Flexible Production Technologies and Changing Work Relations: An Ethical Evaluation

9222474史密斯该奖项为柔性生产技术的伦理影响的哲学研究提供了部分支持。这些技术包括数控工具、机器人和其他形式的信息技术，这些技术正在或有可能改变制造业的工作关系。这项研究项目从伦理的角度审视了这些变化以及对这些变化的主张。在构成处理这一主题的规范性社会理论的基础的伦理原则中，有个人自治或自由和社会利益的伦理原则，这些原则被定义为没有根本的社会对立。这项研究的分析部分包括对已发表的关于柔性生产技术的实证文献和研究的彻底审查，包括从管理和劳工角度的研究。这项研究涉及确定这部文献中所谓的与伦理相关的后果，包括关于这些技术后果的一致和不同领域。它包括澄清各种结论背后的假设和证据，以及它们的优点和缺点。对这些问题的仔细考虑可能会使调查者能够得出可以从规范和经验上进行辩护的结论。如果这是不可能的，他也许能够明确解决规范性问题所需的那种进一步的经验性工作。这项研究将与一组社会科学家定期互动和讨论，他们正在对这些问题进行实证研究。结果将包括发表文章和专著，以及在专业会议上发表演讲。结果也将在更多的公共媒体上公布。***

9222474 Smith This award provides partial support for philosophical research on the ethical implications of flexible production technologies. These technologies include numerically controlled tools, robots, and other forms of information technology that are or have the potential to change work relations in manufacturing. This research project examines these changes and claims about these changes from an ethical standpoint. Among the ethical principles that form the basis in normative social theory for an approach to this subject are those of individual autonomy, or freedom, and the social good, defined as the absence of fundamental social antagonisms. The analytical component of the research involves a thorough review of the empirical literature and studies of flexible production technologies that have been published, including those from both management and labor perspectives. The research involves identifying alleged consequences of ethical relevance in this literature, including areas of agreement and disagreement about the consequences of these technologies. It involves clarifying the assumptions and evidence that underly the various conclusions, and their strengths and weaknesses. Careful consideration of these issues may allow the investigator to formulate conclusions that are defensible normatively and empirically. If this is not possible, he may be able to make clear the kind of further empirical work needed to resolve the normative questions. This research will be undertaken with regular interaction and discussions with a group of social scientists who are doing empirical research on these issues. Results will include publication of articles and a monograph and presentations at professional conferences. Results will also be presented in more public media. ***