Visions and ethics

How do expectations of the future and ethical considerations shape science, technology, and politics?
ITAS topic Visions and ethics

Visions shape communication about science and technology in the media, but also play a quite significant role in the discourses of science and politics. Far-reaching promises are made, whether it is about curing major diseases, solving environmental problems, or achieving the global sustainability goals (Sustainable Development Goals). But horror scenarios such as the downfall of mankind in a climate catastrophe or through the takeover by algorithms are also hotly debated by society. These narratives about possible desired or feared futures and their ethical dimensions have an impact on our thinking, on political decisions, and on the course of science, which we must become aware of.

At ITAS, we explore the role of technology visions, analyze their preconditions and background, and subject them to ethical reflection. Examples are 3D printing, the importance of simulations and models, the possibility of a global and intercultural agreement on technical and socio-technical visions and the ethical questions they raise.

Vision Assessment

What relevance do technology visions have for science, technological development, and social transformation? Using the method of vision assessment developed at the Institute, researchers investigate this question and explore the effectiveness of socio-technical visions. Following studies on topics such as in-vitro meat and microalgae, the current focus is on visions of digitalization (e.g., future working environments, openness, 3D printing). In the project on futures of 3D printing, researchers worked with the public to develop scenarios from visions of technology in which the technology could be used inclusively and sustainably.

Global ethics in science, technology, and innovation

The growing importance of global society should not detract from its diversity. Global ethics therefore calls for the recognition of different public perceptions and social norms in the global debate on science, technology, and innovation. To this end, researchers use a methodological approach developed at ITAS (GEST) to investigate how value systems in society influence ethical debates in the public and academic domains. With regard to different value systems and decision-making processes, ITAS also identifies ethical challenges in global technology research (iRECS). The results serve as the basis for policy advice.

Projects on the topic

  

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Experts

Further contact

Jonas Moosmüller
Public relations
Tel.: +49 721 608-26796
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Publications on the topic


2023
Lösch, A.; Schneider, C.; Dobroć, P.; Frey, P.; Gondolf, J.; Hausstein, A.; Heil, R.
Vision assessment: An orientation framework for the practice of technology assessment
2023. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000158791Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Lösch, A.; Schneider, C.; Dobroć, P.; Frey, P.; Gondolf, J.; Hausstein, A.; Heil, R.
Vision Assessment: Ein Orientierungsrahmen für die Praxis der Technikfolgenabschätzung
2023. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000158790Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Schneider, C.; Roßmann, M.; Lösch, A.; Grunwald, A.
Transformative Vision Assessment and 3-D Printing Futures: A New Approach of Technology Assessment to Address Grand Societal Challenges
2023. IEEE transactions on engineering management, 70 (3), 1089–1098. doi:10.1109/TEM.2021.3129834
2022
Dobroć, P.
Zukunftsvisionen als Kulturtechniken und deren Rolle im Prozess der kulturellen Regelbildung
2022. Vision Assessment: Theoretische Reflexionen zur Erforschung soziotechnischer Zukünfte. Hrsg.: P. Dobroć, 85–113, KIT Scientific Publishing Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Dobroć, P.; Lösch, A.; Roßmann, M. (Eds.)
Politicization of Sociotechnical Futures. Prerequisites and limits
2022. SpringerOpen 
Frey, P.; Schneider, C.
Transformatives Vision Assessment: Visionengestaltung zwischen Status Quo, Nachhaltigkeit und demokratischem Anspruch
2022. Vision Assessment : Theoretische Reflexionen zur Erforschung soziotechnischer Zukünfte. Hrsg.: P. Frey, 151–167, KIT Scientific Publishing Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Heil, R.; Dobroć, P.; Frey, P.; Hausstein, A.; Lösch, A.; Roßmann, M.; Schneider, C.
Einleitung: Von Zukunftsvisionen zum Vision Assessment
2022. Vision Assessment : Theoretische Reflexionen zur Erforschung soziotechnischer Zukünfte. Hrsg.: P. Frey, 1–14, KIT Scientific Publishing Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Leshkovych, M.; Schneider, C.; Häußermann, Manuel; Dobroć, P.; Hanke, Lars-Julian; Brenner, P.; Keller, G.
3D-Druck in öffentlichen Werkstätten. Im Gespräch mit Philipp Brenner & Gerd Keller
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000149947
Leshkovych, M.; Schneider, C.; Häußermann, Manuel; Dobroć, P.; Hanke, Lars-Julian; Lemma, E. D.; Hassemer, S.
3D-Druck im Bildungssystem. Im Gespräch mit Enrico Lemma & Simon Hassemer
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000149956
Leshkovych, M.; Schneider, C.; Häußermann, Manuel; Dobroć, P.; Hanke, Lars-Julian; Schepers, U.; Seibt, D.
3D-Druck in der Medizin. Im Gespräch mit Ute Schepers & David Seibt
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000150057
Leshkovych, M.; Schneider, C.; Häußermann, Manuel; Dobroć, P.; Hanke, Lars-Julian; Vazquez-Martel, C.; Petschow, U.
3D-Druck und Nachhaltigkeit. Im Gespräch mit Clara Vazquez-Martel & Ulrich Petschow
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000150058
Leshkovych, M.; Schneider, C.; Häußermann, Manuel; Dobroć, P.; Hanke, Lars-Julian; Wegener, M.; Lösch, A.
Ein Begriff, viele Technologien. Im Gespräch mit Martin Wegener & Andreas Lösch
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000149770
Lösch, A.
Vision Assessment sozio-epistemischer Praktiken: Theoretische Positionierung und Plausibilisierung des TA-Ansatzes
2022. Vision Assessment : theoretische Reflexionen zur Erforschung soziotechnischer Zukünfte. Hrsg.: P. Frey, 51–84, KIT Scientific Publishing 
Schneider, C.; Dobroć, P.
Szenarien des digitalen Wirtschaftens für den ländlichen Raum
2022. Zugluft : öffentliche Wissenschaft in Forschung, Lehre und Gesellschaft, 2 (3), 108–111 
2021
Coenen, C.
Transcending Natural Limitations: The Military–Industrial Complex and the Transhumanist Temptation
2021. Transhumanism: The Proper Guide to a Posthuman Condition or a Dangerous Idea?. Ed.: W. Hofkirchner, 97–110, Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-56546-6_6