Send message to Authors

Paper short abstract

This reflection paper demarcates Embedded Ethics from neighbouring approaches and develops a shared terminology, outlining how this research program contributes both to the practical integration of ethical reflection in research and to theory development in the Ethics the Philosophy of Technology.

Paper long abstract

It has become a common position that ethical aspects e.g. of technologies can best be mitigated through the ongoing interdisciplinary co-laboration between ethicists, computer scientists and engineers. Among these efforts, "Embedded Ethics" has emerged as a prominent approach, emphasizing close collaboration between ethicists, scientists, and engineers (van der Burg 2009; McLennan et al. 2022) Despite its growing use, the term Embedded Ethics remains conceptually underspecified and is used interchangeably with established approaches that integrate ethical and societal reflection into research, e.g. Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects (ELSI), Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), and Technology Assessment (TA). This reflection paper addresses this ambiguity and asks how to define the term embedding ethics and justify such an approach.

First, it outlines the conceptual foundations of the term embedded ethics by situating it within the broader landscape of approaches to their normative assumptions, epistemological orientations, and modes of interdisciplinary collaboration. By distinguishing it from neighbouring approaches, we clarify its contributions and overlaps.

Second, drawing on empirical cases, we outline a framework for embedded ethics as a collaborative research practice. These cases highlight the epistemic and organisational conditions enabling ethicists to engage meaningfully in research while maintaining critical and reflective perspectives.

Building on this analysis, we propose embedded ethics as a complementary mode of interdisciplinary collaboration. The paper explores how such collaborations can contribute both to the practical integration of ethical reflection in scientific practice and to theory development in the Ethics the Philosophy of Technology.