Grasping the new characteristics of new sci-tech revolution and its ethical issues for scientific and technological ethics governance
Every major breakthrough in the development of science and technology is accompanied by ethical challenges of varying degrees and types.Currently,a new round of scientific and technological revolution,centered on digital technology,artificial intelligence,and life sciences,is accelerating,bringing unprecedented fundamental changes to human beings and social and economic development.It is also leading to deeper,broader,and more diverse social and ethical issues.How to address the ethical challenges posed by emerging science and technology has become a major issue faced by countries around the world.To improve the scientific and technological ethics system and enhance the ability of scientific and technological ethics governance in the context of the contemporary new scientific and technological revolution,we must accurately grasp the new characteristics of the contemporary new scientific and technological revolution and the scientific and technological ethics issues it causes.We must also explore new governance ideas and systems.Only in this way can we effectively improve the level and effectiveness of contemporary scientific and technological ethics governance.Unlike previous technological and industrial revolutions that were guided by progress in a single field of science and technology,the current round of scientific and technological revolution exhibits distinct comprehensive and holistic characteristics,leading to its disruptive impact.These characteristics are evident on three levels.Firstly,technological substitutions of human behaviors are no longer limited to the limbs,but have now reached the head.Secondly,the control and transformation of natural objects has shifted from external human intervention to internal human control.Finally,the underlying structure of human society's operations has undergone profound"technization".The comprehensive and transformative nature of the new technological revolution has brought about more complex,broader,and deeper social and ethical issues.These issues are characterized by six distinct features.First,the ethical issues caused by emerging technologies have shifted towards the early stages of scientific research and technological development.Second,the ethical issues caused by emerging technologies have widespread distribution and significant overall impact.Third,these technologies have led to profound and fundamental transhumanism revolutions,redefining our notions of morality,institutions,and metaphysics.Fourth,the ethical issues caused by emerging technologies carry increasing uncertainty,facing complex risks that are difficult to predict or resolve.Fifth,the professionalism required to address these ethical issues has increased due to the highly specialized and complex nature of emerging technologies.Different technical fields and industry backgrounds pose unique ethical risks.Sixth,emerging technologies exhibit diverse characteristics in ethical norms and codes of conduct depending on their application scenarios.To enhance the ethics of science and technology governance,it is essential to accelerate the establishment of a collaborative governance network that involves multiple stakeholders.This approach combines agile governance—a flexible and responsive mode of governance that allows for rapid adaptation to changing circumstances—with preventive governance,which emphasizes anticipating and preventing potential ethical issues before they arise.To improve review capabilities,it is crucial to establish robust ethical review processes that ensure the responsible conduct of science and technology projects.This involves enhancing the skills and resources available for ethical research,providing adequate support for ethics review,and fostering a culture of ethical awareness and accountability within the scientific community.To achieve these goals,it is essential to provide education and training on science and technology ethics to enhance the capacity of individuals and institutions to make ethical decisions and implement ethical practices.
new scientific and technological revolutionscientific and technological ethical governanceemerging scientific and technological ethical issuescharacteristics and countermeasures
李正风、刘瑶瑶
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清华大学社会科学学院,北京 100084
清华大学科学技术与社会研究中心,北京 100084
new scientific and technological revolution scientific and technological ethical governance emerging scientific and technological ethical issues characteristics and countermeasures
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