Exploring Electrical Exploring Electrical TechnologyTechnology

Technology Perspectives: Technology Perspectives:

How to “do” Technology How to “do” Technology Responsibly Responsibly

Guidance from Monsma’s Guidance from Monsma’s Responsible TechnologyResponsible Technology (RT) (RT)

If we accept God’s will as If we accept God’s will as normativenormative for our activities, esp. as expressed in for our activities, esp. as expressed in the Great Commandment, what does the Great Commandment, what does this mean specifically about doing this mean specifically about doing technology?technology?– Fulfilling the cultural mandateFulfilling the cultural mandate– Serving fellow humans & natural creationServing fellow humans & natural creation– Developing the rich potential God designed Developing the rich potential God designed

into the creation to help it become all God into the creation to help it become all God intended: full of peace, harmony and joyintended: full of peace, harmony and joy

Attitudes Appropriate for doing Attitudes Appropriate for doing RTRT

RespectRespect the various entities in God’s the various entities in God’s creation, by developing and using creation, by developing and using them as God intendsthem as God intends

Reflect Reflect lovelove for God and neighbor by for God and neighbor by expanding opportunities for people to expanding opportunities for people to experience the shalom and freedom experience the shalom and freedom of choice that contributes to societyof choice that contributes to society

Basis for Normative Basis for Normative PrinciplesPrinciples

Need to identify diverse aspects of Need to identify diverse aspects of societysociety

Herman Dooyeweerd (Dutch Herman Dooyeweerd (Dutch philosopher) suggests aspects of philosopher) suggests aspects of reality within which all human activity reality within which all human activity takes placetakes place

7 Lower Aspects of Reality7 Lower Aspects of Reality

Arithmetic: discrete separation of Arithmetic: discrete separation of entitiesentities

Spatial: continuous extensionSpatial: continuous extension Kinematic: motion or movementKinematic: motion or movement Physical: possess or exchange energyPhysical: possess or exchange energy Biotic: life and living aspectsBiotic: life and living aspects Sensitive: that which relates to feelingsSensitive: that which relates to feelings Logical: relates to making distinctionsLogical: relates to making distinctions

8 Higher Aspects of Reality8 Higher Aspects of Reality

Historical: forming & dev human Historical: forming & dev human cultureculture

Lingual: symbols to convey meaningLingual: symbols to convey meaning Social: interaction of human beingsSocial: interaction of human beings Economic: stewardship of resourcesEconomic: stewardship of resources Aesthetic: harmony & beautyAesthetic: harmony & beauty Juridicial: giving out what is dueJuridicial: giving out what is due Moral: love & claims of loveMoral: love & claims of love Religious: faith, trust and beliefReligious: faith, trust and belief

Lower versus Higher Lower versus Higher AspectsAspects

Dooyeweerd argues that all are involved Dooyeweerd argues that all are involved in all human activities, including in all human activities, including technologytechnology

However,However,– Only the higher order aspects involve Only the higher order aspects involve

human choicehuman choice– Lower order aspects Lower order aspects automatically obeyedautomatically obeyed

due to natural laws that cannot be broken due to natural laws that cannot be broken Therefore, only higher aspects involve Therefore, only higher aspects involve

human valuing & responsibilityhuman valuing & responsibility

Normative Principle #1 Normative Principle #1

Cultural Appropriateness: a balance of Cultural Appropriateness: a balance of oppositesopposites– Continuity vs. Discontinuity (break from Continuity vs. Discontinuity (break from

past)past)– Differentiation vs. IntegrationDifferentiation vs. Integration– Decentralization vs. CentralizationDecentralization vs. Centralization– Pluriformity vs. UniformityPluriformity vs. Uniformity– Small scale vs. Large scaleSmall scale vs. Large scale

Technicism says only the latter of Technicism says only the latter of these make for good cultural progressthese make for good cultural progress

Normative Principles #2,3Normative Principles #2,3

Information or Openness & CommunicationInformation or Openness & Communication Need a constant flow of accurate info Need a constant flow of accurate info Must have clear communication for more of this kind of Must have clear communication for more of this kind of

social activity to thrive properlysocial activity to thrive properly Develops a solid knowledge-base suitable for good Develops a solid knowledge-base suitable for good

decision-making decision-making

StewardshipStewardship Respects physical resources being usedRespects physical resources being used

– Maximizes use of renewable resourcesMaximizes use of renewable resources– Minimizes use of non-renewable resourcesMinimizes use of non-renewable resources

Avoids reckless wasteAvoids reckless waste Respects human resources as valuableRespects human resources as valuable

Normative Principle #4Normative Principle #4

A Delightful HarmonyA Delightful Harmony Does the technology…Does the technology…

– lead to joy and harmony?lead to joy and harmony?– work properly & provide satisfaction?work properly & provide satisfaction?– have beauty of form?have beauty of form?– please the user with grace & simplicity?please the user with grace & simplicity?– promote right relationships between…?promote right relationships between…?

GodGod humans humans cultures cultures natural natural creationcreation

Normative Principles #5-7Normative Principles #5-7

Justice Justice Promote right relationships btwn family & society?Promote right relationships btwn family & society? Cause a waste of physical resources?Cause a waste of physical resources?

CaringCaring Safeguard the well-being of neighbors near & far?Safeguard the well-being of neighbors near & far? Develop the well-being of the natural creation?Develop the well-being of the natural creation?

TrustTrust Have integrity & reliability of form & function?Have integrity & reliability of form & function? Promote faith in God as Almighty?Promote faith in God as Almighty? Avoids Technicism and minimizes exploitation Avoids Technicism and minimizes exploitation

ConclusionsConclusions

Monsma et al. suggestMonsma et al. suggest– Christians should pursue all normative Christians should pursue all normative

principles simultaneously to fulfill the Great principles simultaneously to fulfill the Great Commandment of love, and create RT.Commandment of love, and create RT.

– In doing so, people will find Shalom: In doing so, people will find Shalom: harmony, joy, justice, peace and love, in the harmony, joy, justice, peace and love, in the doing of technology, as a witness to Christ.doing of technology, as a witness to Christ.

To do: grade your favorite technology, or To do: grade your favorite technology, or gift idea, to see how it rates as RT.gift idea, to see how it rates as RT.