Personal professor Vincent Blok on how philosophy of technology can help interpret the digital era

To begin explainging what distinguishes his research, Professor Blok starts with the “analysis of artefacts”. Technology philosophers excel at this: analyzing specific technologies. They consider, for example, the ethical aspects of an autonomous milking robot. ‘How does this technology affect employees, animals and privacy?’ These are relevant questions, Blok emphasises. ‘But it is essential to view technological developments within the context of the larger phenomenon of digitalisation. Hence, my inaugural address bears the title: “Philosophy of Technology in the Digital Age”. I want to discuss the bigger picture as well.’

Some philosophers prefer to avoid abstract concepts like digitalisation, but Blok aims to combine specific analyses with a broader perspective. ‘When we discuss obesity within a political context, for example, a liberal will focus on the individual’s freedom of choice. A socialist will emphasise the structural level: how supermarkets and the food industry facilitate unhealthy eating behaviour. A proper philosophy of the digital age considers both levels, in the context of the technologies of our era.’

How does technology influence who we are?

‘Digitalisation alters the meaning of all sorts of aspects in our lives and what it means to be human’, Blok explains. A few examples: fast internet connections change the meaning of distance and location. Video calls are increasingly commonplace and can be conducted everywhere. The distinction between offline and online becomes blurry. Businesses are experimenting with ownership of virtual commodities. ‘How does this affect how we interact and our concept of reality? That is one of the levels at which I want to consider technology and how it affects our values, concepts and identity.’

But that is not all. Blok emphasises that he and his colleagues aim to return to the analysis of specific technologies via this structural analysis. ‘As an example, some solutions that are being developed are technologically innovative but economically conservative. They are based on the old business model for the agricultural sector and treat nature as if it were a resource that can provide revenue even if the technology is processing waste. You may ask yourself whether that is real sustainability. After all, industrialisation is a determining factor in climate change.’

Plants as a model for a just future

‘I am currently very taken with biomimicry. The idea that we can learn from nature itself and how thousands of years of evolution has solved problems for our technology.’ Blok is currently involved in a partnership with Twente University to develop artificial photosynthesis. There, sunlight is transformed into energy through a method more efficient than solar cells. ‘If this proves successful, it would be an immensely valuable technology. How can we ensure such a solution is used fairly? And, should we not take our imitation of plants much further? Every individual plant has access to photosynthesis. Could that be a model for the energy systems of the future?’

Philosophy should be more than a footnote

The research that Blok and his colleagues conduct with other Wageningen scientists also enriches their contributions to philosophy. ‘Our group excels at applying fundamental philosophical theories to new technological developments. Those philosophers have never had the opportunity to consider harvesting robots or biomimicry. Applying their theories to such contemporary phenomena also begs philosophical consideration. The new context can enlighten us about philosophical concepts and make new interpretations possible.’ As a research group, Blok and his colleagues aim to not only interpret developments within the domain of life sciences but also to contribute fully to the domain of philosophy.

Still, during the wrap-up, Blok stresses that philosophers should not just comment from the sidelines. ‘The ethical considerations should be more than a footnote. Philosophical considerations must become an integrated part of the innovation process. Hence, I am proud to have been given the opportunity to develop the ELSA Lab for Artificial Intelligence in sustainable food systems here in Wageningen. ELSA stands for ethical, legal and social aspects. In this lab, researchers collaborate to critically review AI and also to discover how AI may make a positive contribution to our food systems. A better test for the philosophy of the digital age is hard to find.