BOEING EXAM GUIDE QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Mediation of Perception - ANSWER-influence of artifacts on human perception, the
sensory relationship with reality (glasses)
Mediation of Action - ANSWER-the role of technology in human action and
experience. When technologies fulfill their actions, they also help shape the actions
and perceptions of users.
First Order Responsibility - ANSWER-ones that require us to carry out morally right
actions
Second Order Responsibility - ANSWER-ones that make sure there are some
morally good actions to choose
Ought implies can - ANSWER-agent has a moral obligation to perform certain
actions if its possible for them to perform
What are the organizational forces that influenced engineering decisions in the 737
MAX case? - ANSWER-*management ignored the changes needed to save money
in pilot training
*Proper engineering decisions were made by managers
*Group think and silencing of dissenting voices was another critical factor in the
deaths of 346 people
*NSPE Fundamental Canons were violated by Boeing and FAA engineers
*Problem of many hands
What are the regulatory forces that influenced engineering decisions in the 737 MAX
case? - ANSWER-*Revolving door between industry and regulatory agencies
*threat of regulatory capture (dominated by interest of industry)
*FAA allowed for self regulation
*FAA also approved Boeing's request of no additional pilot training
Common Sense View - ANSWER-*artifacts are neutral means to an end
*blame is placed on human, not object
*most people take this view
*no moral value given to artifacts
*Technological artifacts allow us to do things we wouldn't have been able to do
otherwise, but the artifact has no moral properties
Strong View - ANSWER-*technological artifacts and humans are hybrid agents
*moral agency is distributed over both humans and technological artifacts
*technological artifacts play prominent role in ethics
*no separate existence between humans and technological artifacts
*racist bridges
, Moderate View - ANSWER-*intermediate position that attributes moral relevance to
artifacts without making them responsible for their actions
*actions are mediated by technological artifacts, we are able to do things we
otherwise would not be able to, creates new options that would not have been
available without technology
Can implies ought - ANSWER-if you can't do x, then you have no duty to do x
Explain the basic attitude technology expressed by Samuel Florman in the first
chapter of the Existential Pleasures of Engineering. - ANSWER-technology is a very
positive thing and is improving the future of our society. it brings progress.
What did Jacques Ellul mean by technique? - ANSWER-the totality of methods
having rationally arrived at and having absolute efficiency for a given stage of
development in every field of human activity
Why does Ellul find technique problematic? How does it manifest today? - ANSWER-
*humans are treated as machines when they no longer contribute
*focuses on maximizing efficiency, which disregards the learning process/curve
*Technique is manifested in all categories, not just technology, everything is
attempting to maximize efficiency
What is meant by the phrases "technology and the social world are co produced"
and "we shape our technologies, then they shape us"? - ANSWER-culture shapes
what technology is produces and used and technology shapes how people interact
with one another whole also reinforcing social norms
Technological Optimism - ANSWER-the belief that technology can be continually
improved and it can improve the lives of people, making the world a better place
Technological determinism - ANSWER-There's a fixed sequence of events to
technological development and a necessary path over which technologically
developing societies must travel
Critical approach - ANSWER-(similar to restaurant critics) you cannot allow
technology to affect your cultural values. Analyzing the technology for society over
values such as environmental concerns, etc.
Explain the technology-as-social experiment approach and analyze ethical and
social issues of autonomous vehicles according to it - ANSWER-*Old question: Is
technology X ethically acceptable?
*New Question: Is technology X an ethically acceptable social experiment?
*the new question is not easier to answer than the first
*the new and old questions are not equivalent. Sometimes technology X should be
used even if it is NOT a socially accepted experiment:
TESLA:
*autopilot promoted as hands-off the wheel for long durations
*tesla advisory to drivers was not to let go of the wheel and be ready to take over at
any moment
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Mediation of Perception - ANSWER-influence of artifacts on human perception, the
sensory relationship with reality (glasses)
Mediation of Action - ANSWER-the role of technology in human action and
experience. When technologies fulfill their actions, they also help shape the actions
and perceptions of users.
First Order Responsibility - ANSWER-ones that require us to carry out morally right
actions
Second Order Responsibility - ANSWER-ones that make sure there are some
morally good actions to choose
Ought implies can - ANSWER-agent has a moral obligation to perform certain
actions if its possible for them to perform
What are the organizational forces that influenced engineering decisions in the 737
MAX case? - ANSWER-*management ignored the changes needed to save money
in pilot training
*Proper engineering decisions were made by managers
*Group think and silencing of dissenting voices was another critical factor in the
deaths of 346 people
*NSPE Fundamental Canons were violated by Boeing and FAA engineers
*Problem of many hands
What are the regulatory forces that influenced engineering decisions in the 737 MAX
case? - ANSWER-*Revolving door between industry and regulatory agencies
*threat of regulatory capture (dominated by interest of industry)
*FAA allowed for self regulation
*FAA also approved Boeing's request of no additional pilot training
Common Sense View - ANSWER-*artifacts are neutral means to an end
*blame is placed on human, not object
*most people take this view
*no moral value given to artifacts
*Technological artifacts allow us to do things we wouldn't have been able to do
otherwise, but the artifact has no moral properties
Strong View - ANSWER-*technological artifacts and humans are hybrid agents
*moral agency is distributed over both humans and technological artifacts
*technological artifacts play prominent role in ethics
*no separate existence between humans and technological artifacts
*racist bridges
, Moderate View - ANSWER-*intermediate position that attributes moral relevance to
artifacts without making them responsible for their actions
*actions are mediated by technological artifacts, we are able to do things we
otherwise would not be able to, creates new options that would not have been
available without technology
Can implies ought - ANSWER-if you can't do x, then you have no duty to do x
Explain the basic attitude technology expressed by Samuel Florman in the first
chapter of the Existential Pleasures of Engineering. - ANSWER-technology is a very
positive thing and is improving the future of our society. it brings progress.
What did Jacques Ellul mean by technique? - ANSWER-the totality of methods
having rationally arrived at and having absolute efficiency for a given stage of
development in every field of human activity
Why does Ellul find technique problematic? How does it manifest today? - ANSWER-
*humans are treated as machines when they no longer contribute
*focuses on maximizing efficiency, which disregards the learning process/curve
*Technique is manifested in all categories, not just technology, everything is
attempting to maximize efficiency
What is meant by the phrases "technology and the social world are co produced"
and "we shape our technologies, then they shape us"? - ANSWER-culture shapes
what technology is produces and used and technology shapes how people interact
with one another whole also reinforcing social norms
Technological Optimism - ANSWER-the belief that technology can be continually
improved and it can improve the lives of people, making the world a better place
Technological determinism - ANSWER-There's a fixed sequence of events to
technological development and a necessary path over which technologically
developing societies must travel
Critical approach - ANSWER-(similar to restaurant critics) you cannot allow
technology to affect your cultural values. Analyzing the technology for society over
values such as environmental concerns, etc.
Explain the technology-as-social experiment approach and analyze ethical and
social issues of autonomous vehicles according to it - ANSWER-*Old question: Is
technology X ethically acceptable?
*New Question: Is technology X an ethically acceptable social experiment?
*the new question is not easier to answer than the first
*the new and old questions are not equivalent. Sometimes technology X should be
used even if it is NOT a socially accepted experiment:
TESLA:
*autopilot promoted as hands-off the wheel for long durations
*tesla advisory to drivers was not to let go of the wheel and be ready to take over at
any moment
