What Do We Have to Lose? Offloading Through Moral Technologies: Moral Struggle and Progress

Area of Science:

• Moral Philosophy
• Neuroscience
• Technology Ethics

Background:

• Moral bioenhancement, nudging, and persuasive technologies offer potential means to align actions with moral convictions.
• These technologies may address cognitive and affective limitations hindering moral perception and decision-making.
• They can also help individuals overcome weakness of will, facilitating morally right choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the implications of technologies designed to improve moral capacities.
• To assess whether simplifying moral behavior through technology diminishes valuable aspects of moral progress.
• To evaluate the role of moral struggle in driving moral advancement.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of moral philosophy and technology ethics.
• Examination of assumptions regarding the realizability and efficacy of moral enhancement technologies.
• Argumentative exploration of the relationship between ease of moral action and the potential for moral progress.

Main Results:

• The paper assumes the feasibility and effectiveness of technologies aimed at enhancing moral capacities.
• It posits that these technologies can help individuals act more consistently with moral principles.
• The study rejects the notion that moral struggle is essential for moral progress.

Conclusions:

• Moral progress, defined as discovering new values or recognizing new harms, is not impeded by technologies that make moral action easier.
• Difficult moral deliberation and internal struggle are not necessary catalysts for moral advancement.
• Humanity does not lose valuable opportunities for moral progress when morality is facilitated by technological means.