Ethics CS4310 Fall 2011 Updated 2/09

What is a Profession?

Calling in which special knowledge and skills are used in the service of mankind Elements (Greenwood 91) –systematic theory –authority –community sanction –ethical codes –culture

Who is a professional?

One who recognizes his/her obligations to society by living up to accepted codes of conduct

What is the purpose of professional codes?

Inspire, educate, guide, and discipline members must be broad enough to cover ethical conflicts, and specific enough to guide professionals

Ethical Perspectives Professional Ethics Philosophical Ethics Descriptive Ethics

Professional Ethics The responsibility and obligation that affect individuals as members of a profession Examples: medical ethics, legal ethics

Professional Ethics The responsibility and obligation that affect individuals as members of a profession Examples: medical ethics, legal ethics Issues: professional responsibility, codes of conduct, systems reliability/safety (e.g., for engineers)

Professional Ethics The responsibility and obligation that affect individuals as members of a profession Examples: medical ethics, legal ethics Issues: professional responsibility, codes of conduct, systems reliability/safety (e.g., for engineers) In this view, we want to restrict the discussion to issues that are unique to the profession of computing and technology

Philosophical Ethics The responsibility and obligation that affect individuals as members of a society Issues: Intellectual property, privacy, free speech, fairness

Philosophical Ethics The responsibility and obligation that affect individuals as members of a society Issues: Intellectual property, privacy, free speech, fairness Method: –Identify moral problem or controversial practice –Analyze the problem, clarify concepts, examine facts –Apply moral theories and principles to reach a position about the issue

Descriptive Ethics Describe what is the case now –Different from Normative: What ought to be How do members of a given group or culture view a particular issue –For example, copyrights. US and Chinese cultures view this differently

What is ethics? The science of conduct: –science: rational inquiry to gain knowledge –conduct: behavior when voluntary choice is made because of belief that it right. Ethicists study how people ought to behave Moralists try to make people behave better (Many other definitions exist …)

Ethics vs Morals Moralist (Webster) –one who leads a moral life –one concerned with regulating the morals of others Ethicists –One who studies morality using philosophical perspectives –Approaches are rational and open to others for verification

Discussion Stoppers (a.k.a., “reasons” for not discussing ethics or morals)

Problem: People disagree on solutions to moral issues

But many experts disagree on key issues in their fields. No need to stop the discussion. People do agree on many moral issues. Need to recognize that disagreements could be about –principles –facts –eg: stealing is wrong. Is copying over the internet stealing?

Problem: Who am I to judge others?

Need to distinguish between judging to evaluate and judging to condemn We routinely evaluate people: who fixes your car? who do you buy groceries from? Sometimes, we are morally obligated to make judgments –child abuse –human rights abuse

Problem: Morality is a private matter

Morality is a public system –if not, then it must be OK for me to steal from you if I think it is OK for me to steal from you Don’t confuse moral choice with personal preference

Problem: Morality is a matter for individual cultures to decide

Does it follow that a culture can devise any moral scheme so long as the majority of people in that culture approve? –What if the majority says it’s OK to use chemical weapons (or airplanes) to attack us?

Logical Arguments

As ethicists, we must discuss unresolved issues These discussions may be termed as “arguments”

Logical Arguments Arguing is reason giving Reasons are justifications that support a claim Rationality is the ability to engage in reason giving (Zarefsky)

Effective Reasoning Concern is with audience: –We are trying to engage the audience –We are trying to reach the best decision –Argumentation is a cooperative exercise –We have the shared goal of reaching best decision –Reasoning depends on the free assent of the audience

Effective Reasoning Concern is with audience Success depends on the assent of a particular audience

Effective Reasoning Concern is with audience Success depends on the assent of a particular audience Argumentation takes place under uncertainty –We don’t argue about things that are certain

Effective Reasoning Concern is with audience Success depends on the assent of a particular audience Argumentation takes place under uncertainty Argumentation involves rational justification for claims

Ethical Theories

Utilitarian Theory Utilitarian: the goodness of the consequence determines the rightness of the action The greatest good for the greatest number Bentham, John Mills

Deontological Ethics Duty: (Kant) the goodness of the motives determine the rightness of the action –Each individual has the same moral worth, regardless of wealth, intelligence, or circumstance –Each principle is universally binding, without exception, for all human beings –Categorical Imperative: Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.

Hedonism Hedonism: the sole good in life is pleasure

Social Contract Theory (Hobbs) Legitimate authority must be derived from the consent of the governed All members of a society are bound to respect a sovereign will by the social contract We surrender some freedoms to a sovereign in return for the benefits of the rule of law that protect individuals from being harmed by others

Code of Ethics

Software Engineers Ought to uphold normal standards of honesty and integrity Ought to uphold the law Ought to uphold the reputation of the profession Not all standards of behavior are bounded by law

Professional responsibility Confidentiality Competence Intellectual property rights Computer misuse Fairness

Professional responsibility Confidentiality –Respect the confidentiality of employers and clients with or without signed agreement Competence Intellectual property rights Computer misuse Fairness

Professional responsibility Confidentiality Competence –Engineers should not misrepresent their level of competence Intellectual property rights Computer misuse Fairness

Professional responsibility Confidentiality Competence Intellectual property rights –Engineers should be aware of laws governing use of intellectual property and protect the rights of employers, clients, and other engineers Computer misuse Fairness

Professional responsibility Confidentiality Competence Intellectual property rights Computer misuse –Engineers should not use technical skills to misuse computers belonging to others (e.g. game playing at work or dissemination of viruses) Fairness

Professional responsibility Confidentiality Competence Intellectual property rights Computer misuse Fairness –Engineers should strive to be fair towards each other and towards the public. For example, proper attribution in papers and code

Three levels of obligations Level 1: Humanity Level 2: Professionalism Level 3: Each Profession

Three levels of obligations Level 1: Humanity –Integrity –Justice Level 2: Professionalism Level 3: Each Profession

Three levels of obligations Level 1: Humanity Level 2: Professionalism –Fairness, giving credit Level 3: Each Profession

Three levels of obligations Level 1: Humanity Level 2: Professionalism Level 3: Each Profession –Understand specifications –Ensure adequate testing

Software Engineering Code of Ethics Purpose: –A standard for practicing engineering –Documents ethical and professional responsibilities of software engineers Adopted by IEEE and ACM Developed by international task force including industry, academics, military, and government

Standard Describes ethical and professional obligations against which peers, the public, and legal bodies can measure a software developer’s behavior.

Why our own code? Most professionals have profession-specific codes of ethics. Professionals have great impact on the well- being of others. They have a higher standard of conduct than non-professionals.

Eight Principles of Responsibility 1.Public 2.Client and employer 3.Product 4.Judgment 5.Management 6.Profession 7.Colleagues 8.Self

Public Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.

Public What is the public interest? How do we know the public interest?

Client and employer Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interest of their clients and employer, consistent with the public interest.

Client and employer Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best interest of their clients and employer, consistent with the public interest. What does that mean? What about making bombs? –Ethical? Public interest?

Product Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible.

Product Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications meet the highest professional standards possible. What are the professional standards? Does that mean “zero defects”?

Judgment Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment.

Judgment Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgment. If your boss comes in and says “we have to ship the pacemakers next week, cut the testing cycle.” what do you do?

Management Software engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance.

Management Software engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance. What implications does this have wrt programmers working for you?

Profession Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest.

Profession Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession consistent with the public interest. What does integrity mean? What does reputation mean? Why do they matter?

Colleagues Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.

Colleagues Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues. Give examples. Give counter examples.

Self Software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession.

Self Software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession. Give examples. Give counter examples.

Group Exercise Get into groups of 4. Each team member takes two sections of the code. –1&2, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8 Each team member will teach the rest of the team about the sections they have. Teachers: get with other people teaching the same section. –You have 15 minutes to prepare –You will have 5 minutes to teach

State the focus of the principle and discuss the questions Principle 4: Judgment How might technical judgments conflict with human values? Name example conflicts of interest that cannot be avoided and must be disclosed. How might financial pressures cloud one’s judgment?

State the focus of the principle and discuss the questions Principle 8: Self Why is it an obligation of software engineers to further their knowledge and improve their abilities to create better software? How might one improve his/her ability to produce quality software and well-written documentation? How does clause 2.02 apply to Principle 8? How might one unintentionally violate the Code?

State the focus of the principle and discuss the questions Principle 7: Colleagues How might one encourage one’s colleagues to adhere to the Code? How might one remain objective towards the work of his/her colleagues when the individual is a personal friend? How can an individual affect another individual’s career positively? How can an individual affect another individual’s career negatively and under what circumstances is this appropriate or inappropriate?

State the focus of the principle and discuss the questions Principle 3: Product How does one know whether project goals and objectives are proper and achievable? What methods might one employ for understanding software specifications? What consequences might occur if proposed estimates of cost, scheduling, personnel, quality, or outcomes prove unrealistic? How does one ensure adequate testing, debugging, and review of software? What is adequate?