Technologies Change - Do We Change as well? On the Link between Technologies, Self and Society

摘要

Technology has always been a significant anthropological component
\nin human history. This would range from fire to the wheel, from
\nthe invention of movable type to the innovations of the textile industry
\nin the England of the first industrial revolution, to cite only the
\nmost macroscopic examples. Why therefore should we be surprised at
\nthe innovations brought about by fields such as the so-called Information
\nand Communication Technologies (ICT), nanotechnologies and
\nbiotechnologies, cognitive sciences, robotics and research on artificial
\nintelligence? Why, given that at present they are not particularly widespread
\ntechnologies, should we worry about how they will be used in
\nthe future? Why think that their use will change the human condition
\nso radically as to prompt an ethical reflection that accompanies us in
\na more informed way towards that future?