The Humane Systems Project explores the dynamics that exist in human engineered systems in order to investigate the factors that lead these systems to be beneficial and constructive, as opposed to detrimental, abusive or destructive.
Within this research context, a system that:
- maintains or improves capability
- maintains or improves agency
- maintains or improves dignity
of those individuals using it or being affected by it, as well as those operating the system, could be considered to be a humane system. However, labelling systems that have these qualities as humane is not the same as saying that systems lacking in these qualities are necessarily inhumane. Nor does this provide a strict definition of a humane system.
Thus, exploring the concept of a ‘humane system’ is a major focus of the research program.
Research questions include:
- Can a system that lacks any of the qualities listed above still be considered a humane system?
- Are there other criteria that should be included, or optionally could be included, in this definition?
- What factors promote or reduce the likelihood of a system becoming or remaining a humane system?
- How can humane systems be identified?
- How can humane systems be engineered
- Is the humaneness of a system categorical – the system is or is not humane – or does the concept allow for degrees of humaneness?