simulated environment, in which drivers were trained with and without rules, and assessed the learned behaviors in terms of efficiency and safety. The results show that drivers trained with rules enforcement are willing to reduce their efficiency in exchange for being compliant to the rules, thus leading to higher overall safety.

Rendering unto Caesar?: The Politics of Church of England Clergy since 1980

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive D. Field
Keyword(s):  
Church Of England ◽  
Religion And Politics ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Political Implications ◽  
Political Views ◽  
Degree Of Separation ◽  
Analysis And Synthesis ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Ideal

ABSTRACTThis is the first systematic attempt to chart the evolving political views of contemporary Church of England clergy. The article is based upon a comparative quantitative analysis and synthesis of eighteen national and four local surveys conducted between 1979 and 2004. Ministerial opinions on the state's influence on the Church and the Church's influence on the state are both considered. Ten specific conclusions are drawn. While the clergy generally cling to the concept of an Established Church, they are very critical of some of the traditional manifestations of that establishment. They also mostly think it highly appropriate for the Church to intervene in the world of party politics, and not simply on moral issues. In this they are positioned ahead of the thinking of many of the committed Anglican laity, for whom a degree of separation of religion and politics remains the ideal. The academic, ecclesiastical and political implications of these findings are briefly explored.

A CRITIQUE OF RUSSEL WINNER’S MODEL OF CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (CRM)

2012 ◽  
Vol 01 (11) ◽  
pp. 01-07
Author(s):  
Ekakitie-Emonena Sunny
Keyword(s):  
Customer Relationship Management ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
Data Capture ◽  
Customer Relationship ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Correct Sequence ◽  
Fluid Process ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Ideal

This paper attempts a critique of Russel Winner’s (2001) CRM framework as a working model in the CRM adoption process. Indeed, this researcher faults the framework both in conception, structure and in functional fluidity on the grounds that building a CRM programme should not start with the creation of a database down to terminating at the metrics level as his model suggest. This author attempts a better structuring to enable a more fluid process. Therefore, the paper hypothesizes that the process of building an effective CRM programme should start from engaging in promotional activities to attract customers, then using data capture devices to analyse customer profile, engage in customer selection and targeting down to metrics and performance evaluation. Finally, a feedback processes (loop) to ascertain whether the original objectives have been attained is of crucial essence, and if not, the initiation of a corrective measures to make the programme better become of essence. The paper proposes a Model II framework (as captured hereunder) as the ideal/correct sequence the process should follow. This researcher therefore makes this modification as a salient recommendation for all organizations as they attempt to adopt a CRM programme to drive their organization competitively.

scholarly journals Motion Boundaries Formation For Autonomous Vehicles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Bannis
Keyword(s):  
Motion Planning ◽  
Predictive Control ◽  
Autonomous Vehicles ◽  
Motion Constraints ◽  
Prediction Horizon ◽  
Curvilinear Motion ◽  
Model Dynamics ◽  
Motion Boundaries ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Ideal

<div>In this paper, the application of Model Predictive Control to perform curvilinear motion planning is explored. More specifically, nonlinear MPC will be focused on because of its proven efficiency in the modeling of uncertainties as well as in nonlinear model dynamics. The main objective of this report is to show that with proper modeling and formulation of motion constraints, curvilinear motion planning can be achieved with nonlinear MPC. The trajectory of the vehicle will be tracked with the least error while satisfying constraints such as speed and steering angles. Simulations are presented which demonstrate the ability of the suggested models to successfully perform curvilinear motion staying safely within the bounds, while simulations of several models validate its performance. A deterministic sensitivity analysis was conducted in order to determine the impact</div><div>of the prediction horizon time. Experimental results show that a critical prediction horizon time approximately 10 to 13 seconds was identified as the ideal range for optimal results of the model.</div>

scholarly journals Understanding Cultural Relativism: A critical Appraisal of the Theory

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Yohannes Eshetu
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Cultural Relativism ◽  
Intercultural Dialogue ◽  
Moral Progress ◽  
Ethical Relativism ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Moral Argumentation ◽  
Intercultural Comparison

The aim of this review article is to reveal the cons and pros of ethical relativism, especially conventionalism. This article is written with the intention of showing some of the practical upshots of conventionalism without totally denying some of its virtues in a world where diversity of cultures and customs is apparent. The article inquires the question: Is ethical relativism tenable? The review article relies on reviewing secondary sources. What I am arguing in this article is that despite the attraction of ethical relativism as an intellectual weapon to fight against ethnocentrism and cultural intolerance, the view still goes against the idea of intercultural comparison, criticism and moral argumentation, so that it would have serious disastrous implication on practice, especially on the universal character of human rights and shutters all together any sort of moral progress and reform. The article concludes that we can set forth certain objective moral codes, discovered through rational intercultural dialogue and discussion which could be applied regardless of cultural specificities upon which cultural inter-comparison, discussion and moral argumentation is possible.

scholarly journals The attachments of ‘autonomous’ vehicles

2021 ◽  
pp. 030631272110387
Author(s):  
Chris Tennant ◽  
Jack Stilgoe
Keyword(s):  
Autonomous Vehicles ◽  
Brute Force ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Software And Hardware ◽  
Economic Infrastructure ◽  
On The Road ◽  
The Ideal

The ideal of the self-driving car replaces an error-prone human with an infallible, artificially intelligent driver. This narrative of autonomy promises liberation from the downsides of automobility, even if that means taking control away from autonomous, free-moving individuals. We look behind this narrative to understand the attachments that so-called ‘autonomous’ vehicles (AVs) are likely to have to the world. Drawing on 50 interviews with AV developers, researchers and other stakeholders, we explore the social and technological attachments that stakeholders see inside the vehicle, on the road and with the wider world. These range from software and hardware to the behaviours of other road users and the material, social and economic infrastructure that supports driving and self-driving. We describe how innovators understand, engage with or seek to escape from these attachments in three categories: ‘brute force’, which sees attachments as problems to be solved with more data, ‘solve the world one place at a time’, which sees attachments as limits on the technology’s reach and ‘reduce the complexity of the space’, which sees attachments as solutions to the problems encountered by technology developers. Understanding attachments provides a powerful way to anticipate various possible constitutions for the technology.

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