After the Bit Bang: The Evil in the Digital Universe?

Abstract

Passing through tremendous catastrophes, tragedies, and unbelievable achievements, an optimistic philosophy of history could say that the technical and scientific developments are means to the noble end of human emancipation. This end, in the midst of many problems and contradictions, seemed to have led us irreversibly from tribes to humanity. A global universalism based on the values stated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) calls for the cardinal principles of human dignity. Principles and values which have been increasingly embedded into most of the national constitutional laws, as well as the goals of liberation from poverty and disease, have been shared at the global level. Even the growing awareness of the sustainability standard seemed to be increasingly accepted by industry, business, politics, people.

In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us.

Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us

Neil Postman, Amusing ourselves to death, 1985

work hard, have fun, make history

Jeff Bezos, Amazon motivational motto, poster wall

The trustworthy shall roam everywhere under heaven,

while those who breach trust shall not be able to move a single step

**, 2017

And remember… don’t be evil,

and if you see something that you think isn’t right—speak up!.

Google Corporate Code of Conduct, 31 July 2018