Ethical software development begins not with decisions but with perception: recognizing when and where ethical questions arise. This chapter addresses the foundational phase of ethical practice—hence spotting the right—and examines the epistemic challenge of identifying morally significant aspects in software design. This chapter argues that ethical problems in digital technologies often go unnoticed not because they are absent but because the conceptual tools to recognize them are lacking. To overcome this moral ignorance or uncertainty, software producers must learn to detect both techno-generic and domain-specific values, develop ethical sensitivity, and shift their perspective from seeing software as merely neutral tools to recognizing them as transformative artifacts. Using the example of avalanche safety apps, the chapter outlines a structured approach to context analysis, stakeholder inclusion, and value identification, demonstrating how ethical awareness can be integrated into early design phases. It emphasizes that ethical reflection is not a separate or burdensome activity but a practical, interdisciplinary method that enhances decision-making, fosters shared responsibility, and aligns technical development with human values. This phase is essential for ensuring that what is ethically relevant becomes visible—and only what is seen can be addressed.

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Spotting the Right: Overcoming Moral Uncertainty

  • Jan Gogoll,
  • Niina Zuber

摘要

Ethical software development begins not with decisions but with perception: recognizing when and where ethical questions arise. This chapter addresses the foundational phase of ethical practice—hence spotting the right—and examines the epistemic challenge of identifying morally significant aspects in software design. This chapter argues that ethical problems in digital technologies often go unnoticed not because they are absent but because the conceptual tools to recognize them are lacking. To overcome this moral ignorance or uncertainty, software producers must learn to detect both techno-generic and domain-specific values, develop ethical sensitivity, and shift their perspective from seeing software as merely neutral tools to recognizing them as transformative artifacts. Using the example of avalanche safety apps, the chapter outlines a structured approach to context analysis, stakeholder inclusion, and value identification, demonstrating how ethical awareness can be integrated into early design phases. It emphasizes that ethical reflection is not a separate or burdensome activity but a practical, interdisciplinary method that enhances decision-making, fosters shared responsibility, and aligns technical development with human values. This phase is essential for ensuring that what is ethically relevant becomes visible—and only what is seen can be addressed.