Intro to Ethics CSCI 327 Social Implications of Computing

Scenarios 1.Jenny using the campus computers 2.Frank releasing medical software with bugs in order to be first-to-market 3.Retaliatory cyber attack 4.Bob the student and the Wingspan security hole 5.Joe and Acme Insurance

Definitions Ethics - the study of morality. Morality - system of rules for guiding conduct and principles for evaluating those rules.

Moral Systems Moral systems are based on core values. Values may be intrinsic ( life, happiness ) or instrumental ( money ) or both ( privacy ) Basis for Moral Systems:  religion Stealing is wrong because God doesn't like it.  philosophical system Stealing is wrong because it is not reasonable.  legal system Stealing is wrong because it is against the law.

Relativism Because there is no universal moral system, there is no universal right or wrong.  we can have opposite opinions and both be right Subjective Relativism - each individual decides right and wrong based on their own values. Cultural Relativism - different cultures have different values. Only members of that group can decide right and wrong.

Utilitarianism Utilitarianism (consequence based) An individual act is morally permissible if the consequences that result from the act produce the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. Act Utilitarianism - base decisions on total outcomes of the act Rule Utilitarianism - base decisions by following some general rules (rules apply to everyone) Example - enslave 1% of population to make cheap computer chips act util - okay because total good increases rule util - not okay because it would then be okay to exploit everyone

Kantianism (duty based) Moral system must be based in our obligations to each other. 1. act only if the rule can be applied universally to all humans (what if everyone did that?) 2. act only if the rule ensures that all humans will be treated as ends-in-themselves not moral because rule can not be applied to everyone Example - student turns in paper late to save professor from being swamped.

Social Contract (contract based) Because it is in our best interest to band together, we establish a society with a legal code. Example One - copying a CD social contract - wrong because against intellectual property law Example Two - child drowning in 3 feet of water social contract - there is no law stating that you must jump in and save the child "In a state of nature human life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short". Thomas Hobbes ( )

Just Consequentialism Combines consideration of consequences with considerations of duty, rights, and justice. Basis: 1. "do no harm" - everyone wants to be protected 2. "do your duty" - everyone wants justice, promises to be kept, fulfill their roles, etc How to apply: 1. Deliberate over the choices 1. does not cause unnecessary harm 2. supports rights, fulfills duties, … 2. Rank choices in terms of benefits and harms 1. weigh the good and bad 2. distinguish between disagreements about facts and values

Scenarios Scenarios (again) 1.Jenny using the campus computers 2.Frank releasing medical software with bugs in order to be first-to-market 3.Retaliatory cyber attack 4.Bob the student and the Wingspan security hole 5.Joe and Acme Insurance

Next Class… Critical Thinking  How to form and evaluate arguments In-Class Writing Assignment