Decision Making Manual A Toolkit for Making Moral

Decision Making Manual: A Toolkit for Making Moral Decisions William J. Frey (UPRM) José A. Cruz-Cruz (UPRM) Chuck Huff (St. Olaf)

There is an analogy between design problems and ethical problems Design Problem Ethical Problem Construct a prototype that optimizes (or satisfices) designated specifications Construct a solution that realizes ethical values (justice, responsibility, reasonableness, respect, and safety) Conflicts between specifications are resolved through integration of specifications Resolve conflicts between values (moral vs. moral or moral vs. non-moral) by integration Prototype must be Ethical solution must be implemented over background implemented over resource constraints and interest constraints (cost/time/technical as well as organizational/political/legal)

Problem-solving in computing can be modeled on software design n The software development cycle can be presented in terms of four stages: 1. Problem Specification 2. Solution Generation 3. Solution Testing 4. Solution Implementation

What is a Socio-Technical System (STS)? n “an intellectual tool to help us recognize patterns in the way technology is used and produced” n Constituents: engineering system/technology, physical surroundings, people/groups/roles, procedures, laws & regulations, information collection & storage structures n A STS is a conceptual tool we use to help us understand the entire system within which a particular engineering system/technology is embedded. Ethical issues hardly ever arise about disembodied, abstract systems. Instead ethical issues arise when an engineering system/technology comes into contact with the real world. n STSs embody values n STSs exhibit trajectories i. e. , coordinated sets of changes

Engineering takes place within a Socio -technical System n 1. Engineering technology always operates within a socio-technical system n 2. Engineering technology and socio-technical systems embody values n 3. Mismatches between the values embodied by engineering technology and sociotechnical systems produce ethical problems

1. Identify key components of the STS Part/Level of Analysis Engineering System Engineering Techno -logy Physical Surroundings People/ Groups/ Roles Procedures Laws Information Collection and Storage Structures

2. Specify the problem: 2 a. Is the problem a disagreement on facts? What are the facts? What are cost and time constraints on uncovering and communicating these facts? 2 b. Is the problem a disagreement on a critical concept? What is the concept? Can agreement be reached by consulting legal or regulatory information on the concept? (For example, if the concept in question is safety, can disputants consult engineering codes, legal precedents, or ethical literature that helps provide consensus? Can disputants agree on positive and negative paradigm cases so the concept disagreement can be resolved through line-drawing methods? 2 c. Use the table to identify and locate value conflicts within the STS. Can the problem be specified as a mismatch between a technology and the existing STS, a mismatch within the STS exacerbated by the introduction of the technology, or by overlooked results?

2. Specify the Problem STS/Value Hardware/ Software Physical Surroundings People, Groups, and Roles Procedures Laws Data and Data Structures Safety (freedom from harm) Faithful Agency (Duties to Client) Privacy/ Confidentiality Property Free and Informed Consent (Duties to Public)

3. Develop a general solution strategy and then brainstorm specific solutions n 3 a. Is problem one of integrating values, resolving disagreements, or responding to situational constraints? n 3 b. If the conflict comes from a value mismatch, then can it be solved by modifying one or more of the components of the STS? Which one?

3. Develop a general solution strategy and then brainstorm specific solutions Problem / Solution Strategy Disagreement Factual Value Conflict Conceptual Integrate? Situational Constraints Tradeoff? Resource? Technical? Interest?

4. Test Solutions n Develop a solution evaluation matrix n Test the ethical implications of each solution n See if the solution violates the code n Carry out a global feasibility assessment of the solution. n n What are the situational constraints? Will these constraints block implementation?

Solution Evaluation Matrix Alternative / Test Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Reversibility Harm Beneficence Public Identification Code Value: Justice Responsibility. H onesty, etc. Feasibility

5. Implement solution over feasibility constraints n Restate your global feasibility analysis n Are there resource constraints? n Are there technical or manufacturing constraints? n Are there interest constraints?

5. Feasibility Matrix Alternative/ Constraint Resource Time Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Interest Cost Individual Technical Organizational Legal Available Technology Manufacturability

Appendix

Flow Charts Problem Specification Disagreements Between People Factual Disagreements Conceptual Disagreements Value Conflicts Moral Vs. Non-Moral vs. Moral

Flow Charts Solution Generation Disagreements Factual: Gather Information Conceptual: Define Concept Value Conflicts Value Integration Compromise: Partially realize values Rank and Trade Off Values

Flow Charts Generic Solutions Gather Information Nolo Contendere Change through Negotiation or Persuasion Change Through Opposition or Coercion Exit (Transfer Resign)

Flow Charts Solution Testing Results Deontological Agents Meta-Tests Harm/ Beneficence Reversibility Publicity Convergences/ Divergences Utilities Rights Virtues Divergences

Flow Charts Solution Implementation Resource Constraints Time Money Available materials And supplies Interest Constraints Individual Organizational Social/Political Laws, Contracts, Statutes, Regulations Technical Constraints Limits in Technology Problems with Manufacturing