💡Authoritarianism in Dev: The Fallacy of False Equivalence
The fallacy that lets devs ignore ethical concerns
TL;DR
Programmers often use the false equivalence fallacy to dismiss ethical issues in authoritarian systems. This essay series aims to help developers make informed decisions about their involvement.
Authoritarianism is internalized in software development, with programmers using the false equivalence fallacy to discredit or promote things without considering ethics. The goal of this essay series is to provide information for devs to make informed decisions. If a project is honest about being authoritarian, it's likely not truly so. Communities can exhibit authoritarian behavior even without having authoritarian leaders.
Key Points
Programmers often redefine concepts like 'benevolent dictator' (no such thing) to fit their narratives, 2023
Communities may not gain informed consent for their authoritarianism, hiding it from members, 2023
Enthusiastic informed consent is necessary for non-authoritarian systems; without it, communities become authoritarian, 2023
Authoritarian leaders keep secrets to maintain control, preventing informed consent and potential exodus, 2023
Communities can exhibit authoritarian behavior through propaganda, coercion, or manipulation, even without clear leadership, 2023
Why It Matters
If you're a developer working on projects that involve ethical decision-making, this series is crucial. It helps identify when consent is truly informed and enthusiastic, affecting how teams operate and make decisions about involvement in potentially authoritarian systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
If you're a developer working on projects that involve ethical decision-making, this series is crucial. It helps identify when consent is truly informed and enthusiastic, affecting how teams operate and make decisions about involvement in potentially authoritarian systems.
What happened?
Programmers often use the false equivalence fallacy to dismiss ethical issues in authoritarian systems. This essay series aims to help developers make informed decisions about their involvement.
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