The Moral Psychology of AI and the Ethical Opt-Out Problem

2020 ◽  
pp. 109-126
Author(s):  
Jean-François Bonnefon ◽  
Azim Shariff ◽  
Iyad Rahwan
Keyword(s):  
Moral Psychology ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Normative Ethics ◽  
Psychological Science ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Moral Domains ◽  
Self Driving Cars

This chapter discusses the limits of normative ethics in new moral domains linked to the development of AI. In these new domains, people have the possibility to opt out of using a machine if they do not approve of the ethics that the machine is programmed to follow. In other words, even if normative ethics could determine the best moral programs, these programs would not be adopted (and thus have no positive impact) if they clashed with users’ preferences—a phenomenon that can be called “ethical opt-out.” The chapter then explores various ways in which the field of moral psychology can illuminate public perception of moral AI and inform the regulations of such AI. The chapter’s main focus is on self-driving cars, but it also explores the role of psychological science for the study of other moral algorithms.

Lives and choices, give and take: Altruism and organ procurement

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicky Thornton
Keyword(s):  
Organ Donation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Organ Procurement ◽  
Statistical Evidence ◽  
Opting Out ◽  
Procurement Policy ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Utilitarian Approach ◽  
Cadaveric Organ

In 2015, Wales introduced a deemed consent: soft opt-out system for organ procurement in order to address the chronic shortage of organs for transplant. Early statistical evidence suggests that this has had a positive impact on cadaveric organ donation. Such a system for procurement has previously been dismissed by the Organ Donation Taskforce, who suggested that opting out could potentially undermine the concept of donated organs as gifts and this could then negatively impact the number of organs offered for transplant. Considerable weight was placed upon the need to retain the altruistic gift element associated with an opt-in system. This article will consider the role of altruism in an organ procurement policy. A broad utilitarian approach will be taken when putting forward the arguments in favour of adopting a weak altruism position in a soft opt-out system for procurement with a combined registry.

Moral Psychology, Neuroscience, and Non-Combatant Immunity

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 203-226
Author(s):  
Richard Price
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Moral Psychology ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Normative Ethics ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
Moral Beliefs ◽  
Normative Practice ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract Some have argued for the relevance for normative ethics of empirical research in international relations on the origins and role of moral norms. Building on such arguments, the paper considers the relevance of contemporary research in moral psychology and neuroscience for the ethics of war. Research in those fields has implications for our understanding of the sources and nature of moral beliefs and judgement, and thus may shed light on efforts to morally bound violence. In this chapter I consider how such research helps us understand the norm of non-combatant immunity, and explore the implications for understanding the effectiveness of such norms and for normative practice.

scholarly journals Rationalizing (Vernünfteln)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Sticker
Keyword(s):  
Moral Psychology ◽  
Practical Reason ◽  
Ethical Theory ◽  
Normative Ethics ◽  
Philosophical Methodology ◽  
Human Reason ◽  
Rational Agents ◽  
Moral Transgressions

Kant was a keen psychological observer and theorist of the forms, mechanisms and sources of self-deception. In this Element, the author discusses the role of rationalizing/Vernünfteln for Kant's moral psychology, normative ethics and philosophical methodology. By drawing on the full breadth of examples of rationalizing Kant discusses, the author shows how rationalizing can extend to general features of morality and corrupt rational agents thoroughly (albeit not completely and not irreversibly). Furthermore, the author explains the often-overlooked roles common human reason, empirical practical reason and even pure practical reason play for rationalizing. Kant is aware that rationality is a double-edged sword; reason is the source of morality and of our dignity, but it also enables us to seemingly justify moral transgressions to ourselves, and it creates an interest in this justification in the first place. Finally, this Element discusses whether Kant's ethical theory itself can be criticised as a product of rationalizing.

Potential effect of pharmaceutical care to improve outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder in Sulaimani dialysis centers

2020 ◽  
pp. 82-94
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Pharmaceutical Care ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Care Group ◽  
Mineral Bone Disorder ◽  
Bone Disorder

Objective: the present study was aimed to evaluate the role of pharmaceutical services in improving the outcome of mineral bone disorder in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Methodology: One hundred and twenty patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) screened for eligibility, seventy-six patients enrolled in the study and randomly allocated into two groups: pharmaceutical care and usual care, both groups interviewed by the pharmacist using specific questionnaire for assessing the quality of life (QoL). All the drug related problems (DRPs) including drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were recorded by the pharmacist. Blood samples were collected and utilized for analyzing the levels of vitamin D, phosphorous, calcium, albumin and parathyroid hormone at baseline and three months after. The pharmaceutical care group received all the educations about their medications and how to minimize DRPs; improve the QoL. Additionally, the pharmaceutical intervention included correcting the biochemical parameters. Results: Pharmaceutical care significantly improved patients QoL and minimized DRPs and DDIs. It was also effective in improving the biochemical parameters. Conclusion: Pharmaceutical care has a positive impact on improving the outcome of patients with CKD-MBD through attenuating DRPs, improving the biochemical parameters and the QoL.

Strategic Role of Zakat in Multidimensional Quality of Life in Sijunjung, Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-72
Author(s):  
Herlin Hamimi ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Hasbi Zaenal
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Wealth Distribution ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Status ◽  
Being There ◽  
The Impact

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam which has a function of faith, social and economic functions. Muslims who can pay zakat are required to give at least 2.5 per cent of their wealth. The problem of poverty prevalent in disadvantaged regions because of the difficulty of access to information and communication led to a gap that is so high in wealth and resources. The instrument of zakat provides a paradigm in the achievement of equitable wealth distribution and healthy circulation. Zakat potentially offers a better life and improves the quality of human being. There is a human quality improvement not only in economic terms but also in spiritual terms such as improving religiousity. This study aims to examine the role of zakat to alleviate humanitarian issues in disadvantaged regions such as Sijunjung, one of zakat beneficiaries and impoverished areas in Indonesia. The researcher attempted a Cibest method to capture the impact of zakat beneficiaries before and after becoming a member of Zakat Community Development (ZCD) Program in material and spiritual value. The overall analysis shows that zakat has a positive impact on disadvantaged regions development and enhance the quality of life of the community. There is an improvement in the average of mustahik household incomes after becoming a member of ZCD Program. Cibest model demonstrates that material, spiritual, and absolute poverty index decreased by 10, 5, and 6 per cent. Meanwhile, the welfare index is increased by 21 per cent. These findings have significant implications for developing the quality of life in disadvantaged regions in Sijunjung. Therefore, zakat is one of the instruments to change the status of disadvantaged areas to be equivalent to other areas.

Employees’ Motivation for Creating International Business Venture: The Role of Perceived Competence and Job Satisfaction

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anh D. Pham ◽  
Men T. Bui ◽  
Dung P. Hoang
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
International Business ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Perceived Competence ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Network Building ◽  
Perceived Desirability

This research investigates the determinants of entrepreneurial intention among Vietnamese employees, a crucial segment of potential entrepreneurs yet mostly neglected in previous studies. Given the focus on intention to create an international business venture and the working segment, we expand the entrepreneurial event theory by supplementing perceived competence and job satisfaction as determinants of entrepreneurial intention while testing the mediation of perceived feasibility and perceived desirability in such relationships correspondingly. Three focus groups on 27 Vietnamese employees were conducted to explore the specific relevant competences and develop the conceptual model. Afterwards, data from an empirical survey on 567 Vietnamese employees was analysed using a partial least squares structural equation model to test the hypothesised relationships. The empirical results indicate that perceived competences, viz. administrative competence, communication skills, network building competence, and international business expertise have a positive impact on entrepreneurial intention. The relationships between either administrative competence, network building capacity or international business expertise, and entrepreneurial intention are totally mediated by perceived feasibility. The study also reveals a noteworthy finding about the negative direct effect of overall job satisfaction on entrepreneurial intention and the partial mediating role of perceived desirability in this relationship.

Nietzsche and Contemporary Ethics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Moral Psychology ◽  
Moral Philosophy ◽  
Practical Reason ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Normative Ethics ◽  
Ethical Thought ◽  
Normative Authority ◽  
Moral Theories ◽  
Principal Parts

Nietzsche is one of the most subversive ethical thinkers of the Western canon. This book offers a critical assessment of his ethical thought and its significance for contemporary moral philosophy. It develops a charitable but critical reading of his thought, pushing some claims and arguments as far as seems fruitful while rejecting others. But it also uses Nietzsche in dialogue with, so to contribute to, a range of long-standing issues within normative ethics, metaethics, value theory, practical reason, and moral psychology. The book is divided into three principal parts. Part I examines Nietzsche’s critique of morality, arguing that it raises well-motivated challenges to morality’s normative authority and value: his error theory about morality’s categoricity is in a better position than many contemporary versions; and his critique of moral values has bite even against undemanding moral theories, with significant implications not just for rarefied excellent types but also us. Part II turns to moral psychology, attributing to Nietzsche and defending a sentimentalist explanation of action and motivation. Part III considers his non-moral perfectionism, developing models of value and practical normativity that avoid difficulties facing many contemporary accounts and that may therefore be of wider interest. The discussion concludes by considering Nietzsche’s broader significance: as well as calling into question many of moral philosophy’s deepest assumptions, he challenges our usual views of what ethics itself is—and what it, and we, should be doing.

scholarly journals The Prognostic and Predictive Role of Somatic BRCA Mutations in Ovarian Cancer: Results from a Multicenter Cohort Study

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 565
Author(s):  
Angela Toss ◽  
Claudia Piombino ◽  
Elena Tenedini ◽  
Alessandra Bologna ◽  
Elisa Gasparini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Brca Mutations ◽  
Multicenter Cohort Study ◽  
Advanced Stages ◽  
Predictive Role

Previous research involving epithelial ovarian cancer patients showed that, compared to germline BRCA (gBRCA) mutations, somatic BRCA (sBRCA) mutations present a similar positive impact with regard to overall survival (OS) and platinum and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitor sensitivity. Nevertheless, molecular testing in these studies did not include copy number variation (CNV) analyses of BRCA genes. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic and predictive role of sBRCA mutations as compared to gBRCA mutations in patients who were also tested for CNVs. Among the 158 patients included in the study, 17.09% of patients carried a pathogenic or likely pathogenic gBRCA variant and 15.19% of patients presented pathogenetic or likely pathogenic sBRCA variants and/or CNVs. Overall, 81.6% of the patients included in this study were diagnosed with a serous histotype, and 77.2% were in advanced stages. Among women diagnosed in advanced stages, gBRCA patients showed better progression-free survival and OS as compared to sBRCA and wild-type patients, whereas sBRCA patients did not show any advantage in outcome as compared to wild-type patients. In this study, the introduction of CNV analyses increased the detection rate of sBRCA mutations, and the resulting classification among gBRCA, sBRCA and wild-type patients was able to properly stratify the prognosis of OC patients. Particularly, sBRCA mutation patients failed to show any outcome advantage as compared to wild-type patients.

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