Integrating Personal (Faith) Values and Professional (Tech ...

Seattle Pacific University

From the SelectedWorks of Michael J. Paulus, Jr.

February 10, 2021

Integrating Personal (Faith) Values andProfessional (Tech) EthicsMichael J. Paulus, Jr.

Available at: https://works.bepress.com/michael_paulus/73/

Integrating Personal (Faith) Values and Professional (Tech) Ethics

Michael J. Paulus, Jr.Seattle Pacific University

Faith@Work ERG Conference, February 10, 2021

“Ethics”

• Moral values, legal compliance, risk management• Principles, processes,

outcomes, alignment• A way of life

AI ethics (2016-2020)

1. Philosophical concerns (autonomy)2. Technical interventions (fairness)3. Social justice considerations

(systemic racism)4. Imagining desired futures

(proactive design)

“Ethics by Design”

• WEF, Deloitte, and Markkula Center• “design principles to shape [people in]

decision environments in ways that prompt better and more routine ethical behaviour” (6)

1. Attention: keeping ethics in forefront2. Construal: cultivating ethical views3. Motivation: incentives and rewards

Forming ethical identities

• Importance of an ethical identity: • What is worthy of your attention?• How do you construe the world?• What motivates your actions?

• Identity is the narrative you create about who you, who you want to be, and what you do• Faith traditions provide narrative frameworks for identity

formation

A Framework for Digital Wisdom

1. Shared telos (end/goal): ultimate purpose found in biblical narrative

2. Cultural exegesis:critiquing socio-technological narratives

3. Formative practices (e.g., spiritual): cultivating attention and agency

A Tale of Two Cities in the Apocalypse of John

Babylon (Rev 17-18) New Jerusalem (Rev 21-22)Evil human empire Loving reign of GodPolitical oppression and violence Justice and peaceEconomic exploitation Material abundanceSuffering and death Healing and lifeDeception and darkness Truth and lightDeforming human culture Transforming human culture

Integrating personal and institutional ethics

• Personal moral frameworks • Identify a set of personal values• Engage with institutional/professional codes, standards, principles• Reflect on how your values will influence professional practice

• Personal mission statements and ethics audits• Develop a vision statement• Identify a few guiding principles• Connect these with codes, standards, principles• Develop a set of questions and conduct an interview

• Proactive or reactive reflection