Ethics and Technology: An Analysis of Rick and Morty

Umut Eldem,Beşir Özgür Nayır

doi:10.1515/opphil-2020-0155

Abstract

Abstract In this article, we argue that the animated TV-show Rick and Morty depicts several important and relevant themes about the impact of technology in contemporary societies. By using certain concepts and ideas from the philosophy of technology, especially from thinkers like Jacques Ellul, Jacques Derrida, Neil Postman, and George Ritzer, we investigate how this show brings to the fore certain ontological and ethical assumptions and problems that stem from the advance of technology. We shall use the term technopolitical thinking to refer to these core assumptions and principles which are inherent in contemporary technological societies. By providing various examples from certain episodes and scenes of the show, we shall illustrate how this animated series can provide a basis for a more extensive discussion.

Highlights

By using certain concepts and ideas from the philosophy of technology, especially from thinkers like Jacques Ellul, Jacques Derrida, Neil Postman, and George Ritzer, we investigate how this show brings to the fore certain ontological and ethical assumptions and problems that stem from the advance of technology
Rick and Morty is an animated show, created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, and it is about a grandfather–grandson duo, embarking on a series of fast-paced, high-tech, and absurd adventures
Jacques Ellul draws our attention to this problem and argues that the reason we are dissatisfied with our lives in technological society is that “because of the autonomy of technique, modern man cannot choose his means any more than his ends.”[20] we examine the ethical consequences of technopolitical thinking

Summary

Introduction

Rick and Morty is an animated show, created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, and it is about a grandfather–grandson duo, embarking on a series of fast-paced, high-tech, and absurd adventures. The other main character, Morty, can be said to represent a more traditional way of thinking; emotional, complicated, and ambivalent.[2] Morty is constantly shocked and mesmerized by what Rick can do with his scientific genius The interaction between these two ways of thinking forms the basis of narrative development and the central point of tension for the entire series. This way of thinking considers memories, feelings, experiences (those things which we believe to be unique/unrepeatable) as events or pieces of information that can be transferred, stored, separated, repeated, replaced, or erased There are both ontological and ethical consequences to this approach, and in this article, we provide examples as to how this show highlights those consequences. In order to do that, Bentham’s felicific calculus in relation to Ritzer’s, Postman’s, and Ellul’s concepts will be briefly introduced as well

Rick and the ontology of technopolitical thought

Rick and mechanization of the everyday life

Conclusion