For better or for worse. Analysis of the concept of "dual-use technology
In this Colloquium, Andrea Barca will address the issue of dual-use technologies. The literature highlights the lack of a sufficiently clear and shared definition of this concept, which can pose an obstacle to rational discussion on the topic. This lack of univocity is not entirely surprising, as the notion of dual use is adopted in quite different contexts and, therefore, for heterogeneous purposes. Andrea Barca will seek to clarify the concept of dual use, showing the necessity of distinguishing (at least) two fundamental meanings. On one hand, a "neutral" notion (especially used in discussions about synergies between civilian research and the defense sector), not necessarily ethically connoted, which is based on the distinction between 'civilian use vs military use.' On the other hand, a morally connoted notion (mainly adopted in the field of research ethics), based on the distinction between 'positive use vs harmful use.' This conceptual distinction is crucial for addressing some dilemmas in technology ethics, as well as issues of policy and public regulation (such as, for example, whether, how, and to what extent it is appropriate to prohibit or limit the dissemination of dual-use technologies).
Speaker: Andrea Barca, PhD in Philosophy of Law from the University of Genoa. He was a Research Fellow at the same university and a visiting professor in General Theory of Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Girona (Spain). He is currently a Research fFellow at the DAER of the Politecnico di Milano for the project "Technological innovation, dual-use, and socio-ethical aspects of aerospace. Emerging criticalities of aerospace engineering from ethics to regulation to society".
Introduction: Vera Tripodi (Lecturer of Technology Ethics, Politecnico di Torino)