Nonverbal Communication

Conference

 

Int'l Society for Research on Emotions: Moral Emotions about Risky Technologies

May 3 - 4, 2007

Philosophy Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology

Speakers:

Paul Slovic (Decision Research, Oregon)

Peter Goldie (University of Manchester)

Jodi Halpern (University of California, Berkeley)

Margaret Little (Georgetown University)

Robert C. Roberts (Baylor University)

James McAllister (Leiden University)

 Marjolein van Asselt (Maastricht University)

Simone van der Burg (Twente University)

Mark Coeckelbergh (Maastricht University)

Sabine Döring (Hamburg University, University of Manchester)

Mariëtte Willemsen (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam)

Sabine Roeser (Delft University of Technology)

Conference theme:

Pioneering empirical research by Paul Slovic and his colleagues has shown that people rely on emotions in making judgments concerning risky technologies (Slovic 1999, Finucane et.al. 2000). Examples of technological risks that spark heated and emotional debates are cloning, GM-foods, and nuclear energy. Many people are afraid of the possible unwanted consequences of such technologies. However, this does not as yet answer the following normative question and the main question of this conference: do we need emotions in order to be able to judge whether a technology and its concomitant risks are morally acceptable? This question has direct practical implications: should engineers, scientists and policy makers involved in developing risk regulation take the emotions of the public seriously or not?

In answer to these questions, Kantians would argue that the emotions of the public should be ignored because they are subjective and irrational. On the other hand, Humeans would argue that even though emotions are subjective and irrational (or a-rational), they should be a part of the decision making process since they show us our preferences.

Most moral philosophers think that we have to choose between the two horns of the Hume-Kant-dilemma: either take emotions seriously but forfeit claims to rationality and objectivity, or reject emotions as being a threat to rationality and objectivity. In a similar vein, empirical psychologists rely on Dual Process Theory and argue that emotions about risks are heuristics but biases that have to be corrected by rational and analytic procedures (e.g. Slovic et al. 2004, Loewenstein et al. 2001; Sunstein 2005).

However, based on recent theories of emotions, we can reject this dichotomy between emotions and rationality as a false dilemma. According to recent developments in neurobiology, psychology and the philosophy of emotions, emotions and rationality are not mutually exclusive, but rather, in order to be practically rational, we need to have emotions (for example, de Sousa 1987, Solomon 1993, Damasio 1994, Little 1995, Goldie 2000, Nussbaum 2001, Halpern 2001, Roberts 2003). This can lead to an alternative view about the role of emotions in risk assessment: emotions can be a normative guide in making judgments about morally acceptable risks (Roeser 2006).

Aim of the conference:

Despite the fact that there is a lot of empirical research about emotions about risky technologies, as to now there is almost no philosophical research done in which moral emotions about risky technologies are studied. The aim of this conference is to set the stage for research into moral emotions about risky technologies, by bringing together scholars who study moral emotions and/or ethical aspects of risk and asking them to reflect on the issue of moral emotions about risky technologies.

Location:

Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology

Further information and registration:

There will soon be a website with up to date information on the conference, concerning the program, accommodation and registration.

 Conference management:

Saskia Polder: s.e.polder@tudelft.nl

Conference chair:

Dr. Sabine Roeser

Assistant Professor

Philosophy Department

Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management

Delft University of Technology

Jaffalaan 5

2628 BX Delft

The Netherlands

T: +31-15-2788779

F: +31-15-2786439

S.Roeser@tudelft.nl

 

http://www.tbm.tudelft.nl/webstaf/sabiner/

 

Nonverbal Communication Division
Jointly Located within the National Communication Association

and Universities Everywhere
Send email to: buck@uconnvm.uconn.edu
Copyright © 2005. All rights reserved.

Dell Coupon