Title: Digital transformation of society and economy - ethical considerations from a human rights perspective

Authors: Peter G. Kirchschlaeger

Addresses: Institute of Social Ethics ISE, Faculty of Theology, University of Lucerne, Frohburgstrasse 3, Postfach 4466, CH-6002 Lucerne, Switzerland

Abstract: The digitalisation, robotisation, and automatisation of society and economy, along with the use of artificial intelligence embrace chances and challenges from an ethical perspective. In healthcare, for example, the robotised support of humans with disabilities empowers them to live an autonomous life. At the same time, digital transformation will lead, among others, to a substantial loss of paid jobs. The reduction of the paid labour-market will contribute to the widening of the gap between rich and poor because less people are directly involved economically and socially in a more efficient and more effective value-creation-process. In this article, in a first step, ethical principles serving the ethical assessment of the digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence will be introduced. Secondly, this technology-based progress will be analysed from an ethical perspective, and its chances and challenges will be discussed. Thirdly, regarding the challenges, specific solutions will be developed from an ethical standpoint.

Keywords: digitalisation; robotisation; automatisation; artificial intelligence; ethical perspective; digital transformation; moral capability; humans; technological development; responsibility; ethical orientation; ethics; principles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2019.102483

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2019 Vol.6 No.4, pp.301 - 321

Received: 26 Nov 2018
Accepted: 29 Nov 2018

Published online: 27 Sep 2019 *

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