Panel -Philosophical perspectives on behavioral public policy in the age of technology 15th Braga Meetings on Ethics and Political Philosophy

This is a track or a panel within the 15th Braga Meetings on Ethics and Political Philosophy. On behalf of Alejandro Hortal (UNC Greensboro, Wake Forest University) and Stefano Calboli (University of Minho), I am delighted to announce the call for abstracts for the panel Philosophical Perspectives on Behavioral Public Policy in the Age of Technology, which is part of the 15th Braga Meetings.

As technology—primarily AI—continues to evolve at a rapid pace and becomes integrated into the framework of behavioral public policy (BPP), the impacts of technology-mediated behavioral influences (tools, interventions, policies?) are becoming increasingly significant.
This panel seeks to address the philosophical challenges posed by these developments, with a focus on the ontological dimensions, epistemic limits, and ethical challenges involved in using technologies to shape public behaviors. Central to this inquiry is the possibility—yet to be fully substantiated—that the infusion of
advanced technologies raises fundamentally new ethical questions, epistemological challenges, and ontological categories. Alternatively, are we merely witnessing familiar issues applied within novel contexts?

Key topics and questions include, but are not limited to:

• What qualifies as a technology-driven BPP within behavioral policy? What specific criteria must choice architectures meet to be considered legitimate BPP?
• In what ways do AI and digital tools interact with human cognition and emotion to guide behavior? Do these technology-mediated nudges exploit specific psychological mechanisms, potentially leading to new forms of manipulation?
• Does AI-based behavioral influence introduce ethical concerns distinct from those associated with more traditional forms of BPP? Are there unique ethical considerations for technologies such as the Internet of Things, wearable technology, and machine learning?
• At what point do technology-based nudges infringe on individual autonomy and the possibility of public scrutiny? Can they actually promote autonomy and facilitate public oversight? Do innovative forms of BPP threaten to compromise or, alternatively, promise to support these two pivotal values in ways that differ from traditional BPP tools?
• Does the personalization enabled by AI exacerbate concerns regarding privacy, control, and autonomy, or could AI offer beneficial customization that respects individual values and enhances user experience?
• Beyond autonomy, public scrutiny, and privacy, which values should inform technology-mediated nudging? How might we infuse values into the development and application of these technologies? In what ways should value-sensitive design guide the ethical development and deployment of behavioral technologies?
• What ethical responsibilities do designers, policymakers, and corporations bear in ensuring the ethical deployment of technology? What aspects may be appropriately left to the responsibility of users and citizens?
• What political implications and questions of justice arise from the private control of behavioral technologies? Is “surveillance capitalism” an inevitable outcome, or can we envision alternative frameworks that empower users rather than constrain them? What are the best policy tools to prevent dystopian scenarios?

This panel aims to foster a nuanced discussion on these topics, offering a critical examination of current practices and exploring pathways toward developing ethically grounded and philosophically informed behavioral policies.

If you want to apply, please submit an abstract (500 words) along with five keywords and a short bio (300 words) before February 14. You will find the information under the link to the event.