Balancing Engagement and Neutrality in Technology Assessment

At the TA18 conference on “Technology Assessment and Normativity”, held in Vienna in June 2018, an equally spontaneous and memorable controversy arose between Armin Grunwald and Pierre Delvenne concerning the roles of neutrality and democracy in technology assessment (TA), its philosophical foundations, and TA’s obligation to be inclusive. How do TA’s obligation to democracy and its operational neutrality relate to each other, where do they interfere, and what are the practical consequences? And what does this imply for TA’s future? Should we shape TA today according to the ideals of a strong democracy that advocates value-oriented solutions while not shying away from conflicts? Or should we rather strive for a fundamental normative orientation toward democracy, which, however, for this very reason follows the neutrality principle in TA practice and does not favor certain pathways? As editors of TATuP’s special issue on normativity in technology assessment, our intention has been to make this debate accessible to a wider readership by confronting the two researchers once more with the core issues of their dispute. Interview by Linda Nierling (ITAS, KIT) and Helge Torgersen (ITA, Vienna).