Artifacts and The Problem of Ethical Extensionism – Selected Issues

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of extending ethical obligations toward usable things. The first part reconstructs current debates on the metaphysical and ethical status of artifacts. Next, drawing upon Tadeusz Kotarbinski’s reism, I describe artifacts as concretes, focusing on the possibility of their damage and destruction. The core part of the article analyzes ethical implications of the following issues: 1) using artifacts, 2) their production, 3) purchase and sale of artifacts, and 4) the post-use period.

Keywords

• ethical extensionism
• artifacts
• postnatural extensionism
• environmental philosophy
• philosophy of technology