Harmonious Technology: A Confucian Ethics of Technology

Technology has become a major subject of philosophical ethical reflection, but until recently, it has drawn primarily from the Western philosophical and ethical traditions. This edited volume explores the possibility of Confucian ethics of technology, which offers a different approach to the ethics of technology based on other philosophical and ethical traditions. The authors examine various ideas, concepts, and theories in Confucianism and apply them to the ethical challenges of technology, while the editors review the key ideas articulated throughout the volume to identify possible ways forward for Confucian ethics of technology. The volume is of interest to philosophers, ethicists, students, and scholars in the fields of philosophy, science and technology studies, innovation studies, political science, and social studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 118 pages
Publication date: 25 February 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Technology has emerged as a central subject of philosophical and ethical reflection in recent years, as the novel and disruptive nature of technology presents us with unprecedented possibilities and outcomes, as well as fundamental changes to our everyday lives that require deep contemplation. However, philosophical and ethical analysis of technology has primarily drawn from Western philosophical and ethical traditions, and philosophers and scholars of technology have only sparingly discussed the potential contributions of non-Western approaches. Given the global nature of technology, there is an urgent need for multiculturalism in philosophy and ethics of technology that incorporates non-Western perspectives into our thinking about technology. While there has been an increased attention to non-Western philosophy in the field, there have been few systematic attempts to articulate different approaches to the ethics of technology based on other philosophical and ethical traditions.

The present edited volume aims to diversify the ethics of technology by exploring the possibility of Confucian ethics of technology. In the six chapters of this volume, the authors examine various ideas, concepts, and theories in Confucianism and apply them to the ethical challenges of technology. In the epilogue, the editors review the key ideas articulated throughout the volume to identify possible ways forward for Confucian ethics of technology.

Harmonious Technology revives Confucianism for philosophical and ethical analysis of technology and presents Confucian ethics of technology as another approach to the ethics of technology. It is essential for philosophers and ethicists of technology, who are urged to consider beyond the Western paradigms.

Weight: 214g
Dimension: 154 x 234 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367263522