TOK REFERENCING: being knowers, it is highly important that we are responsible while transferring, processing and sharing knowledge to others. This is to make sure that the original knowledge from the original source is not severely distorted. Thus it is highly relevant that this particular aspect is to be explored. The following blog page provides a foreground on this particular matter.
Let’s say that the military decides to make an army robot that is extremely precise and efficient in the battle field. However, a group of thieves manage to get hold of the technology and use it for armed robberies. So, are the army men who made this dangerous technology at fault? Or is it the thieves who used the technology for a bad deed at fault? This particular controversy led me to my knowledge question: Should we hold people responsible for the applications of technologies they develop/create?
There are two relevant aspects of this argument that we must consider before reaching an evaluation and conclusion stand point. Over the years, technology has become prominently significant in our world and individual society. Its creation, development, and modification is almost running on a daily basis. However, it isn’t used by many for its true intended purpose. Thus, in this blog we are going to investigate whether the creator is responsible for these newly arisen applications of the technology which weren’t initially intended for.
On one hand, it can be claimed that the creators must indeed take responsibilities for the various applications of the technologies they created. This is mainly because they are the ones who are responsible for releasing this pre – non- existent knowledge into the real world. If there is a possibility that the technology discovered may be used for bad intentions, it is up to the creator to weigh all possible outcomes before finally producing/ creating that particular technology. Purposefully launching a particular technological instrument that is known to have extreme side effects and negative after affects is definitely irresponsibility on the creator’s side.
Like in 2013 for example, Cody Wilson, a former law student released the very first computer aided design gun file in his website, allowing people to access blueprints of a gun which they can use to build their very own 3D printed guns at home. Although Wilson claims that it was to promote self defence, this blue print is now available to all the people. These people include thieves, criminals etc who can use it on other innocent people. There is a very relevant saying that quotes ‘once on the internet stays on the internet forever’, so even if the government tries to delete all the gun blue prints, its next to impossible.
Without Wilson publishing the blue prints in the first place, very dangerous people wouldn’t have been able to access it, and innocent lives wouldn’t have been at stake. Thus, it is only fair that Cody Wilson is held responsible.
On the other hand however, it is also impractical to be holding the creator responsible for the applications of a particular technology she/ he created. Every finding has had its good sides and its bad sides. If the creator was to be held responsible for improper usage by others, no new findings will be published in the field of technology which will only act as a leash for human development. For example, Gmail was created by Paul Buchheit for the purpose of relaying mail electronically and increasing the ease with which we can transfer and access messages. However, this does not mean that Gmail isn’t used for bad purposes. It may have been used to coordinate a robbery with many thieves or for any other purpose that may have had a negative after affect.
Ultimately, a piece of technology is usually published to increase the welfare of a society, and thousands of people across the globe can be using it at the same time. Holding the creator responsible for each and every actions of the billions and billions of people using that particular technology across the globe simply seems unrealistic. Thus, the proper application of a technology ultimately relies on individual morals and ethics.
In result, this evaluation has led me to my conclusion in saying that a creators responsibility lies in making sure that the ultimate technology created, benefits the greater good and has larger good applications out weighing the bad ones. The responsibility that comes with using the particular technology however, lies in the hands of individual users.
Sources:
1. https://www.3dnatives.com/en/3d-printed-gun-020920205/#
2. https://www.vox.com/2018/7/31/17634558/3d-printed-guns-trump-cody-wilson-defcad
3. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/computing-responsibility/
4. Classroom debate
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Buchheit
cover image source: https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/articles/technology-and-the-burden-of-responsibility/
Comments
Post a Comment