Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin issues a clear warning: technological development can no longer be separated from social responsibility. In a context of growing distrust of platform centralization and opaque algorithms, Buterin calls for a new generation of developers combining technical expertise with an enlightened social philosophy.
A critique of the current landscape of decentralized applications
- Projects losing their meaning: According to Buterin, many decentralized applications (dApps) have failed to meet basic human needs. Overly focused on technical innovation or financial incentives, they neglect essential issues such as governance, inclusion, and user protection.
- A lack of ethics: The absence of a clear social vision pushes some developers to reproduce, in the blockchain, the failings of the large centralized platforms they claim to replace.
A call for a “strong social philosophy”
- Values at the heart of the code: For Buterin, dApps must now be designed not only to function efficiently, but also to respect principles of justice, transparency, and accountability.
- A new development culture: He advocates for developers to adopt a humanist vision, capable of guiding their technical choices in the service of the common good.
Reconciling innovation and ethics in Web3
Opportunities:
- Building applications that strengthen digital democracy, such as decentralized voting systems or open debate platforms.
- Offering more secure tools for identity management, privacy protection, and fair value sharing.
Risks:
- Slowing down technological innovation by adding ethical requirements perceived as restrictive.
- Dividing the community between proponents of pure code and supporters of socially engaged development.
Conclusion
Vitalik Buterin’s message marks a turning point in the debate surrounding Web3. By placing social philosophy at the center of app development, he challenges industry players to rethink their role and impact. If this call is heeded, the future of dApps could be built on a more solid foundation, where technological innovation will never again be separated from its human implications.
