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Reading, Analysis and Writeup
This week, we are learning about two different ways of thinking about human values, namely psychological and ethical theories of human values. In this reflection activity, each team must choose two articles from set A and two articles from set B, and compare how different theories would answer the question "Should your technology exist? Why or why not?" For example, if you frame your technology based on different psychological theories (from Set A), what values would your technology be promoting and what predictions can you make about how these values affect people's attitudes and behaviours? What are two ways of arguing for the existence of this technology, based on two different ethical theories (from Set B)? Will your technology lead to anything good? What is the definition of "good" according to these ethical theories?
Your writeup on Overleaf should be 2 pages in total, and should both summarize the key concepts of the psychological / ethical theories and provide an analysis of your technology using these key concepts. For each article, look for a few other resources (e.g., papers, podcasts, videos) that discuss the particular theories covered in the article, and include them as citations in your writeup. Please use this
overleaf template for all writeups.
Set A: Psychological Theories of Human Values
● Braithwaite, V.A. and Law, H.G. (1985) Structure of human values: testing the adequacy of the Rokeach Value Survey. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49, 250-263.
● Schwartz, S.H. (2012). An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1).
● Gouveia, Valdiney & Milfont, Taciano & Guerra, Valeschka. (2013). Functional theory of human values: Testing its content and structure hypotheses. Personality and Individual Differences. 60. 41-47.
● Ronald, Inglehart. (2008). Changing Values Among Western Publics from 1970 to 2006. West European Politics, 31, 130-146.
● Hofstede, G. (2011). Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2 (1).
● Liebrand, W. (1984). The effect of social motives, communication and group-size on behavior in an n-person multi-stage mixed-motive game. European Journal of Social Psychology, 14, 239–264
Set B: Ethical Theories of Human Values
● Rachels and Rachels. Ethical Egoism. Chapter 5 in The Elements of Moral Philosophy.
● Brink, D. Some Forms and Limits of Consequentialism. In Oxford Handbook of Ethical Theory.
● Rachels and Rachels. The Utilitarian Approach. Chapter 7 in The Elements of Moral Philosophy.
● O'Neill, O. A Simplified Account of Kantian Ethics.
● Foot, P. Virtues and Vices.
● Rachels, J. The Challenge of Cultural Relativism.
● Edwards, S. D. Three Versions of an Ethics of Care.
● Rachels and Rachels. Virtue Ethics. Chapter 12 in The Elements of Moral Philosophy.
Presentation
Next week, your team will prepare a 20 minute presentation and lead a 5 minute discussion. During the presentation, you should present your technology brief (3 minutes), provide a summary of the articles that you read (10 minutes) and an analysis of your imaginary technology (7 minutes) using the theories described in the articles.