Digital Ethics As An Instrument For The Technological Challenges' Regulation

Abstract

The article considers the subject and the problem field of the modern digital ethics. Different conceptions of the digital ethics are discussed too. These conceptions are divided into classic and modern, realist and futurist, alarmist and non-alarmist. Initial development of the digital ethics is analyzed on the base of N. Wiener’s and J. Weizenbaum’s works. Positions of alarmism and non-alarmism in the digital ethics and conceptions of the digital ontology by R. Capurro and L. Floridi are the subject of analysis in the article. Special attention is payed to the technological challenges of the digital epoch because of their impact on the humans, society and environment. In this context the problems of ubiquitous robotization, artificial intelligence, machine ethics and free access to the Internet are considered from the ethical point of view. Digital technologies’ impact on human existence is also discussed in the context of equity absence in using the digital achievements, of human interaction with technical intermediaries and of «homo digital’s» formation. In general, the authors try to form an objective view on digital ethics, differed from the outdated hypotheses of science fiction and from its popular alarmist interpretations. They also try to integrate digital technologies and human values in such a way that the first ones won’t conflict the last ones but protect and develop them.