Kuliah Umum Filsafat Ilmu dan Etika Teknologi Bersama Franz Magnis Suseno
Kuliah Umum Filsafat Ilmu dan Etika Teknologi Bersama Franz Magnis Suseno
Faculty of Engineering UGM organises public lecture on Scientific Philosophy and Ethics of Technology, presenting resource person Prof. Dr. Franz Magnis Suseno, SJ. UGM graduate students and lecturers attended the lecture on Tuesday (15/8) at Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Department UGM.
Magnis described the philosophy of science, the rationalé behind modern technology and responsibility ethics as the essence of technology ethics.
Magnis explained that philosophy of science is part of epistemology, adding that the scientific philosophy has just started and progressed rapidly, corresponding with modernity. There are two stages of epistemology, however, that affect human beings until today, which are the Enlightment and analytical philosophy of the 20th century.
According to Magnis, there are three influential figures in the Enlightment period, namely Francis Bacon, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant. “Bacon is the father of modern technology who believes that by knowing the law of nature, we can exploit them to control nature,” said Magnis.
Different from Bacon, Hume is the father of empiricism, which is the belief that knowledge is earned from experience, not thoughts, because human experience is obtained through senses and that human experience is sensory experiences. “Hume’s empiricism is hugely influential as it contradicts two traditional philosophical branches, which are ethics and metaphysics,” said Magnis.
Furthermore, Magnis explained that Immanuel Kant has different views from Bacon and Hume. Kant has the opinion that human knowledge stems from sensory experience which is later processed by logic. “Human knowledge stems from sensory experience but humans have non-sensory intuitive interpretation, according to Kant,” said Magnis.
Magnis later said that technology development had to meet two requirements, which are to be ethical and accountable. “Technology development ought not to contradict human rights whilst also not violating the rights of third party,” said Magnis.