Ethical Challenges of Driverless Cars and Moral Relativism vs. Absolutism

 

Ethical Challenges of Driverless Cars and Moral Relativism vs. Absolutism

Ethical Challenges of Driverless Cars

Driverless cars introduce a myriad of ethical challenges that require careful consideration. One prominent issue is the allocation of responsibility in the event of accidents. Who should be held accountable – the programmer, the manufacturer, or the car owner? Additionally, decisions made by autonomous vehicles in life-threatening situations raise questions about how ethical principles, such as utilitarianism or deontology, should be programmed into the car’s decision-making algorithms. Moreover, issues related to data privacy, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the potential impact on employment in the transportation sector also emerge as significant ethical dilemmas associated with the widespread adoption of driverless cars.

Moral Relativism vs. Absolutism

After reviewing the materials on driverless cars and engaging with Paul Rezkalla’s article on Moral Relativism and Subjectivism, the question of moral relativism versus absolutism becomes pertinent. Moral relativism posits that ethical principles are context-dependent and vary across cultures, while moral absolutism asserts that certain practices are inherently right or wrong, irrespective of cultural norms.

In the context of driverless cars, one may lean towards moral absolutism when considering fundamental ethical principles such as preserving human life or minimizing harm. For instance, the idea that prioritizing the safety of passengers over pedestrians in autonomous vehicle programming could be deemed intrinsically wrong from an absolutist perspective. Conversely, a relativistic approach might argue that ethical considerations in autonomous driving should be flexible and adaptable to different cultural contexts and societal values.

Ultimately, the ethical challenges posed by driverless cars prompt individuals to reflect on their moral frameworks and consider whether certain practices are universally wrong or contingent upon cultural beliefs and contextual factors.