Ethics, society, and technology : a Confucian role ethics perspective (reading material and exercises)

Abstract

This essay provides a very brief overview of Confucian ethics that focuses on the role-based morality. It compares Confucian ethics with two dominant schools of thought in Western ethics deontology and consequentialism. This essay then discusses how Confucian ethics provides a unique way to think about social and political issues such as how the political leaders are selected and evaluated, the ethical justification of political legitimacy, the prioritization of economic, social, and cultural rights over other rights, and moral egalitarianism. Finally, this essay explores ways in which Confucian ethics serves as a useful intellectual resource for examining the issues arising from the ethical assessment of (emerging) technologies and the professional formation of engineers. The Appendix of this essay includes some teaching resources that instructors can employ to teach students about ethics, society, and technology from a Confucian role ethics perspective. This work is part of a learning module on Confucian ethics, society, and technology. Resources developed are a reading material/chapter and other pedagogical resources for both faculty and students including five activities/exercises, a student handout, and PowerPoint slides for the instructor.