The Discernment Cycle for Ethical Design

Greg Twemlow's article, The Discernment Cycle, introduces a structured, repeatable process for maintaining ethical integrity in system design beyond the initial launch. It highlights the danger of viewing a system as "done" from an ethical standpoint and advocates for a framework of Designing for Return, where intentional reflection and revision are built into the development lifecycle. The author defines five key phases of this cycle – Intention, Design & Dialogue, Action & Release, Reflection & Consequence, and Revision & Recommitment – and argues that the Discerner Architect is the crucial figure responsible for holding and guiding this ethical rhythm. The text asserts that ethical systems don't stay ethical by default but require continuous stewardship through this cycle to prevent ethical drift. Read the article.

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