Initial Post Instructions In Week Three We Were Looking At R

Initial Post Instructionsin Week Three We Were Looking At Rights Ethi

In week three, we were looking at rights ethics with regards to Locke. As a reminder, Locke said we have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property. It is immoral to violate them. Many think we have more rights than those listed by Locke. Some even think we have a right to health care.

That means it is the duty of the state to provide each citizen with their medical needs. Rights theory says to respect the entitlements we have. If a right is inalienable, it cannot truly be violated ethically even with our consent. We have basic needs. Rights are something beyond needs.

They are what we should be authorized to have. We are due what we have a right to. That is not always the case with need. For example, we need food, but people often go hungry. A need refers to something we need physically to exist.

A right is a moral entitlement to something. Asking if we have a right to food is a moral question. Needs are determined by the requirements of the body and of material existence. Rights are determined by moral reflection, inquiry, an argument. We have a right to own property. We do not need it to live.

We could imaginably be allowed to use another's. We have a right to own a home. We can rent. For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:

Paper For Above instruction

Option 1: Assess the moral solutions arrived at through "care" (care-based ethics) and "rights" ethics to social issues of ethical import such as poverty, drug use, and/or lack of health care. That is, note any ethical problems that arise related to those particular issues. Then, say how both care-based and rights theory of ethics would solve those problems. Are those solutions correct? Why or why not? What is your own approach there?

Option 2: What moral guidelines should we use when it comes to recently introduced healthcare technologies of any kind (you will note and engage with your own examples) and social technologies of any kind (you will note and engage with your own examples)? Involve care-based ethics in your answer.

In this paper, I will explore Option 2, focusing on the moral guidelines suitable for newly introduced healthcare and social technologies, with particular emphasis on care-based ethics. As technological innovations continue to emerge at a rapid pace, it becomes imperative to establish sound moral guidelines that can direct their ethical integration into society, especially from a care ethics perspective.

Care-based ethics, rooted prominently in feminist philosophical traditions, emphasizes the importance of relationships, compassion, and the moral significance of caring actions. Unlike rights-based approaches that focus primarily on justice and entitlement, care ethics centers on the needs, vulnerabilities, and interconnectedness of individuals. Applying this framework to healthcare and social technology requires that these innovations prioritize human relationships, promote genuine well-being, and respond to people's real needs rather than merely expanding capabilities or efficiency.

For example, consider the development of AI-driven diagnostic tools. From a care ethics perspective, the moral guidelines would stress that such technologies should enhance the patient-provider relationship, foster trust, and serve the best interests of the patients, especially the most vulnerable. This means designing AI in ways that support empathy and compassion rather than dehumanizing care or reducing patients to data points (Sharkey, 2019). The focus is on ensuring that technology does not replace human interaction where empathy and moral sensitivity are crucial, such as in mental health treatments or end-of-life care.

Similarly, in social technologies like contact-tracing apps developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, care ethics would prioritize privacy, consent, and the promotion of societal well-being. These technologies should be designed with respect for individuals' vulnerabilities, fostering social trust and collective care. Ethical guidelines would include transparent data handling, voluntary participation, and ensuring that the technology alleviates suffering while avoiding exploitation or stigmatization (Floridi et al., 2020).

In addition to specific examples, moral guidelines derived from care-based ethics for emerging technologies include: prioritizing human needs over efficiency, safeguarding dignity, ensuring accessibility for marginalized groups, and cultivating relational trust. Technologies should facilitate caring relationships rather than eroding them. They should be evaluated not only on their technical efficacy but also on how they impact human flourishing, social bonds, and the moral importance of caring interactions.

Furthermore, integrating care ethics involves rethinking our criteria for technological progress; success is not merely measured by market penetration or cost-effectiveness but by the extent to which the technology enhances genuine human care and supports vulnerable populations. For instance, telehealth platforms should be designed to ensure accessibility for elderly populations or people with disabilities, respecting their specific needs and vulnerabilities (Kukutai & Taylor, 2022).

In conclusion, the moral guidelines informed by care-based ethics for healthcare and social technologies emphasize the centrality of human relationships, vulnerability, and compassionate responsiveness. These guidelines serve as a counterbalance to purely utilitarian or deontological approaches, ensuring that technological advancements serve the moral aim of caring for one another in a rapidly evolving social landscape.

References

• Floridi, L., Cowls, J., Bellamy, R., et al. (2020). AI4People—An Ethical Framework for a Good AI Society: Opportunities, Risks, Principles, and Recommendations. Minds and Machines, 30(1), 1-31.
• Kukutai, T., & Taylor, J. (2022). Digital inclusion and vulnerable populations: Ethical considerations in healthcare technologies. Journal of Medical Ethics, 48(3), 180-185.
• Sharkey, A. (2019). The Impact of Caring Robots on Relationships. AI & Society, 35, 541–548.