1
|
de Lint L, Roßmann M, Vostroknutov A. Narrative influence on support of a public policy: The case of nuclear power in The Netherlands. PNAS Nexus 2024; 3:pgae149. [PMID: 38646548 PMCID: PMC11032192 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
We propose a new methodology to systematically transform presurveyed argument preferences into fictional narratives, that can help people to imagine the consequences of future events, and measure how they impact willingness to pay for a public policy. We apply narrative theory to construct two short narratives that depict an imaginary future, bleak due to climate change or energy dependence, and show experimentally that exposure to these narratives increases contributions in a Public Goods game, framed as payments toward the construction of new nuclear plant in The Netherlands. Our results suggest that fictional narratives can be used (and misused) as a tool of economic policy that allows conveying relevant information to people about complex issues. We discuss the ethical use of narratives and the value of their transparent construction for democratic will-formation and policy implementation when abstract factual information can be difficult to process or comprehend.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lotte de Lint
- Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maximilian Roßmann
- Department of History, Maastricht University, 6211 SZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Vostroknutov
- Department of Microeconomics and Public Economics, Maastricht University, 6211 LM Maastricht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang RH, Tannou T, Bier N, Couture M, Aubry R. Proactive and Ongoing Analysis and Management of Ethical Concerns in the Development, Evaluation, and Implementation of Smart Homes for Older Adults With Frailty. JMIR Aging 2023; 6:e41322. [PMID: 36892912 PMCID: PMC10037176 DOI: 10.2196/41322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful adoption and sustained use of smart home technology can support the aging in place of older adults with frailty. However, the expansion of this technology has been limited, particularly by a lack of ethical considerations surrounding its application. This can ultimately prevent older adults and members of their support ecosystems from benefiting from the technology. This paper has 2 aims in the effort to facilitate adoption and sustained use: to assert that proactive and ongoing analysis and management of ethical concerns are crucial to the successful development, evaluation, and implementation of smart homes for older adults with frailty and to present recommendations to create a framework, resources, and tools to manage ethical concerns with the collaboration of older adults; members of their support ecosystems; and the research, technical development, clinical, and industry communities. To support our assertion, we reviewed intersecting concepts from bioethics, specifically principlism and ethics of care, and from technology ethics that are salient to smart homes in the management of frailty in older adults. We focused on 6 conceptual domains that can lead to ethical tensions and of which proper analysis is essential: privacy and security, individual and relational autonomy, informed consent and supported decision-making, social inclusion and isolation, stigma and discrimination, and equity of access. To facilitate the proactive and ongoing analysis and management of ethical concerns, we recommended collaboration to develop a framework with 4 proposed elements: a set of conceptual domains as discussed in this paper, along with a tool consisting of reflective questions to guide ethical deliberation throughout the project phases; resources comprising strategies and guidance for the planning and reporting of ethical analysis throughout the project phases; training resources to support leadership, literacy, and competency in project teams for the analysis and management of ethical concerns; and training resources for older adults with frailty, their support ecosystems, and the public to support their awareness and participation in teams and ethical analysis processes. Older adults with frailty require nuanced consideration when incorporating technology into their care because of their complex health and social status and vulnerability. Smart homes may have a greater likelihood of accommodating users and their contexts with committed and comprehensive analysis, anticipation, and management of ethical concerns that reflect the unique circumstances of these users. Smart home technology may then achieve its desired individual, societal, and economic outcomes and serve as a solution to support health; well-being; and responsible, high-quality care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosalie H Wang
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas Tannou
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) - Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique de l'Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM CIC) 1431, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Nathalie Bier
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) - Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Programme d'ergothérapie, École de réadaptation, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Couture
- École de Travail social, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Régis Aubry
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique de l'Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM CIC) 1431, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, Besançon, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Resseguier A, Rodrigues R. Ethics as attention to context: recommendations for the ethics of artificial intelligence. Open Res Eur 2021; 1:27. [PMID: 37645106 PMCID: PMC10446024 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.13260.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
This article shows that current ethics guidance documents and initiatives for artificial intelligence (AI) tend to be dominated by a principled approach to ethics. Although this brings value to the field, it also entails some risks, especially in relation to the abstraction of this form of ethics that makes it poorly equipped to engage with and address deep socio-political issues and the material impacts of AI. This is particularly problematic considering the risk for AI to further entrench already existing social inequalities and injustices and contribute to environmental damage. To respond to this challenge posed by AI ethics today, this article proposes to complement the existing principled approach with an approach to ethics as attention to context and relations. It does so by drawing from alternative ethical theories to the dominant principled one, especially the ethics of care or other feminist approaches to ethics. Related to this, it encourages the inclusion of social sciences and humanities in the development, deployment and use of AI, as well as in AI ethics discussions and initiatives. This article presents this proposal for an ethics as attention to context and formulates a series of practical recommendations to implement this proposal concretely.
Collapse
|