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SingaporeGeneral PaperQuick questions
Ethics and Society
Quick questions on The ethics of progress explained: H1 General Paper
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is ethics lagging behind technology?Show answer
A deeper, sophisticated point: ethics and regulation often lag behind technological capability, because technology advances faster than laws and norms can deliberate, and commercial incentives push deployment ahead of reflection. This lag is dangerous where harms are serious and irreversible. But it is not inevitable: societies can build anticipatory ethics, fund foresight, involve ethicists early and adapt rules iteratively, and history shows ethics eventually catching up, as with medical ethics and data protection. The realistic goal is to narrow the gap between capability and ethical guidance, not to expect them to move in perfect step.
What is blanket precaution?Show answer
Over-restraint forgoes cures and growth and ignores that many technology fears prove overblown; balance precaution against the cost of inaction.
What are vague examples?Show answer
"Technology can be dangerous" evidences little. Use specific cases such as gene editing, autonomous weapons or AI deployment.
What is q1?Show answer
Explain the difference between asking what we "can" do and what we "should" do. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
State the precautionary principle and one limit on it. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain why ethics often lags behind technological change, and why this matters. [3 marks]
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