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Social ethics and the technical system

A recently published article summarises the relationship between the two elements representing a most significant and complex dyad

 

Social ethics combined with corporate ethics: good corporate culture, in other words. An accomplishment difficult to achieve and that, on close examination, is constantly evading us, forever propelled forwards by facts and occurrences. This is the starting point adopted by Claudio A. Testi – entrepreneur and philosopher – in his article entitled “L’etica sociale di fronte al sistema tecnico: la sfida e le azioni” (“Social ethics and the technical system: challenge and actions”), a contribution to the October issue of the journal Oikonomia.

Testi specifically sets out to tackle one of the most complex topics of our times: how to apply social ethics to the “technical-economic system” (TES), which he defines as “a system essentially composed by three elements: A) labour-production, B) consumption-needs,

  1. C) scientific education-research”. In other words, the complex, multifaceted and ever-changing whole that encompasses and includes all that’s human and technical and that is currently shaping our society in an extremely intricate manner, as each “element affects the others”. Testi juxtaposes this complex whole with social ethics – to be understood like any other kind of “ethics”, that is, not teaching us how to “know what is good and fair” but leading us to “become good and fair through concrete actions.” He then finds a correlation with our current situation, including the obligation of facing the effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The author goes on to analyse the social ethics/TES dyad from different perspectives – economic, social, cultural – before reaching some conclusions. As he writes, “For social ethics to generate a positive impact today, we need to understand the conundrum posed by the Technical-Economic System and acknowledge that concrete actions are not sufficient to ‘solve’ it. We also need to be aware that time and persevering determination are needed in order to change the technocratic future that is currently upon us. This is a tremendous, albeit unavoidable, task, yet we should not give in to despair and despondency. We have our own limitations, and as such we cannot immediately change everything; we can, however, dedicate the time we have available to a just and good cause.”

Claudio Testi succeeds in summarising a topic that could not possibly be exhausted within a single journal article – indeed, it’s a topic that needs constant exploration and updating. Nonetheless, his contribution stands out for its clarity and conciseness, and for providing readers with the basic foundations required to embark upon the important path leading to cultural development.

L’etica sociale di fronte al sistema tecnico: la sfida e le azioni (“Social ethics and the technical system: challenge and actions”),

Claudio A. Testi

OIKONOMIA, YEAR XX – N. 3 OCTOBER 2021

A recently published article summarises the relationship between the two elements representing a most significant and complex dyad

 

Social ethics combined with corporate ethics: good corporate culture, in other words. An accomplishment difficult to achieve and that, on close examination, is constantly evading us, forever propelled forwards by facts and occurrences. This is the starting point adopted by Claudio A. Testi – entrepreneur and philosopher – in his article entitled “L’etica sociale di fronte al sistema tecnico: la sfida e le azioni” (“Social ethics and the technical system: challenge and actions”), a contribution to the October issue of the journal Oikonomia.

Testi specifically sets out to tackle one of the most complex topics of our times: how to apply social ethics to the “technical-economic system” (TES), which he defines as “a system essentially composed by three elements: A) labour-production, B) consumption-needs,

  1. C) scientific education-research”. In other words, the complex, multifaceted and ever-changing whole that encompasses and includes all that’s human and technical and that is currently shaping our society in an extremely intricate manner, as each “element affects the others”. Testi juxtaposes this complex whole with social ethics – to be understood like any other kind of “ethics”, that is, not teaching us how to “know what is good and fair” but leading us to “become good and fair through concrete actions.” He then finds a correlation with our current situation, including the obligation of facing the effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The author goes on to analyse the social ethics/TES dyad from different perspectives – economic, social, cultural – before reaching some conclusions. As he writes, “For social ethics to generate a positive impact today, we need to understand the conundrum posed by the Technical-Economic System and acknowledge that concrete actions are not sufficient to ‘solve’ it. We also need to be aware that time and persevering determination are needed in order to change the technocratic future that is currently upon us. This is a tremendous, albeit unavoidable, task, yet we should not give in to despair and despondency. We have our own limitations, and as such we cannot immediately change everything; we can, however, dedicate the time we have available to a just and good cause.”

Claudio Testi succeeds in summarising a topic that could not possibly be exhausted within a single journal article – indeed, it’s a topic that needs constant exploration and updating. Nonetheless, his contribution stands out for its clarity and conciseness, and for providing readers with the basic foundations required to embark upon the important path leading to cultural development.

L’etica sociale di fronte al sistema tecnico: la sfida e le azioni (“Social ethics and the technical system: challenge and actions”),

Claudio A. Testi

OIKONOMIA, YEAR XX – N. 3 OCTOBER 2021