7 Ethical Theories/Tests
In this section we will run the concept of automation in the workforce through 7 ethical theories/tests, to see if this concept fits ethical implications used in business.
The principals under the Utilitarian Theory suggest that there must be a balance effort, that the harms do not outweigh the benefits (Jennings Units 1-3, 2015). This theory is most well known as “the greatest good to the greatest amount of people (Jennings Units 1-3, 2015).” The overall value of automation provides more benefits than the downside of losing jobs. Some of the jobs that are lost are lower paying jobs, however there are more higher paying jobs related to maintaining the equipment that are opening up. Increased productivity is also tied to automation, if you increase production than the stakeholders are getting better value and the customers should see a lower price. There is a strong conclusion that the benefits here outweigh the harm, and automation fulfilled this theory.
Moral Relativism is a time and place ethical theory that states “The proper resolution to ethical dilemmas is based upon weighing the competing factors at the moment and then making a determination to take the lesser of the evils as the resolution (Jennings Units 1-3, 2015).” Since “Moral relativists believe in time-and-place ethics,” we believe that automation would be ethical under moral relativism. We live in a generation where technology and automation is revolutionizing the way we live our
The moral and ethical implications of the driverless cars like all other ethical issues have both pros and cons. This paper will underscore both sides [positive and negative] of the moral implications that will arise as a result of driverless or robotic cars. Two sides to the argument are presented with proponents’ belief that driverless cars will be much safer than cars driven by distracted and preoccupied humans. On the other hand, since no technology or system is perfect – who will be liable when a robot car crashes into someone? These and other moral issues will be explored.
Unemployment has always taken America into its darkest ages; therefore, the United States needs to stay away from automation in order to prevent another employment downfall. By introducing intelligent machines into America, businesses will seek to acquire some of the technology. Since the machines don’t require a wage, businesses will increase in profit making them big barrels of money. Even if the machines are at high cost, it doesn’t mean businesses will forget about it, yet they know they will benefit on the long term by getting the machines. As a result, employees will start getting fired from their jobs, getting replaced by robots. This will ruin families and the peaceful society that has been present through the years.
1. When discussing stereotypes and race, it is important to recognize how insignificant skin color is. Racism itself if focused mainly on cultural states, and more times than not, whites are considered culturally superior to people of color. The treatment of African Americans and Native Americans in American culture perfectly demonstrate how oppositional dichotomies of race define racial stereotypes. Cultural dominance was set since the first settlers began to participate in the slave trade. While the black slaves looked very different than their white counterparts, it was the culture of these Africans that subjected them to discrimination. Slave owners believed their culture was superior, meaning they could
In her introduction, Barbara Garson gives the reader an idea of her personal work experience as a clerk with automation. One can see that Garson is a strong critique of automation. In order to convey how automation is affecting our society the author begins by analyzing and studying various jobs from the bottom on up (i.e. starting with the most unskilled labor).
We have already seen a decrease in jobs due to automation. Since 2000, the United States has lost 5 million factory jobs, while from 2006 to 2013, manufacturing grew by 17.6% (roughly 2.2% a year). 88% of those jobs were lost due to “productivity growth,” cites a study by Ball State University. The study also found that all sectors grew in terms of productivity by at least 32% from 1998 to 2012 when adjusted for inflation, with computer and electronic products rising 829%. In fact, the researchers found: “If 2000-levels of productivity are applied to 2010-levels of production, the U.S. would have required 20.9 million manufacturing workers instead of the 12.1 million actually employed.” In summary, due to companies’ expenditures in automation and software, the output per U.S. manufacturing worker has doubled over the past two decades. Indeed, “the real robotics revolution is ready to begin,” according to the Boston Consulting Group, who predict “the share of tasks that are performed by robots will rise from a global average of around 10% across all manufacturing industries
Increased automation is the result of a need to reduce cost, which in turn is driven by a company's need to become more competitive and grow market share -- a trend accelerated by pressures felt by the difficult economic situation.
Compared to last century, workers in manufacturing jobs feel more threatened by automation than ever before. While the number of jobs eliminated by automation continues to increase, employers are also less willing to create jobs. In the article "Special report: Automation puts jobs in peril," Nathan Bomey, a business reporter for USA Today, explores the current position of manufacturing workers. In the article, Bomey explains how, "about 58% of CEOs plan to cut jobs over the next five years because of robotics, while 16% say they plan to hire more people because of robotics" (3). Only the United States Government has the power to create a solution to the quandary of workers affected by the switch to technology in the workforce.
As technology advances and robots become more vital to our everyday life, machines will ruin the human race. Although, the invention of robots has created major controversy around it, according to Kevin Kelly, writer of “Better than Human: Why Robots Will—and Must—Take Our Jobs”, it is believed that increasing automation in the workplace must occur because it will benefit our society and increase productivity. He suggest that instead of essentially competing against robots we should welcome them and work alongside them. Kelly uses convincing arguments and an authoritative matter of fact tone to successfully persuade the reader, but fails to use counter arguments to further prove his argument.
Called to confront a massive technological debate in the United States in the modern day, the US Senate will discuss the possible impacts and effects of automation in the workforce and vote on a resolution.
Our issue can best be described by a story. The rivals in the tale were two titans in the world of automobile manufacturing who took a tour of a newly built and highly-automated factory. The forceful executive, Henry Ford II, and the leader of the automobile workers union, Walter Reuther, both saw many examples of advanced machinery operating at the plant. The words they exchanged brilliantly encapsulated the paradox of automation (Quote Investigator). “Walter, how are you going to get those robots to pay your union dues?”( Henry Ford II). This was followed by “Henry, how are you going to get them to buy your cars?”(Walter Reuther). This is the exact issue we are dealing with today.
We live in the age of constant technological innovation and endless information; in which we are so connected and dependent on the technology we use that we sometimes don’t even realize how much we’re relying on it. In The Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr, Carr defines automation as, “the use of computers and software to do things we used to do ourselves,” and argues that there are daunting consequences to our reliance on technology (Carr 1). In his book, Nicholas Carr sets up three arguments related to automation, tacit knowledge, and the idea of work. His main arguments throughout the novel are that humans are overestimating the benefits of automation, losing tacit knowledge through our reliance on technology, and
In the nineteenth century, the industrial revolution kickstarted centuries worth of progress and automation that created the world that we live in today. Machines now do jobs faster and better than humans ever did back then. Kevin Kelly in his essay “Better Than Human: Why Robots Will—and Must—Take Our Jobs” suggests that in the coming years robots and automation will continue to replace humans in varying career fields. This change may cause many people to worry, but Kelly argues that this change is actually positive and will cause mankind to advance further than we ever thought we could. Kelly uses many examples and situations to explain his stance, and they back up his argument very well.
Many other jobs are also being replaced by robots such as cashiers, phone operators, salespeople, drivers, bank tellers, and even surgeons (Alkins). When you go to the grocery store and go to a self check-out station, you are being checked out by a robot. If you call the number on the back of a credit card, chances are you’ll speak to an automated artificially-intelligent machine. Self-driving cars are being introduced into society as taxi, bus and truck drivers. While the use of automated artificially intelligent machines is beneficial to companies by lessening the amount of money they put out to employee pay checks, in the long run it will be detrimental to our economy as a whole. Robots will and are taking away jobs from people around the world, which will take away a source of income to many families, potentially putting them into poverty, lessening the amount of people who would be able to use the robotic
The main key points of the side that support the advancement of job automation is that AI will improve the standard of living, lower the prices of products, and encourage people to get higher education. As job automation progresses, so does the standard of living. The largest sector of the job industry that will be affected by job automation is the service sector, manufacturing, and many other jobs that do not require higher education. Since robots will replace these lower paying jobs that do not require much skill, the quality of life will increase. One negative effect is that there are numerous people that hold these positions in the lower paying industry that will lose
Introduction: Humanity has always struggled with the concepts of automation because of its lasting effects on people. While most would argue against automation in this classroom, I suggest instead that we accept it and allow it to become part of our lives. I have family members whose jobs have been replaced by automation, and I honestly think they are living a better life because of it. It will affect humans well in both the long and short term by allowing us to continue to push towards an optimistic future. I understand that this is a long way off, and I understand it will be a hard road but it is worth it.