Technology and moral change: the transformation of truth and trust

Abstract

Technologies can have profound efects on social moral systems. Is there any way to systematically investigate and anticipate these potential efects? This paper aims to contribute to this emerging feld on inquiry through a case study method. It focuses on two core human values—truth and trust—describes their structural properties and conceptualisations, and then considers various mechanisms through which technology is changing and can change our perspective on those values. In brief, the paper argues that technology is transforming these values by changing the costs/benefts of accessing them; allowing us to substitute those values for other, closely-related ones; increasing their perceived scarcity/abundance; and disrupting traditional value-gatekeepers. This has implications for how we study other, technologically-mediated, value changes.