Digital Paternalism. About Software and Its Impact on Human Decisions

Master's Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject Philosophy - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,3, LMU Munich, language: English, abstract: The bandwidth of interactions with software and a possible impact on our lifestyles is huge. An influence takes place at several levels: First, software is a tool that individuals use intentionally to control other human beings. Second, software acts as a carrier (vector) of adjustments, biases and decisions for their production conditions. Third, it influences the results through its own statement structure, for example through selecting the data to be processed, and fourth, some authors also attribute an ¿active¿ agentivity to software.

Knowledge in behavioral economy and psychology used in software development have led to the deployment of a number of techniques aimed at controlling the users based on an idea of humanity characterized as reductionist and behaviorist. This widespread notion of controlling people with software through the design of decision-making situations has inspired the title ¿Digital Paternalism¿ of this work.

Paternalism is tightly interwoven with the term autonomy which I use as a point of departure in my work. I explore the term from the angle of an attempt to limit our autonomy through software and thus am expanding on the traditional definition. Since software is mostly advertised as a form of assistance or solution to our problems and challenges, hence our personal gain is highlighted, the use of the term is justified. In the public debate, the impression emerges that we are hardly capable of deciding for ourselves but are controlled to an increasing degree. Our freedom and power of judgement recede into the background and the question emerges if we can even be held responsible for our actions. I am of the opinion that ¿the algorithm made me do it¿ never can be a tenable excuse.

For the sake of this argumentation, I will also include the terms of free will and decision which must be seen as prerequisites for responsibility. I am going to argue that our sphere of responsibility in principle does not decrease but rather increase with the increasing digitalization. However, I will also note that considering the type and timing of the influence via software, this statement begs a critical analysis under concrete circumstances.