ENGR 482 Exam 3 Guide With
Complete Solution
T/F: According to the "Common Sense View," technological artifacts take on
moral properties when used for good or evil by humans. - ANSWER False-
this view is that artifacts have no moral properties in themselves.
T/F: The difference b/w the "Common Sense" and "Strong" views toward the
morality of technological artifacts is a matter of the degree to which people
blame artifacts for immoral actions. - ANSWER False- there is a fundamental
difference b/w the views regarding whether artifacts can be held morally
responsible for certain actions.
Why are Robert Moses' architectural designs indicative of Langdon Winner's
view of the moral properties of artifacts (the "Strong View")? - ANSWER
Moral values are built into his designs, which come to embody these values.
T/F: Bruno Latour, reflecting the "Strong View" toward technological
artifacts, believed artifacts are morally considerable because they work as
actants alongside human beings in a responsible network. - ANSWER True
What does Martin Heidegger say often happens w/ tools as they are used? -
ANSWER -They become invisible b/c the user's focus is on the task at hand
-They are noticed when they don't function as designed
What is meant by Don Ihde's term "multi-usability"? - ANSWER An artifact
can be used in different ways based on each user's intentions.
Bruno Latour's "script" of a thing - ANSWER The behaviors that the artifact
,invites or inhibits its user to perform
Don Ihde's "technological intentionality" - ANSWER Technology "shades"
how we see the world, emphasizing some things at the expense of others.
Technological Optimist - ANSWER "on the whole, technology is for the
better"
Technological Pessimist - ANSWER "on the whole, technology is for the
worst"
Technological Determinism - ANSWER Technology precedes its own logic; we
can't do anything to stop its progress
Critical Approach to Technology - ANSWER A check on the Enlightenment
spirit; analogous to the food critic
Artifact - ANSWER Any object intentionally created by humans
Common Sense View - ANSWER -Can't blame the artifact for a wrongdoing
-Humans made objects as mere tools/neutral means to an end
-Objects have no moral properties
-We ascribe right or wrong (good or bad) to humans and their actions
Strong View (Latour) - ANSWER -"morality is inside the things"; artifacts DO
have moral properties
-Actor-Network Theory (ANT)
-Attributes moral relevance to artifacts whose existence perpetuates moral
values
-Believe some combo of subject and object should be though of as one and
, the same entity
Actor-Network Theory (ANT) - ANSWER -Objects serve as "actors" or
"actants"
-Not possible to uphold the boundary b/w humans and artifacts
Strong View (Winner) - ANSWER -Objects "embody a systematic social
inequality" that becomes "part of the social landscape"
-Example of Robert Moses' designs
-Therefore, artifacts embody morality
Strong View (Verbeek) - ANSWER -"Moral agency is distributed over both
humans and technological artifacts"
-Humans and artifacts don't have separate existence anymore
-Many artifacts blur this distinction from subject
-Moral agencies should be ascribed to hybrid entities of both subjects and
objects
Moderate View - ANSWER -Technological artifacts can't be part of a moral
agent/subject and can't be responsible
-However, artifacts have high moral relevance in ethics b/c they create new
options for action
-Artifacts have moral relevance, but aren't morally responsible or
accountable for their effects
Mediating Technology - ANSWER Mediate experiences b/w object and
subject
Complete Solution
T/F: According to the "Common Sense View," technological artifacts take on
moral properties when used for good or evil by humans. - ANSWER False-
this view is that artifacts have no moral properties in themselves.
T/F: The difference b/w the "Common Sense" and "Strong" views toward the
morality of technological artifacts is a matter of the degree to which people
blame artifacts for immoral actions. - ANSWER False- there is a fundamental
difference b/w the views regarding whether artifacts can be held morally
responsible for certain actions.
Why are Robert Moses' architectural designs indicative of Langdon Winner's
view of the moral properties of artifacts (the "Strong View")? - ANSWER
Moral values are built into his designs, which come to embody these values.
T/F: Bruno Latour, reflecting the "Strong View" toward technological
artifacts, believed artifacts are morally considerable because they work as
actants alongside human beings in a responsible network. - ANSWER True
What does Martin Heidegger say often happens w/ tools as they are used? -
ANSWER -They become invisible b/c the user's focus is on the task at hand
-They are noticed when they don't function as designed
What is meant by Don Ihde's term "multi-usability"? - ANSWER An artifact
can be used in different ways based on each user's intentions.
Bruno Latour's "script" of a thing - ANSWER The behaviors that the artifact
,invites or inhibits its user to perform
Don Ihde's "technological intentionality" - ANSWER Technology "shades"
how we see the world, emphasizing some things at the expense of others.
Technological Optimist - ANSWER "on the whole, technology is for the
better"
Technological Pessimist - ANSWER "on the whole, technology is for the
worst"
Technological Determinism - ANSWER Technology precedes its own logic; we
can't do anything to stop its progress
Critical Approach to Technology - ANSWER A check on the Enlightenment
spirit; analogous to the food critic
Artifact - ANSWER Any object intentionally created by humans
Common Sense View - ANSWER -Can't blame the artifact for a wrongdoing
-Humans made objects as mere tools/neutral means to an end
-Objects have no moral properties
-We ascribe right or wrong (good or bad) to humans and their actions
Strong View (Latour) - ANSWER -"morality is inside the things"; artifacts DO
have moral properties
-Actor-Network Theory (ANT)
-Attributes moral relevance to artifacts whose existence perpetuates moral
values
-Believe some combo of subject and object should be though of as one and
, the same entity
Actor-Network Theory (ANT) - ANSWER -Objects serve as "actors" or
"actants"
-Not possible to uphold the boundary b/w humans and artifacts
Strong View (Winner) - ANSWER -Objects "embody a systematic social
inequality" that becomes "part of the social landscape"
-Example of Robert Moses' designs
-Therefore, artifacts embody morality
Strong View (Verbeek) - ANSWER -"Moral agency is distributed over both
humans and technological artifacts"
-Humans and artifacts don't have separate existence anymore
-Many artifacts blur this distinction from subject
-Moral agencies should be ascribed to hybrid entities of both subjects and
objects
Moderate View - ANSWER -Technological artifacts can't be part of a moral
agent/subject and can't be responsible
-However, artifacts have high moral relevance in ethics b/c they create new
options for action
-Artifacts have moral relevance, but aren't morally responsible or
accountable for their effects
Mediating Technology - ANSWER Mediate experiences b/w object and
subject
