In Computer Science Slide 2 What is Ethics? Slide 3 Ethics, also
known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves
systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and
wrong conduct. The term comes from the Greek word ethos, which
means "character". In philosophy, ethics studies the moral behavior
in humans, and how one should act. Some would say it is the study
of morals. --- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics Slide 4 What are
morals? Slide 5 Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner,
character, proper behavior") is the differentiation of intentions,
decisions, and actions between those that are "good" (or right) and
those that are "bad" (or wrong). The philosophy of morality is
ethics. A moral code is a system of morality (according to a
particular philosophy, religion, culture, etc.) and a moral is any
one practice or teaching within a moral code. Morality may also be
specifically synonymous with "goodness" or "rightness." Immorality
is the active opposition to morality (i.e. opposition to that which
is good or right), while amorality is variously defined as an
unawareness of, indifference toward, or disbelief in any set of
moral standards or principles. An example of a moral code is the
Golden Rule which states that, "One should treat others as one
would like others to treat oneself." ---
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morals Slide 6 Morals vs. Ethics
Morals are generally seen as conforming to established or accepted
ideas of right and wrong, according to society there is a feeling
of black or white about them. Ethics, on the other hand, are where
the shades of gray come in. Ethics add the notions of fairness and
equity to our decisions. Slide 7 What Would You Do? You find a copy
of your upcoming test that your professor has left on the copier.
Slide 8 What Would You Do? You find a copy of your upcoming test
that your professor has left on the copier. Do you: Give it back
without looking at it? Give it to all your friends? Sell it to all
your friends? Give it to a friend who is struggling in the class
and in danger of losing their scholarship? Keep it as a study aid
for yourself? Slide 9 What Would You Do? Depending on who you talk
to, some people could answer the above question in any of the
suggested ways. How does THAT happen, if we live in an ethical and
moral society? Well, because everyone doesnt follow the same system
of ethics. There are five major systems of ethics. Slide 10 Systems
of Ethics Relativism Divine Command Theory Utilitarianism Virtue
Ethics Deontology Slide 11 Relativism There is no universal moral
truth Moral principles are dictated by cultural tastes and customs
EXAMPLE: Topless sun-bathing fine in Europe, frowned on in US Slide
12 Divine Command Theory God is all knowing and sets moral
standards Conforming to Gods law is right, breaking it is wrong
EXAMPLE: Ten Commandments should be followed Slide 13 Ten
Commandments New Living Translation Then God gave the people all
these instructions: I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from
the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 1. You must not have
any other god but me. 2. You must not make for yourself an idol of
any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or
in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I,
the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your
affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon
their children; the entire family is affected even children in the
third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish
unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and
obey my commands. 3. You must not misuse the name of the Lord your
God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his
name. 4. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh
day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On
that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes
you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your
livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the
Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them;
but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 5. Honor your father and
mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord
your God is giving you. Slide 14 Ten Commandments New Living
Translation Then God gave the people all these instructions: 6. You
must not murder. 7. You must not commit adultery. 8. You must not
steal. 9. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. 10.
You must not covet your neighbors house. You must not covet your
neighbors wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything
else that belongs to your neighbor. Slide 15 Utilitarionism Actions
are judged solely by consequences Actions that generate greater
happiness are judged to be better than actions that lead to
unhappiness Individual happiness is not important consider the
greater good EXAMPLE: Using weapons of mass destruction ends a war
sooner and saves more lives than conventional fighting Slide 16
Virtue Ethics Morals are internal Strive to be a person who behaves
well spontaneously EXAMPLE: Volunteers are better people than those
forced to do a job or duty Slide 17 Deontology (Duty Based) Focus
on adherence to moral duties and rights Morals should apply to
everyone equally EXAMPLE: Human rights should be respected for all
people; applied universally Slide 18 Scenario A classmate steals a
copy of the mid-term. Hes giving it out to the class. Youre
currently averaging a C, but need at least a B to keep your
financial aid. You take a copy but havent looked at it yet. How
would each ethical system that we just discussed respond to this
situation? Relativism Divine Command Utilitarianism Virtue Ethics
Deontology Slide 19 What about the Law? Laws are formal written
standards designed to apply to everyone and enforced by government
agencies and interpreted by the courts. Can we pass laws that cover
every behavior? Of course not! So ethics give us unwritten
guidelines to follow. Slide 20 Unethical vs Illegal Some people
feel the death penalty is unethical, but it is legal in several
states. Meanwhile, civil disobedience (refusal to obey certain
laws) is a form of protest used to affect change while illegal, it
is usually not unethical. Slide 21 Amoral Behavior Unethical
behavior breaking the rules that are accepted as standard behavior
Amoral behavior has no sense of right and wrong and show no
interest in moral consequences of ones actions Slide 22 Which
System is Best? No one will agree! However, our ethical decisions
are influenced most by our personal ethics a set of formal or
informal ethical principles you use to make decisions in your life.
Some people have a clear path; others are inconsistent. People are
also influenced by what the result may be if they could be poor,
people tend to talk themselves into questionable decisions. Slide
23 Personal Ethics Family greatly influences our ethical behavior
and the values you cherish yourself. Religious affiliation and
teachers also play a part. Finally, as we mature, our personal
experiences affect our ethics seeing behavior around us, punishment
for wrong, etc. Slide 24 How do You Determine Your Personal Ethics?
Describe yourself how you see yourself and how others see you. List
the key principles you believe in. Identify external influences.
Consider why you believe what you do. Prepare a statement of values
refer to it when you feel you dont know what to do. Psychological
studies have shown that when we live in a way that is consistent
with our ethical compass, we are happier, less likely to get
depressed. Slide 25 Professional Ethics Once we enter the work
place, our ethics come back into play. Do your personal ethics
change when you go to work? For example, if you were a police
officer that does not believe in the fairness of a particular law,
would you enforce it when you saw others violating it? If you see
people behaving unethically at work, do you turn them in? Some
people do they are called whistle-blowers. How you behave can get
you fired! If you post things your employer doesnt like online,
they can fire you for your behavior. Should your employer have
control over your behavior outside of the workplace? Most people,
therefore, are respect the ethical requirements of their business,
but are ultimately guided by their own personal ethics. Slide 26
Technology and Ethics TopicEthical DiscussionDebate Issue Social
Justice Does the deployment of technology to alter the human brain
blur the lines between human and machine? Will brain technology
make some humans superior to others? Intellectual PropertyDo entire
countries support software piracy? Can we impose our values and
intellectual property laws on the world? Privacy Can employers peer
into your personal profiles on social media sites? Should personal
privacy be protected? E-commerce Do geolocation devices and
applications threaten privacy? Do the benefits of geolocation
devices and applications outweigh the risks? Electronic
CommunicationWhen does big business limit free speech? Should
companies allow the Chinese government to dictate when to curtail
free speech? Computer AbuseWhose responsibility is it to monitor
cyberbullying?Should parents bear all the responsibility of
monitoring cyberbullying or should it be in the hands of public
officials? Slide 27 Technology and the Brain The human brain and
neurological tissue have a limited ability to heal themselves; this
means that after injury, a person can be left with a severe
handicap. There are also diseases that attack the central nervous
system (Parkinsons) Research to help these folks are in three
areas: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) Neurostimulation Neural
Stem Cells Slide 28 Technology and the Brain These are focused on
medical disorders. However, The Military is interested in BCIs to
control fighter aircraft, drones, and other weapons systems. Gaming
industry is also interested in BCI, since it could provide the
capability for thought-controlled video games. And neurostimulation
and neural stem cell research hold the potential for not just
treating illnesses but possibly enhancing human brain function to
allow humans to progress beyond their normal brain potential. How
should technology be allowed to affect brain function? If we can
create a smarter or more atheletic human, should we do it? Where is
the line? If a smart bomb is guided by computer technology and
destroys its target, its the machines responsibility if that same
bomb is guided by a human through BCI, whos responsibility is it?
Where do we separate the person from the machine? Slide 29
Technology and the Brain Questions to consider: Who is responsible
for controlling the direction and outcomes of brain technology
research? When do the benefits of medical research outweigh the
risks of the technology being used in illegal, evil, or immoral
ways? Does enhancing our brain capabilities with technology make us
less human? Slide 30 Intellectual Property Intellectual property is
protected by copyright law; however, the standards of the US are
not met in other countries. Slide 31 Intellectual Property
Questions to Ponder: Should a government be penalized for failing
to actively enforce the laws it has enacted within its own country?
If so, what should the penalties be, and how should they be
enforced? Does each government have the right to make its own
decision on a stand against piracy? How can other countries respond
to international priracy? Does individual piracy have any
connection to the enforcement of copyright laws on an international
level? Slide 32 Privacy Privacy is about not being required to
explain your behavior to others; but social media sites (Facebook)
are all about sharing information with others so, in todays
society, is there such a thing as personal privacy? Some employers
and even the government are asking for your password to Facebook or
similar sites before hiring you is this ok? In May, 2012,
legislators proposed the password protection act to prevent
employers from demanding passwords on private sites from employees.
Currently, employers are prohibited from asking employees
information relating to their gender, race, religion, age, and
sexual orientation, but this information is available on your
Facebook profile. Should you friend your company or employers on
Facebook? What are the consequences (potentially)? Slide 33 Privacy
Questions to ponder: Should you be able to decide exactly what
information on a social networking site you share with others?
Would you be willing to pay for the privilege? Do you know what
your privacy settings are on the social media sites you use? Is
there any information being shared publicly that you werent aware
was being shared? Should employers be allowed to ask prospective
employees for their passwords to social media sites? Is this
practice still legal in the US? Is there any information on sites
you use that you want to restrict potential employers from seeing?
Do these sites allow you to restrict the information you wish to
protect? Slide 34 E-Commerce Where are you? If you let the GPS in
your phone do the talking and check-in at Foursquare or some
similar business, businesses can promote their products, offer
rewards, etc. when you check-in at their location. When you sign
up, you can choose what information to share publically; its
supposed to make it convenient for you to find your friends and who
might be near you when you check-in. What if another app you know
nothing about is using your information in a way never intended by
the social media sites you joined? Question when you leave home and
publically announce on Facebook, Foursquare, or Tweets your
location and constant whereabouts, do you lose your privacy in
exchange for fun and convenience? No matter your personal settings,
hackers can still follow your updates. And do you understand how
much of this information is getting grabbed by other apps? What if
youre a stalker want your location information used against you in
court? Should it be? Not long ago, people wouldnt even use their
real name online now were shouting all our private information.
Society has accepted open sharing of private information has
technology moved too fast? Slide 35 E-Commerce Questions to Ponder:
Do the benefits of geolocation outweigh the risks? What other
devices besides cell phones trak and record our movements/locations
as digital records? How have social networks increased the risks of
geolocation? What risks do geolocation pose for college students?
How can users mitigate those risks? Slide 36 Electronic
Communication Does free speech have a price? In 2006, Google went
to China and agreed to censor results of searches according to
Chinese law. However, in 2010, after Google discovered a
cyberattack they believed was done to gather information on Chinese
human rights activists, Google announced they would no longer
censor searches and moved to Hong Kong, where they hoped for less
censorship. They had 35% of the market share. Now, they have only
18%. Microsoft partnered with Baidu.com (the Chinese leading search
engine), to provide filtered English results of searches. They now
have 78% of the market share. Is the financial result worth the
cost? Slide 37 Electronic Communication Questions to Ponder: Is
there anything else that Google could do that would have a major
impact on Chinese censorship laws? Has Microsofts compliance with
censorship laws furthered the Chinese governments cooperation in
combating software piracy in China? Are Microsofts financial
incentives even deeper than Internet marketshare? Can the US
Government compel technology companies to take a firmer stance on
free speech in China and elsewhere by instituting criminal charges
if US Companies do not take responsible steps to protect human
rights? Slide 38 Computer Abuse - Cyberbullying What is
cyberbullying? Its bullying using technology; using the Internet,
cell phones, or video to hurt, harass, or humiliate another person.
Some examples are: Many harassing texts or IMs Stealing a password
to the victims account to embarrass them by sending lewd,
threatening, or harassing messages while pretending to be them
Spreading rumors or lies on social networking sites Posting
embarrassing pictures or videos on the web Infecting the victims
computer with malware, usually to spy on them. Slide 39 Computer
Abuse - Cyberbullying How do you know if someone is being
cyberbullied? Similar signs as depression: Loss of interest in
normal activities Reluctant to go to school/work Loss of appetite
Trouble sleeping Appear upset after Internet use Unusual mood
swings Slide 40 Computer Abuse - Cyberbullying How do you know if
someone is a cyberbully? Using the Internet excessively Sending
large volumes of text messages Clearing the screen when others
enter the room Refusing to tell what they are doing online Slide 41
Computer Abuse - Cyberbullying Questions to Ponder: Whos
responsible for protecting the victim? The parent? The school? What
level of responsibility should school employees have for protecting
children from cyberbullying? Should there be federal laws that make
cyberbullying a crime? If so, how do we enforce these? What types
of education for children would be beneficial in preventing
cyberbullying? When should these programs begin, and how often
should children be required to participate? Slide 42 Technology and
Ethics Many charitable organizations use the Internet and other
technology tools for fundraising. The Internet is also a tool for
organizing aid to areas in crisis. The level of personal
interaction the Web supports and the speed at which information can
be exchanged is allowing computer technology to support ethical
conduct in powerful new ways.
