Future Technologies We Want

Since 2012, the United Nations General Assembly has been promoting a sustainable "Future We Want". Researchers and entrepreneurs engaged in the development of new technology should make innovative contributions to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted by this General Assembly in 2015. However, the same technologies can cause unforeseen and serious risks to people, society and the environment. Since the philosopher Hans Jonas introduced the "principle of responsibility" in 1979, generations of activists and social scientists have been calling for responsible innovation to mitigate those risks.

Ineke Malsch's book Future Technologies We Want brings together both sides of the innovation dilemma, the opportunities and the risks. This allows everyone to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to work together on sustainable and responsible innovation for the common good.

You don't need any prior knowledge of sustainable development or responsible innovation. The first part of the book contains three illustrative cases in which technology plays a positive, negative or uncertain role in society. The first case outlines how violent conflicts over mining in developing countries can be overcome by technological water purification solutions. The second case shows how life-saving biotechnology can be misused for biological weapons and calls for social dialogue to strike a fair balance between biosecurity and freedom. The third case explores the emergence of drones for both military and civilian markets and calls for value-sensitive design, innovative regulation and international dialogue involving all stakeholders involved.

Sustainable and responsible innovation in these and other cases requires a 3-dimensional framework for do-it-yourself ethics. The second part of the book discusses literature and dialogues among philosophers and scientists from other disciplines on technical, legal and social solutions for global governance of science and technology. While all three types of solutions make valuable contributions, a comprehensive 3-dimensional approach is needed to achieve sustainable and responsible innovation.

The book ends with an overview of current initiatives for sustainable development and responsible innovation among policymakers, the scientific community, business, civil society and the maker movement, and calls for greater cooperation between these communities. This overview is a helpful guide for readers who want to join the global movement that Future Technologies We Want promotes.

Knowing more? Contact ineke@ethicschool.nl