Ethical Theory Analysis: The Impact of Driverless Trucks on Australia

This report examines the ethical implications of driverless trucks in Australia, focusing on the potential impact on jobs, businesses, and the economy. It explores the ethical dilemmas through the lens of four key ethical theories: utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and contract theory. The an...Read More

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, Charles Sturt University
The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
Assignment 3: Applying Ethical Theory
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The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
1. Introduction
The paper mainly focuses the case scenario “The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks
could change Australia”. It is identified that this paper will mainly discusses the ethical dilemma that
occurs due to technological advancement in context to development of driverless trucks”.
The paper undertakes proper research on the case scenario and mainly discusses it based on
the four ethical theories like utilitarianism, deontology, virtue as well as contract.
2. Utilitarianism Theory
According to Yazdani and Murad (2015) utilitarianism is defined as one of the ethical theory
that generally helps in enlisting the locus of incorrect and correct on the results of selection of one
action or policies over other action and policies. The theory of utilitarianism generally determines
whether an action that is taken is good or bad. As per the theory of utilitarianism, it is identified that
the advances in technology in context to the development of driverless trucks is not ethical (Salloch
et al., 2015). This is because the development of driverless vehicles would create devastation within
Australia. As Australia’s economy generally revolves around $200billion logistic and transport
industry however waving goodbye to the divers of the truck due to the invention of driverless trucks
in the market creates huge negative impact.
It is found that the driverless trucks is not only putting the drivers out of job but also creates
devastating impact on other business linked with truck drivers. The driverless trucks are mainly
developed as it will generally help in cutting both time and costs however the negative impact that
would be created by the driverless trucks is much more (The jobs killer is coming, 2018). In addition
to this, it is identified that every technological invention have some disadvantage and similarly the
development of driverless trucks in Australia can cause number of fatalities if they are mismanaged
or any type of problem related with technology occurs. Thus, it is analyzed that as the unethical
sides of the technological invention is much more as compared to ethical side thus the development
of driverless trucks in Australia can be considered immoral.
3. Deontology Theory
It is stated by Lawton and Paez (2015) that deontological ethics is considered as one of the
ethical theories that generally helps in placing special emphasis on the relationship between the
morality as well as duty of human actions. It is identified that in deontological ethics, an action can
be analyzed as a morally good action due to some of the characteristics of the action. It generally
holds some of the acts as morally obligatory regardless of the consequence of human welfare
(Wang, Cheney & Rope, 2016). As per the theory of deontology, when the South Australia is holding
its trial for autonomous trucks on various public roads then the transport workers union generally
calls the government for adopting proper strategy . This is done so that they can be able to deal
with the new technology because they know that development of driverless trucks can create
negative impact on the jobs of truck drivers.
It is found that TWU national secretory speaks that proper strategy is required for accepting
the future where many of the jobs that are undertaken by the humans are becoming obsolete
inclusive of driving jobs due to the development of driverless trucks within the market of Australia
(The jobs killer is coming, 2018). The technologists are moving with advancements in order to make
various types of technological advancements however the impact of the technological inventions are
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The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
not ethical as it not only the truck drivers are losing jobs but also the also creates devastating impact
on other business linked with truck drivers. In addition to this, if any type of technological
mismanagement happens then it will bring disaster on a large scale.
4. Virtue Theory
According to Birnbaum and Lach (2014), virtue ethics is defined as an approach of ethics
that generally helps in emphasizing character of a person as a key element of ethical thinking rather
than the rules that they generally act themselves or occurs due to their consequences. As per the
theory of virtue it is identified that the action that is taken by Tony Sheldon who is the secretary of
TWU is moral as according to him, Australia requires proper strategy for deciding whether the
country is willing to accept the future where all types of jobs that are generally taken the people are
obsolete including driving (Habermas, 2015). This generally act as a supportive statement that
generally reflects the government must need to take some action before launching driverless trucks
within the market so that the lifestyles of the truck drivers does not get affected due to loss of job
(The jobs killer is coming, 2018). If proper actions is not taken by the government then not only the
drivers of the trucks get affected but also the business that are associated or linked with trucks
business will also get affected which will further reduce the yearly revenue of the country. Thus, it is
very much important to take proper actions by the government before the launch of driverless
trucks within the market of Australia.
5. Contract Theory
It is opined by Snow (2015) that contract theory is defined as one of the moral system that
generally comes into being by virtue with specific contractual agreements between various
individuals. It is identified that each of the individual is free for acting in its way that generally helps
in satisfying natural desires by avoiding dislikes. As per the theory of contract it is identified that the
development of driverless trucks is against the social contract theory (Drury, Lucia & Caruso,
2017). This is because due to the development of driverless trucks within Australia, the drivers are
getting out of the jobs. It is identified that the business that are associated with truck drivers are also
struggling including various service stations as well as cafes.
The development of driverless trucks within Australia is against the moral rules as lifestyle of
the truck drivers are getting affected as they are losing jobs. In addition to this, technological
advancement in context to driverless vehicles is generally can devastate Australia. It is identified that
safety issues will not be reduced or removed if the technology is not reliable (The jobs killer is
coming, 2018). If there is any type of inevitable catastrophic mismanagement of various types of
driverless vehicles then it would create disaster. Thus it is very much necessary to make some
proper dramatic change before adopting this type of technologies within Australia so that the lives
of the drivers or other business does not get affected due to the development of driverless trucks.
6. Conclusion
It can be concluded that the launch of driverless trucks within Australia is generally creating
devastating impact. The driverless trucks generally cut costs as well as time however the impact that
is created by the driverless trucks creates huge impact on the life of the truck drivers. It is analyzed
that not only the truck drivers will get affected but also the business that are associated with truck
business is also getting affected. In addition to this, it is analyzed that the paper discusses the ethical
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The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
dilemma related with case scenario in context to four ethical theories. In addition to this, it is
identified that if proper catastrophic management is not provided then the automatic vehicles can
create disaster thus in order to manage the ethical problems, the government must take proper
actions for resolving them.
7.
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The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
References
Birnbaum, R., & Lach, L. (2014). Teaching about what ethical social work practice means:
Responsibility starts with schools of social work. Intervention 2014, 140, 37-43.
Drury, M., Lucia, J., & Caruso, V. (2017). Autonomous Vehicles: An Ethical Theory to Guide Their
Future.
Habermas, J. (2015). Between facts and norms: Contributions to a discourse theory of law and
democracy. John Wiley & Sons.
Lawton, A., & Páez, I. (2015). Developing a framework for ethical leadership. Journal of Business
Ethics, 130(3), 639-649.
Salloch, S., Wäscher, S., Vollmann, J., & Schildmann, J. (2015). The normative background of
empirical-ethical research: first steps towards a transparent and reasoned approach in the
selection of an ethical theory. BMC medical ethics, 16(1), 20.
Snow, N. E. (Ed.). (2015). Cultivating virtue: Perspectives from philosophy, theology, and psychology.
Oxford University Press.
The jobs killer is coming. (2018). NewsComAu. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from
http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/the-jobs-killer-is-coming-how-driverless-
trucks-could-change-australia/news-story/4f5b8a42b0452703d62e00f3e7644d7b
Wang, Y., Cheney, G., & Roper, J. (2016). Virtue Ethics and the Practice–Institution Schema: An
Ethical Case of Excellent Business Practices. Journal of business ethics, 138(1), 67-77.
Yazdani, N., & Murad, H. S. (2015). Toward an ethical theory of organizing. Journal of Business
Ethics, 127(2), 399-417.
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The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
Do not remove the following marking sheet.
Marking Sheet
Criteria Standards
Marks
awarde
d
Classical
Ethical
Theory
(Value 60%)
HD: Demonstrates an excellent ability at applying ethical theories to the ethical
issues. (51-60)
DI: Demonstrates a good ability at applying ethical theories to the ethical issues.
(45-50.4)
CR: Makes a genuine attempt at applying the ethical theories to the ethical
issues. (39-44.4)
PS: The ethical theories do not link well with the ethical issues. (30-38.4)
FL: The ethical theories are not properly applied to the ethical issues. (0-29.4)
Writing &
structure
(Value 20%)
HD: Language features and structures are used to convey meaning effectively,
concisely, unambiguously, and in a tone appropriate to the audience and
purpose with no spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors. (17-20)
DI: Well developed skills in expression & presentation of ideas. Fluent writing
style appropriate to assessment task/document type. Grammar & spelling
accurate. (15-16.8)
CR: Good skills in expression & clear presentation of ideas. Mostly fluent writing
style appropriate to assessment task/document type. Grammar & spelling
contains a few minor errors. (13-14.8)
PS: The text contains frequent errors in spelling, grammar, word choice, and
structure, lacks clarity, and is not concise, but the meaning is apparent to the
reader with some effort. (10-12.8)
FL: Rudimentary skills in expression & presentation of ideas. Not all material is
relevant &/or is presented in a disorganised manner. Meaning apparent, but
writing style not fluent or well organised. Grammar & spelling contains many
errors. (0-9.8)
Conclusion
(Value 10%)
HD: Superior conclusion that ties the results of the analysis together into a
coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (8.5-10)
DI: Very high standard conclusion that ties the results of the analysis together
into a coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (7.5-8.4)
CR: High standard conclusion that ties the results of the analysis together into a
coherent, logically valid & convincing argument. (6.5-7.4)
PS: Rudimentary conclusion that provides a convincing argument. (5-6.4)
FL: Sub-standard (or no) conclusion. (0-4.9)
Referencing
(Value 10%)
HD: Referencing is comprehensive, demonstrates academic integrity, and
conforms exactly to APA style conventions. (8.5-10)
DI: Very good referencing, including reference list and citations. High quality
references. (7.5-8.4)
CR: Good referencing, including reference list and citations. Good quality
references. (6.5-7.4)
PS: Referencing is comprehensive, mostly accurate according to APA style
conventions, and demonstrates academic integrity. Some minor errors or
omissions in style and formatting choices (e.g. italics, punctuation, etc) don’t
impact on the transparency and traceability of the source, or demonstration of
academic integrity. (5-6.4)
FL: Sub-standard (or no) referencing. Poor quality (or no) references. (0-4.9)
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The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
Total
Marks
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