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Computer Ethics: Ethics, Morals and Morality

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27 views

Computer Ethics: Ethics, Morals and Morality

Uploaded by

Abdiraxman Maxamed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Ethics

Ethics, Morals and Morality


Ethics
“Do the Right Thing”
Behaving Ethically Includes:
• Being honest.
• Keeping promises.
• Doing your job well.
• Not stealing.

Q: What other behaviors are usually considered “doing the right thing?”
Definition Moral

Moral philosophy.

Determining rights and wrongs, selecting actions to achieve good


results, evaluating motives.
(attempting to summarise several definitions)

The achievement of wisdom, choosing actions that are benefical


and acceptable long term; or sustainable. This implies a society
focus.

Tore Audun Høie

[email protected]
Moral D Dilemmas

• Moral dilemmas occur when:


– It’s not clear which moral rule to
apply.
– Two or more moral rules conflict.

© 2005 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 5


What is right? Whatever is best for HUMANITY,
and whatever is fair for everyone. If the rules are
unjust, I will break them for a good cause.

What is right? The rules are right and I


have to follow them as best as I can.
Answer to H.D.?
Ethics
Professional Ethics
Categories:
• Medical,
• Legal,
• Engineering,
• Accounting,
• Computer,
• …and more.

Q: What are the special responsibilities of these professionals?


Ethics
Computer Ethics
Special Responsibilities Facing Computer Professionals
and Users
• Maintaining relationships with and responsibilities toward
customers, clients, coworkers, employees, and employers.
• Making critical decisions that have significant consequences for
many people.
• Determining how to manage, select, or use computers in a
professional setting.

Q: Describe an ethical scenario for one of the categories, above.


What is a Computer Ethics?
As technology advances, computers
continue to have great impact on
society. Therefore, computer ethics
promotes the discussion of how much
influence computers should have in
area such as artificial intelligence and
human communication.
Computer Ethics
Computer ethics are morally acceptable use of
computers

i.e. using computers appropriately

Standards or guidelines are important in this


industry, because technology changes are
outstripping the legal system’s ability to keep
up
Computer Ethics
Computer ethics is a term used to describe the
ethical principles and moral dilemmas that you
encounter in today’s computer-based society.
It makes us think about the “relationships
among facts, conceptualizations, policies and
values with regard to constantly changing
computer technology (James Moor).
Are Computer Ethics Unique

Computer & IT is not the first nor the last technology to


raise moral concerns (Nuclear power and atom bomb)

They raise ethical issues when they create new possibilities


for human action. Should I (we) do this??

The new possibilities created by technology often have a


mixed value, they bring benefits as well as problems

Because they are not purely good, they need to be


evaluated morally, the same as in other ways
Are Computer Ethical Issues Unique?

With computer & IT many possibilities have been created


for individual and institutional behavior

We could now use computers to detect, diagnose & treat


illness, invade the space, monitor others …etc

Since computer technology is far from being stagnant, so


with each new innovation new policy vacuum have been
created

We find ourselves confronted with complex issues and


conceptual muddles making it difficult to figure out which
way to go
Are Computer Ethical Issues Unique?
 The principles of ethics are relatively constant, no matter
to what areas these principles might be applied
 Theft is theft no matter whether it is done at the point of a
gun or with a computer
 However, unique features of the computer do give rise to
new ethical problems
Consider the following list:
• Speed: an example where speed can cause problems is the "flame"
phenomena
• Storage: information about people (whether accurate or inaccurate)
can take on a life of its own and invade privacy in a way never before
possible in history
Common issue Computer Ethics

Some common of computer ethics


include intellectual property rights as
copyrighted electronic content, privacy
concerns, and how computer affect
society.
Definitions
Morality – Human conduct and character
referring to “those acts which it makes sense
to describe as right or wrong, good or bad.”
Moral Judgment – Judgments based on
considerations of how other people are to be
treated, and how others interests are to
weigh against their own.
Definitions
Ethics is set of moral principles that govern
the behavior of group or individual.

Computer Ethics is set of moral principles that


regulate the use of computer.
Case Study
The past several months, George, an electrical engineer
working for an aerospace contractor, has been the quality
control manager on a project to develop a computerized control
system for a new military aircraft. Early simulations of the
software for the control system showed that, under certain
conditions, instabilities would arise that would cause the plane
to crash.
The software was subsequently patched to eliminate the
specific problems uncovered by the tests. After the repairs were
made, the system passed all of the required simulation tests.
George is convinced, however, that those problems were
symptomatic of a fundamental design flaw that could only be
eliminated by an extensive redesign of the system.
Case Study
Yet, when he brought his concern to his superiors, they assured
him that the problems had been resolved, as shown by the
tests. Anyway, to reevaluate and possibly redesign the system
would introduce delays that would cause the company to miss
the delivery date specified in the contract, and that would be
very costly.
Now, there's a great deal of pressure on George to sign off on
the system and allow it to be flight tested. It has even been
hinted that, if he persists in delaying release of the system, the
responsibility will be taken away from him and given to
someone who is more compliant. . . .
What makes the situation so difficult for George is that he must
choose between conflicting duties: loyalty to self, family,
employer, and superiors versus the obligation to tell the truth
and to protect others from harm. . .
Right, Wrong and Grey areas?
Unclear situations in ethics, many times
they are personal and hotly debated in
politics.
Black and white – Fairly clear – straight
forward, most people feel the same way
about: stealing, murder, honesty,
charity.
Others?
What ethical decisions were involved in this
story?

What kind of ethical decisions did the


engineers make?
Think back to the Engineers

How ethical were the Engineers?


How moral were the Engineers?
What is the difference?

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