Robots and us: towards an economics of the ‘Good Life’ |
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Authors: | C W M Naastepad Jesse M Mulder |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands;2. Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Philosopher at Utrecht University, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | (Expected) adverse effects of the ‘ICT Revolution’ on work and opportunities for individuals to use and develop their capacities give a new impetus to the debate on the societal implications of technology and raise questions regarding the ‘responsibility’ of research and innovation (RRI) and the possibility of achieving ‘inclusive and sustainable society’. However, missing in this debate is an examination of a possible conflict between the quest for ‘inclusive and sustainable society’ and conventional economic principles guiding capital allocation (including the funding of research and innovation). We propose that such conflict can be resolved by re-examining the nature and purpose of capital, and by recognising mainstream economics’ utilitarian foundations as an unduly restrictive subset of a wider Aristotelian understanding of choice. |
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Keywords: | Philosophical foundations of economics homo economicus responsible research and innovation (RRI) capital productivity growth ICT IT Aristotle golden mean inclusive society telos technological unemployment |
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