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. The results serve as the basis for policy advice.
Projects on the topic
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To the complete project list
Experts
- Ethics of technology:
Prof. Dr. Dr. Rafaela Hillerbrand - Global ethics in science, technology, and innovation:
Dr. Miltos Ladikas - Vision Assessment:
PD Dr. Andreas Lösch
Further contact
Jonas Moosmüller
Public relations
Tel.: +49 721 608-26796
E-mail
Publications on the topic
Narratives of change: Strategies for inclusivity in shaping socio-technical future visions
2023. Futures, 145, Art.Nr. 103076. doi:10.1016/j.futures.2022.103076
Transformation through (re-)politicisation of socio-technical futures: how cultural semiotics can improve transformative vision assessment
2023. European Journal of Futures Research, 11, Art.-Nr.: 3. doi:10.1186/s40309-023-00214-0
Open Source, Open Government, Blockchain : Eine kultursemiotische Studie zur Openness-Vision. PhD dissertation
2023, September 21. Oekom-Verlag. doi:10.14512/9783987262876
Vision assessment: An orientation framework for the practice of technology assessment
2023. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000158791
Vision Assessment: Ein Orientierungsrahmen für die Praxis der Technikfolgenabschätzung
2023. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000158790
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
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
Politicization of Sociotechnical Futures. Prerequisites and limits
2022. SpringerOpen
Vision Assessment: Theoretische Reflexionen zur Erforschung soziotechnischer Zukünfte
2022. KIT Scientific Publishing. doi:10.5445/KSP/1000142150
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
Einleitung: Von Zukunftsvisionen zum Vision Assessment
2022. Vision Assessment : Theoretische Reflexionen zur Erforschung soziotechnischer Zukünfte. Hrsg.: P. Frey, 1–14, KIT Scientific Publishing
3D-Druck in öffentlichen Werkstätten. Im Gespräch mit Philipp Brenner & Gerd Keller
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000149947
3D-Druck im Bildungssystem. Im Gespräch mit Enrico Lemma & Simon Hassemer
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000149956
3D-Druck in der Medizin. Im Gespräch mit Ute Schepers & David Seibt
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000150057
3D-Druck und Nachhaltigkeit. Im Gespräch mit Clara Vazquez-Martel & Ulrich Petschow
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000150058
Ein Begriff, viele Technologien. Im Gespräch mit Martin Wegener & Andreas Lösch
2022. doi:10.5445/IR/1000149770
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
Szenarien des digitalen Wirtschaftens für den ländlichen Raum
2022. Zugluft : öffentliche Wissenschaft in Forschung, Lehre und Gesellschaft, 2 (3), 108–111
Contested Visions for Transformation : The Visions of the Green New Deal and the Politics of Technology Assessment, Responsible Research and Innovation, and Sustainability Research
2022. Sustainability, 14 (3), Article no: 1505. doi:10.3390/su14031505
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