Difference between revisions of "Philip Brey"
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==Research== | ==Research== | ||
Most of Brey's research is based on the philosophy of technology and how this technology has transformed with the introduction of new ideas, such as virtual reality and computer simulations. "Much of his current research is directed to the philosophy and ethics of [[Wikipedia:Information_and_communication_technologies|ICT]], where he has published on the ethical and political aspects of computer systems design, the limits of artificial intelligence, the ethics and ontology of virtuality, the role of ICT in mobility and surveillance, the implications of ICT for globalization, geographical organization and the quality of life." <ref name=Brey/> | Most of Brey's research is based on the philosophy of technology and how this technology has transformed with the introduction of new ideas, such as virtual reality and computer simulations. "Much of his current research is directed to the philosophy and ethics of [[Wikipedia:Information_and_communication_technologies|ICT]], where he has published on the ethical and political aspects of computer systems design, the limits of artificial intelligence, the ethics and ontology of virtuality, the role of ICT in mobility and surveillance, the implications of ICT for globalization, geographical organization and the quality of life." <ref name=Brey/> | ||
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| + | ==Philosophy== | ||
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| + | ===Embedded Values=== | ||
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| + | In his paper “Values in technology and disclosive computer ethics,”<ref>https://www.utwente.nl/en/bms/wijsb/staff/brey/Publicaties_Brey/Brey_2009_Values-Disclosive_Cambridge.pdf</ref> Brey addresses an important question in computer ethics: are computers/computing systems morally neutral? Brey argues that computing systems are not morally neutral, but rather can have tendencies to promote or demote particular moral values. Brey defines this stance as the “embedded values approach” which contrasts the opposing viewpoint that technology is neutral with respect to its consequences. He argues that recurring consequences can emerge from repeated use of a piece of technology in ways that are morally significant. | ||
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| + | An example Brey uses to illustrate this concept is the use of cars. He explains that there are many ways in which people use cars, such as commuting, leisure driving, taxiing, displaying in a museum, etc. From these uses, cars have a commonly recurring consequence of emitting greenhouse gases. Although Brey concedes that not all uses of cars result in greenhouse gas emission (e.g. displaying in a museum), these uses are peripheral functionalities of the vehicle. The central use of a car, however, is its driving functionality. From this central use is the necessary consequence of greenhouse gas emission. | ||
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==Current Participation== | ==Current Participation== | ||
Revision as of 17:21, 23 April 2017
| Birthname | Philip Brey |
| Date of Birth | |
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| Nationality | |
| Occupation | Professor of Philosophy of Technology |
| Biography |
Philip Brey is currently a professor of philosophy of technology and chair of the department of philosophy at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. He is one of the most important figures in combining three major subjects of the studies of information Ethics and Virtual Reality and Computer Simulations. His publications are based on these three items and show how they can interact in different ways.
Contents
Background
Brey got his Ph.D. from University of California, San Diego in 1995. He then got involved in the international master program Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society and used to be program director of that program from 2003-2006. He had formerly (co)directed the conferences E-CAP 2007, CEPE 2007 and (co)directed CEPE 2005, SPT 1999 and international workshops on Modernity and Technology, Ethics of Technology and Nanoethics. He previously taught at Delft University of Technology and the University of California, San Diego.
Research
Most of Brey's research is based on the philosophy of technology and how this technology has transformed with the introduction of new ideas, such as virtual reality and computer simulations. "Much of his current research is directed to the philosophy and ethics of ICT, where he has published on the ethical and political aspects of computer systems design, the limits of artificial intelligence, the ethics and ontology of virtuality, the role of ICT in mobility and surveillance, the implications of ICT for globalization, geographical organization and the quality of life." [1]
Philosophy
Embedded Values
In his paper “Values in technology and disclosive computer ethics,”[2] Brey addresses an important question in computer ethics: are computers/computing systems morally neutral? Brey argues that computing systems are not morally neutral, but rather can have tendencies to promote or demote particular moral values. Brey defines this stance as the “embedded values approach” which contrasts the opposing viewpoint that technology is neutral with respect to its consequences. He argues that recurring consequences can emerge from repeated use of a piece of technology in ways that are morally significant.
An example Brey uses to illustrate this concept is the use of cars. He explains that there are many ways in which people use cars, such as commuting, leisure driving, taxiing, displaying in a museum, etc. From these uses, cars have a commonly recurring consequence of emitting greenhouse gases. Although Brey concedes that not all uses of cars result in greenhouse gas emission (e.g. displaying in a museum), these uses are peripheral functionalities of the vehicle. The central use of a car, however, is its driving functionality. From this central use is the necessary consequence of greenhouse gas emission.
Current Participation
- The executive board of the Society for Philosophy of Technology.
- The International Society for Ethics and Information Technology.
- Director of the European division of the International Association of Computing and Philosophy.
- The editorial board of the journals Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology.
- Ethics and Information Technology.
- The Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society and Nanoethics
- Ethics for Technologies that Converge at the Nanoscale.
- Vice editor of the Society for Philosophy and Technology Newsletter.
- Netherlands Graduate School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture.
- Dutch-Flemish Network for Philosophy of Science and Technology.
- Centre for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT) of the University of Twente.
