title: An Ethical Framework for Evaluating Experimental Technology.
abstract: How are we to appraise new technological developments that may bring revolutionary social changes? Currently this is often done by trying to predict or anticipate social consequences and to use these as a basis for moral and regulatory appraisal. Such an approach can, however, not deal with the uncertainties and unknowns that are inherent in social changes induced by technological development. An alternative approach is proposed that conceives of the introduction of new technologies into society as a social experiment. An ethical framework for the acceptability of such experiments is developed based on the bioethical principles for experiments with human subjects: non-maleficence, beneficence, respect for autonomy, and justice. This provides a handle for the moral and regulatory assessment of new technologies and their impact on society.
authors.affiliation: Section Ethics and Philosophy of Technology, Department of Values, Technology and Innovation, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX, Delft, The Netherlands. i.r.vandepoel@tudelft.nl.
authors.forename: Ibo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van de Poel
mesh_terms: D026686:Beneficence; D006801:Humans; D000067896:Industrial Development / Q000941:ethics* / Q000639:trends; D012922:Social Change; D012935:Social Justice
keywords: Bioethical principles; Ethics; Experiment; Human subjects; Informed consent; Technology