Ethical Idealism, Technology and Practice: a Manifesto

Area of Science:

• Ethics of Technology
• Virtue Ethics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Technology mediates daily activities like work, learning, and socializing.
• Existing ethics of technology often focuses on mitigating harm.
• Virtue ethics offers a new perspective on technology's ethical potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an "ethical idealist" approach to technology ethics.
• To explore how technology use can foster ethical awareness and practical wisdom.
• To shift focus from shielding users to empowering them through ethical development.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis integrating virtue ethics and technology studies.
• Framing technology use as a form of daily practice.
• Manifesto-style argument for a new ethical framework.

Main Results:

• Technology's affordances shape user interactions and behaviors.
• Daily engagement with technology can be a space for ethical skill development.
• Users can collateral develop ethical awareness, sensitivity, and reasoning.

Conclusions:

• An "ethical idealist" approach empowers users by viewing technology as a site for cultivating practical wisdom.
• This perspective complements harm-reduction models in technology ethics.
• Further research can explore practical applications of this framework.