On 15 October, Philosopher of Technology Peter-Paul Verbeek will
give his inaugural speech at the University of Twente. His research
examines the relationship between humans and technology and asks:
What are the limits of humanity?
We often make a distinct separation between humans and
technology. Undeservedly so, according to Verbeek, who believes it
is impossible to make such a distinction. People are technological
beings by nature. What's more, people and technology are becoming
increasingly intertwined. The convergence of nanotechnology,
biotechnology, information technology and cognitive neuroscience
has created more opportunities for technological intervention in
humans. We therefore need new frameworks to understand human beings
and to formulate ethical questions.
Verbeek cites several examples of this in his speech. "For
example, here at the University of Twente, Clemens van
Blitterswijk's research department is developing new techniques for
growing human tissue from stem cells. These advances in technology
allow us to repair holes in the bone caused by cancer... A further
example is the work being carried out by the research group led by
Albert van den Berg, which is using nanotechnology to develop
labs-on-a-chip. These chips can be swallowed as a pill and used to
diagnose gastrointestinal cancer at any early stage.
Deep Brain Stimulation
Verbeek cites Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) as a third
example of the interdependence between humans and technology. "This
technology, also developed at the University of Twente, helps to
reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Electrodes are placed
deep in the brain to stimulate certain brain areas. In many cases,
not only are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease reduced but
patients often undergo a personality change as well. The patient is
a different person with the machine switched on." Verbeek notes
that this raises several ethical questions. "How can a person with
a DBS still be 'themselves'? How can we strike a balance between
the importance of reducing the symptoms and the sometimes radical
personality change that takes place in people? And how can we
develop and apply this technology responsibly?"
Border Board
Verbeek is of the opinion that, to date, ethicists have been too
quick to adopt the role of border guard in determining the extent
to which technology may penetrate human lives. "It's the role of
ethics committees to apply the emergency brake as soon as
technology penetrates too deeply into this arena. That's the
general idea anyway. But an ethicist who merely seeks to set limits
is not engaged in debate and therefore pulls on an emergency brake
that is not connected to anything."
Verbeek claims that the human being has embodied technological
characteristics from the outset. Furthermore, the technological
developments referred to above make it increasingly difficult to
draw a line between the two. The professor is therefore calling for
a different approach to ethics: an approach whereby ethicists
relinquish their role as border guard and assume an active role in
the development and embedding of technology. "Ethicists should not
oppose technologists but rather work together using critical
thinking. Instead of monitoring the border between humans and
technology, ethicists should search for a responsible bridge
between the two. Rather than judging technology from afar, the
ethicists' key task should be to supervise technological
developments."
The Philosopher of Technology is, however, keen to point out
that this should not preclude our collective critical awareness or
evaluation of new technological developments. "The opposite is
true: only by taking the interaction between humans and technology
seriously and by thinking it through properly, can ethics influence
the design and use of technology."
CV
Peter-Paul Verbeek (1970) is Professor of Philosophy of
Technology at the University of Twente and director of the Master's
programme in Philosophy of Science, Technology, and Society. He is
currently working on a VIDI project, which examines the ethical and
anthropological boundaries between humans and technology. Since
2009, Verbeek has been a member of the 'Young Academy', which is
part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. His
inaugural speech will be held at 16:00 on 15 October in the Grote
Kerk in the old market square in Enschede. A digital copy of his
speech "The limits of humanity: technology, ethics and human
nature" is available on request from Joost Bruysters
(+31-(0)53-4892773).
