Matthew Cotton Bücher

Focusing on the historical and social dimensions of radioactive waste management in the UK since the 1950s, this book offers an in-depth analysis that includes international comparisons. It introduces a theoretical framework that merges technology policy, environmental ethics, and political geography. The concept of "ethical incrementalism" is proposed, along with practical policy recommendations for a more equitable siting process. The author advocates for a shift from centralized megaprojects to regional deep borehole disposal, aiming to address existing challenges in waste management.

The book explores the ethical implications of emerging virtual reality technologies, including low-cost gaming headsets and deep fake media. It critically evaluates VR's potential for moral enhancement, particularly its use by journalists and NGOs to foster empathy for marginalized communities. By analyzing the intersection of immersion, embodiment, and persuasion, the author proposes a VR "ethical tool" that encourages reflective ethical judgment. Drawing on John Dewey's pragmatist philosophy, it envisions VR as a means for dramatic rehearsal, promoting a future-oriented, empathic ethical framework.

Whether it is nuclear power, geo-engineering or genetically modified foods, the development of new technologies can be fraught with complex ethical challenges and political controversy which defy simple resolution. In the past two decades there has been a shift towards processes of Participatory Technology Assessment designed to build channels of two-way communication between technical specialists and non-expert citizens, and to incorporate multiple stakeholder perspectives in the governance of contentious technology programmes. This participatory turn has spurred a need for new tools and techniques to encourage group deliberation and capture public values, moral and choices. This book specifically examines the ethical dimensions of controversial technologies, and discusses how these can be evaluated in a philosophically robust manner when the ones doing the deliberating are not ethicists, legal or technical experts. Grounded in philosophical pragmatism and drawing upon empirical work in partnership with citizen-stakeholders, this book presents a model called “Reflective Ethical Mapping” - a new meta-ethical framework and toolbox of techniques to facilitate citizen engagement with technology ethics.