Christian Ethics for a Digital Society

By (author) Kate Ott Drew University

Publication date:

15 December 2018

Length of book:

190 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Dimensions:

238x162mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781442267374

Christian Ethics for a Digital Society looks at how we live in an increasingly digital world. From sexting to hashtag activism like the #metoo movement, technology has entered both our private and public lives in a deep way. Far from hand-wringing about the dangers of technology, Christian Ethics for a Digital Society offers pragmatic wisdom on how to live thoughtfully today. Instead of just worrying about the next technological gadget or app, it’s time we consider what Christianity has to offer a world increasingly reimagined in a digital landscape. This book provides a new perspective on how to assess digital technology use, development, and expansion through a lens of Christian values. The purpose of this book is to begin a conversation about the massive ecosystem change that digital technologies push in our lives through a focus on the ethics of everyday practices.

Preface

Introduction

Christian Ethics as Creative Moral Response

Digital Literacies as Praxis

Moral Approaches and Digital Technologies

“We” and Moral Proportion

Moral Means

1 Programming for Difference

Babel: Valuing Diversity

Data, Algorithms, and Predictive Analytics

Searching Difference, Networking Diversity

Excursus 1: Difference and Self-Understanding

2 Networked Selves

Moral Formation in a Digital Life

Are We Disconnected in Our Connection?

Digitally Creating the Self

The Self as Digital, or I Share, and Therefore I Am

Attunement and Digital Moral Formation

Excursus 2: Moral Complicity in the Digital Society

3 Moral Functions Beyond the Delete Key

Sin and Metanoia in a Digital Age

Digital Data, Archiving, and Surveillance

Ctrl + Z: To Forget or to Forgive?

Moral Functions of Forgiveness and Metanoia

Digital Disruption 94

Excursus 3: God as Panopticon or Prisoner

4 Creation Connectivity

Linking Ecological, Technological, and Social Issues

Data Mining and Digital Mattering

Reconnecting with Cocreative Responsibility

Excursus 4: Digital Clouds and Dirt-Filled Devices

5 Ethical Hacking and Hacking Ethics

Swords into Plowshares

Digital Literacies for Hacking

Participatory Culture and Digital Citizenship

Creativity, Hacking, and Community

Conclusion

Excursus 5: Reading and Writing New Visions

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Web Citations

[Kate Ott] argues cogently that for Christians to practice ethical internet use, they must be digitally literate. For Ott, this means understanding 'how data is used, information is created, and predictive analytics are promoted.' . . . Ott implores Christians to use technology in ways that honor God, including practicing forgiveness, being socially responsible, and caring for the environment with their technological choices. Ott’s book will appeal to Christian technology enthusiasts looking to engage in digital communities.