Conscience Technology: The Proceduralization of Ethics in Design

The article analyzes Jeffrey Bulger's concept of "conscience technology," which proposes a transition from theoretical moral principles to practical instruments of accountability. The author argues that ethics in an organization must be materialized in the form of documentation, procedures, and registers (e.g., the Big Statement) to become measurable and resistant to staff turnover or budgetary pressures. A key element is the externalization of moral reasoning, which allows for the auditing of decisions and prevents so-called ethical drift. True verification of values occurs when their adherence generates real operational or financial costs, transforming declarations into concrete design commitments.