ETHICAL CONTEXT OF DESIGNING EPISTEMIC OBJECTS

Abstract

The article discusses the problem of norms that regulate post-social relations. The term relations refers not to interactions with people, but to the actors as they are described by B. Later. In the sociology of things, actors are sociotechnical systems, interacting with each other. Socio-technical system consists of a person and technical devices. Another type of post-social relationship is represented by the interaction of a person with epistemic objects. The epistemic object is characterized by a constantly unfolding structure, is able to absorb knowledge in the process of interaction with a person, its development is unpredictable and increases the risks of human existence. The fundamental novelty of this object is that it was created by man and is a remarkably complicated technical artifact. A traditional ethical question arises: does a person have the right to design and create epistemic objects, which by their nature increase the risks of human existence. The question is rhetorical, because epistemic objects of a technical nature already exist. It should be acknowledged that humanity itself consists exclusively of epistemic objects that are of an organic nature. The child has all the properties of the epistemic object, but no one is suggesting not to have children on the grounds that their development is not predictable and does not guarantee a happy parenthood. It is no accident that researchers use sociological tools and socialization theories to study epistemic objects. Humanity today is at a new threshold. If, from the Renaissance, the transfer of the attributes of the divine to man has been carried out, is it now that human attributes are being attributed to the most complex information technology devices? It is proposed to analyze post-social relations in the ethical dimension. The authors believe that humanity will benefit more if it uses ethical norms to regulate post-social relations.

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