Ontological foundations of the Ethics of Technology

This paper argues that the ethics of technology can be usefully viewed through the lens of the ontology of technology. Through this lens some of the ethical challenges of technology are revealed as arising from our inadequate ontological grasp of technology. The paper commences with a general exploration of the relation between ontology and ethics, and the way that ‘is' constrains ‘ought’ without necessarily determining it. Next the ontology of technology is discussed, and it is argued that this ontology is unsettled and multiple. The concept of agency is taken as an example to demonstrate the linkage of ontology to ethics. First the relevance of agency to various ethical discussions of technology is shown. Next it is demonstrated that any ethical position regarding agency must rely on a position regarding the locus of agency. Finally, it is suggested that the question concerning the locus of agency is (1) a question of fact regarding certain entities (an ‘ontic’ question) and (2) a question concerning the nature of being of technology (a ‘ontological’ question). Thus it is argued that any resolution of an ethical question relating to agency is contingent on an assumed ontic and ontological positions. In closing, the general importance of these findings is argued, and a more comprehensive program of research suggested.