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Analytical Tools

The document discusses several theoretical frameworks for analyzing ethics issues: 1. Consequence-based theories like utilitarianism judge actions based on their outcomes and consequences. 2. Duty-based theories like Kant's deontology judge actions based on adherence to rules of duty and obligation. 3. Virtue ethics focuses on developing good character and determining what a virtuous person would do in a situation. Rights-based ethics examines the rights and duties that are implied by the rights of individuals and societies. Computer ethics issues are often analyzed using these theoretical frameworks to determine the ethically appropriate actions.

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85 views

Analytical Tools

The document discusses several theoretical frameworks for analyzing ethics issues: 1. Consequence-based theories like utilitarianism judge actions based on their outcomes and consequences. 2. Duty-based theories like Kant's deontology judge actions based on adherence to rules of duty and obligation. 3. Virtue ethics focuses on developing good character and determining what a virtuous person would do in a situation. Rights-based ethics examines the rights and duties that are implied by the rights of individuals and societies. Computer ethics issues are often analyzed using these theoretical frameworks to determine the ethically appropriate actions.

Uploaded by

KENNEDY DONATO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Social and Professional Issues

ANALYTICAL
ISSUE
What is Analytical
Tools?
Determining what is ‘right’ is not easy.
Declarations like Google’s ‘Don’t be evil’
motto are appealing due to their
simplicity, however, they are vague. In
particular, we often find ourselves in
scenarios where our actions need to be
guided by principles.
Topics for Analytical Tools
Computer Ethics 01
Ethical Theory and Concepts 02

Theoretical Framework 03
Ubuntu 04
1 What is Computer Ethics?

We shall use the term “Computer


Ethics” to describe the field that
examines moral issues pertaining to
computing and information technology.
1 Computer Ethics
 Morality

is the etymology of morality refers to manners and habits. In


this sense, morality is a collection of codes of conduct that are
created by the conscience, society or religion. But morality has
also a second meaning which emerges from philosophical
tradition. According to this tradition, morality is not particular
but instead is universal. Hence, it provides a sort of ideal code
of conduct which has to cope with good and evil.
1 Computer Ethics

 Morality in Philosophical
Tradition

According to this tradition, morality is not


particular but instead is universal. Hence, it
provides a sort of ideal code of conduct which
has to cope with good and evil.
1 Computer Ethics
 Ethics
is the branch of philosophy which studies
morality. It is important to understand that the idea
that the objects of the study of ethics are therefore
the moral rules, the ways in which they are created
and justified, and the ways in which they are applied
or should be applied.
1 Computer Ethics
 Essential Feature of Ethics
 Information ethics - to refer to a cluster of ethical
concerns regarding the flow of information that is either enhanced or
restricted by computer technology.
 Internet ethics - concerns about ethical issues involving the
Internet in particular
 Cyber ethics - to broaden the scope beyond individual
machines or the concerns of computer professionals.
1 Computer Ethics
 According to:
 James Moor
defines computer ethics as: “...The analysis of
the nature and the social impact of computer
technology and the corresponding formulation and
justification of policies for the ethical use of such
technology.”
1 Computer Ethics
 According to:
 Deborah Johnson
defines computer ethics as: The study of the
ethical questions that arise as a consequence of the
development and deployment of computers and
computing technologies.
1 Computer Ethics
 Deborah Johnson said that it
involves in two activities:
1. Identifying and bringing into focus the issues and problems that fall
within its scope, raising awareness of the ethical dimension of a
particular situation.
2. Providing an approach to these issues, a means of advancing our
understanding of, and suggesting ways of reaching wise solutions to
these problems.
Topics for Analytical Tools
Computer Ethics 01
Ethical Theory and Concepts 02
2 Ethical Theory and Concepts

Computer Ethics is applied ethics and applied ethics, unlike


 Theoretical Ethics - examines “practical” ethical issues. It
analyses moral issues from the vantage-point of one or more
ethical theories.
 Ethicists - working in fields of applied ethics are more interested
in applying ethical theories to the analysis of specific moral

problems than in debating the ethical theories themselves .


2 Concepts of Ethical Theory
 Descriptive Statements:
Describe something as a fact. They can mostly be tested objectively to verify
them.

 Normative Statements:
Explores what people ought to do Evaluates arguments, reasons, theories. They
are prescriptive and they try to provide an account of why certain behaviors are
good/bad or right/wrong.
2 Concepts of Ethical Theory
 Dialectic
any discussion of the dialectical method (or simply dialectic) as a way of
establishing the truth of a philosophical question through rational argument (this is
not debate).

Such rational analysis consists of:

• Establish one or more issues to be analyzed.


• For each issue the law and principles presented in agreed guidelines are applied.
• One or more alternative options are presented to be examined rationally and a
correct version identified.
• The analysis will disqualify some options to the ethical issue in favour of others.
Topics for Analytical Tools
Computer Ethics 01
Ethical Theory and Concepts 02

Theoretical Framework 03
3 Theoretical Framework
In the Figure we show Three Basic Approaches to Ethics.

Virtue-based Ethics deals with character: what would a moral or virtuous person do?
Duty Based Ethics deals with one’s duty based on a system of obligations, one of which has
been duty to one or more Gods.
Consequential Ethics focusses on outcomes rather than motives. Good outcomes mean the Three Basic
actions leading to them were good. Approaches to
Action-based Theories focus entirely upon the actions which a person performs, either by their Ethics
consequences or on how well they accord with obligations.
1. Virtue Ethics
What are the Consequences 2. Teleological
 Teleological theory
(Greeks telos, meaning “end” or “goal”
Theory
3. Deontologic
How Should I act?
al Theory
 Action-based theories

What is the basic What is my duty?


issue?  Deontological theory
(Greeks deontos, expresses “obligation”

What sort of person should I be?


 Virtue-based theories
3 Theoretical Framework

 Consequence-based Ethical Theories

When actions are judged morally right based upon their


consequences, we have teleological or consequentialist
ethical theory.
The Greek telos, means“end”or“goal”. Consequentialism is a
family of theories in which the morally right decision or action
is the one with the very best results for people.
3 Theoretical Framework
 Utilitarianism
the most popular consequential theory is Utilitarianism. The principle
of Utilitarianism embodies the notion of operating in the public interest
rather than for personal benefit.

 Ethical Egoism
focuses on self-interest. This ethical principle is used as justification
when something is done to further an individual’s own (long-term) welfare.

 Altruism
French philosopher Auguste Comte coined the word altruisme.
Altruists see the principle “A decision results in benefit for others, even at
a cost to some” as having a justification in evolutionary theory.
3 Theoretical Framework
 Duty-based Ethical Theories
When actions are judged morally right based upon how well
they conform to some set of rules, we have
adeontological(duty- or obligations-based) ethical theory.
The Greek deont, “that which is binding” expresses duty, that
is, actions are essentially right or wrong, without regard to
their consequences. Some actions are never justified (ends
cannot justify means).
Deontological ethics advocate that there are certain actions
which are not morally permissible, irrespective of conditions
or context.
‘Forbidden’ actions often include things such as the killing,
rape, and torture of innocent people.
3 Theoretical Framework
 1st Principle (1785): “act only in accordance with that
maxim through which you can at the same time will that it
become a universal law.”

⇒ “For an action to be morally valid, the agent – or person


performing the act – must not carry out the action unless they
believe that, in the same situation, all people should act in the
same way.”

 2nd Principle (1797): “So act that you treat humanity, both
in your own person and in the person of every other human
being, never merely as a means, but always at the same
time as an end”
⇒ killing always wrong, slavery is wrong.
3 Theoretical Framework
 Rights-based Ethics

This Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South


Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and
affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and
freedom.

In Information Technology the rights may be:


• The right to know
• The right to privacy
• The right to property
3 Theoretical Framework
It seems obvious that every right implies corresponding duties
in order to see that right respected, protected, or fulfilled . It
seems that these duties are much less emphasized.
In the late 1940’s when the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights was being formulated,

Mahatma Gandhi said:

I learnt from my illiterate but wise mother that all rights to be


deserved and preserved came from duty well done. Thus, the
very right to live accrues to us only when we do the duty of
citizenship of the world.
3 Theoretical Framework
 Character-based Ethical Theories

It focuses on the character development of individuals and


good character traits. The fundamental principles of virtue
ethics were introduced in the writings of Plato and Aristotle
nearly 2,500 years ago.

Virtue
is an excellent trait of character. It is a disposition, well entrenched in
its possessor —unlike a habit — to notice, expect, value, feel, desire,
choose, act, and react in certain characteristic ways. To possess a virtue
is to be a certain sort of person with a certain complex mindset. A
significant aspect of this mindset is the wholehearted acceptance of a
distinctive range of considerations as reasons for action.
Topics for Analytical Tools
Computer Ethics 01
Ethical Theory and Concepts 02

Theoretical Framework 03
Ubuntu 04
4 UBUNTU

 Ubuntu

A specially relevant category of virtue ethics is that of ubuntu.

An African philosophy, emphasizes principles of humanness,


connectedness and consciousness in human actions and interactions,
thereby directly influencing ICT design endeavors.
4 UBUNTU
• Ubuntu as an Ethical Principle

Thaddeus Metz [78] sets himself the task, within African


ethics, of stating and justifying a comprehensive, basic norm
that is intended to account for what all permissible acts have
in common as distinct from impermissible ones. He eventually
formulates this as:
An action is right just insofar as it promotes shared identity
among people grounded on good-will; an act is wrong to the
extent that it fails to do so and tends to encourage the
opposites of division and ill-will
3 UBUNTU

• Ubuntu and Computer Ethics

ubuntu seems to argue for greater communal responsibility:


this is clearly a guiding principle in the use of Information and
Communications Technology for Development ( Peace and
Warfare of ICT’s )

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