Technology is not a neutral tool. It’s a complex moral field of practice. In his 2025 analysis, Reynold J. S. Macpherson explores this transformation, drawing heavily on the philosophical frameworks of John Dewey, Colin Evers, and Gabrielle Lakomski. Macpherson argues that for knowledge organizations—ranging from schools and universities to government agencies—the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and cybersecurity requires a fundamental shift in the nature of leadership.
The rise of digital infrastructures has unsettled the foundations of public trust and epistemic integrity. Macpherson notes that while algorithms now mediate professional judgments and distributed ledgers claim to verify authenticity, these technologies cannot replace human accountability. He highlights the dangers of “moral drift,” where technological progress detaches from ethical reflection, warning that reliance on code alone fails to guarantee truth. To counter this, the article champions “non-foundational epistemology,” a perspective that views knowledge as fallible and constructed through social practice rather than immutable facts delivered by machines.
To navigate this terrain, Macpherson proposes a leadership model defined as “moral craftsmanship”. This approach requires leaders to integrate technical competence with moral imagination, ensuring that systems align with human flourishing. Practically, this means reframing cybersecurity from simple risk management into a “moral pedagogy” that cultivates a culture of communal care and vigilance. It also involves applying “pragmatic holism,” where leaders evaluate digital tools not by their technical perfection, but by their coherence with institutional values like equity, inclusion, and accountability.
Ultimately, Macpherson posits that the future of educative leadership lies in balancing innovation with integrity. By treating digital transformation as a continuous ethical inquiry rather than a checklist of upgrades, leaders can turn technological disruption into opportunities for collective learning and renewed institutional trust.
Macpherson, R. J. S. (2025). Philosophical challenges of AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity to educative leadership in knowledge organisations. International Journal of Teaching and Learning Sciences, 2(12), Article e142. https://doi.org/10.71010/3066-0807/ijtls-e142
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