Information Technology, Responsibility, and Anthropology

Information technology is one potential object of responsibility as we know from texts about computer ethics, information ethics etc. This article aims to demonstrate that the ethical problems of computers and information technology frequently result from anthropological assumptions. The interaction of humans and computers is more than just the use of a value-neutral tool. The use of information technology changes the way we perceive ourselves and the way we can discharge our responsibilities. There are positive and negative sides to this anthropological question of responsibility for IT. Computers increase our reach and multiply the amount of information at our disposal. We can know more about more subjects and communicate with more people than ever before. On the other hand communication using information technology is systematically distorted. If we neglect to take this into account responsibility for and through IT can lose its legitimacy.