Philosophical Insight into Mediations in the Pursuit of a Posthuman, Non-binary, and Socially Equitable Cyberbioethics.
In contemporary Bioethics, the cybernetic approach of the foundational proposal has largely been forgotten. This is why we named our research “Cyberbioethics”, which in its broadest formulation, aims to underscore the relevance of this approach for Bioethics as a discipline, and for the current challenges concerning the relationships among bios, technos, and ethos. In its restrained formulation, “Cyberbioethics” refers to a specific theoretical-practical approach, centered around the question of mediation as a philosophical problem. The primary objective of this approach is to streamline the comprehension and effective resolution of conflicts between technics and culture, with particular emphasis on the ethical-political complexities, including and drawing on insights from feminist theories of technology (TFT). In this context, our research aims to contribute to contemporary bioethics by offering a feminist cybernetic approach that allows us to avoid the moral absolutism of both technology and nature, without falling into their absolute relativization. That is, it enables us to understand the link between bios, technos, and ethos in a relational manner. For instance, by analyzing AI systems designed for caregiving, feminist theories of technology (TFT) elucidate the influence of algorithmic systems on the cultivation of moral competencies.
In 2023, we collaborated with Argentinian colleagues in response to the call from the fA+ir (Feminist AI Research Network) for the “Incubating Feminist AI” initiative, led by the Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms. Our project’s goal was to support women working in emergency food centers in Argentina, thereby contributing to the country’s food sovereignty. Although we were unable to move forward with the project, the alliance provided a valuable platform for cooperative and selfless engagement that inspired us to remain actively involved.
