Embedded ethics as preparatory regulation of technology: a new solution to the Collingridge Dilemma?

Abstract

Emerging technologies are affecting us in socially, morally, and politically meaningful ways. With this growing recognition, we see the need to develop novel modes of regulation. A recent trend in research and practical interdisciplinary collaboration - known as "embedded ethics" - aims to make a positive impact starting from early stages of development. Embedded ethics is a process of merging ethics and social sciences into technology development teams in an effort to identify and address ethical features of emerging technologies. In this paper, the merits and challenges of this process are explained, with a current project called Responsible Robotics serving as a case study. Embedded ethics can be seen as a preparatory mode of regulation, one that may overcome the difficulties of the Collingridge Dilemma, the problem of regulating technology too early, without knowledge of its impact, or too late for regulation to be truly effective.