Transcript - Computer Science Home

Thoughts in February 2003:
1. Axis of evil vs. axis of hatred
What type of statement
2. Identity theft is getting out of hand
misidentifying people based on name, origin
3. Mayor of NY as an extortionist target
4. Death threat over internet- anything special or can same
laws apply
Ethics
Descriptive vs. Normative Claims
Descriptive
what does happen
Record companies charge for downloads
visa violators are incarcerated
Normative Claims
what should happen
artists should be paid fairly
Jailed visa violator should be assumed
innocent until proven guilty
2
Newspaper articles of 2/17/02
•Record companies form web sights for fans to download
music at >$.25 per download with $.0025 going to artists.
Artists not notified and some scream to no avail.
•Small companies encouraging employees to publish on web
to establish claim for patent. (British Telecom claims it has
patent for hyperlinks.)
•People cleared of terrorist connections incarcerated for over
100 days on visa violations- national security versus
presumption of innocence.
•Cheney claims executive privilege and refuses to talk about
Enron
•Facial recognition not used at Olympics <good project>
1
Ethical Relativism
Ethical Relativism- what is right for me may not be right
for you.
Supporting arguments - descriptive not normative
•Diversity in beliefs
•treatment of women, polygamy
•Moral beliefs change over time
•slavery was once acceptable
•Social environment plays role in shaping morals
•If I were raised in certain Muslim societies, I might
think it would be improper for a women to appear in
public with a face uncovered
3
Ethical Relativism
Ethical relativism means that there are no
universal rights and wrongs. But is this true?
The claims are descriptive but does this mean
that they should occur.
If they say that one’s morals are set by one’s
environment, are they not asserting a universal
moral principle.
If the ethical relativists claim one should not be
disrespectful of people from a different society,
whose values seem different, yet tolerance
seems to be a universal truth.
4
Ethical Relativism
Suggests that a person going against the rules of his own
society is acting unethically.
•In a society where women are not supposed to work
outside the home, is it wrong for a woman to be a nurse?
•In Hitler’s Germany, was it wrong for someone to refuse
to make armaments.
•What happened in the meeting between
Heisenberg and Bohr in 1942.(Play Copenhagen)
•In any country at war, is it unethical to refuse to serve
one’s country.
Ethical relativism does not help one to figure out what to do
in difficult situations.
5
Utilitariansm
Utilitarianism- Everyone out to act to bring about the
greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of
people.
Why are you choosing to be computer scientists?
You like it? You think it will pay well? Gives
you a chance to be creative.
You believe it will make you happy?
Happiness is the ultimate good
6
Utilitarianism
Rule utilitarians say we out to adopt rules that
if followed by everyone would in the long run
maximize happiness.
Never lie, keep promises, don’t hurt
others
Act utilitlarians put emphasis on actions not
rules.
Might lie to person on deathbed
Utilitarians focus on deterrent effect of
punishment.
7
Utilitariansm- critique
People are means not ends in themselves.
If killing an accident victim, to recover his organs
saves several people, then do it.
If awarding 2 gold medals makes more people
happy, then do it.
If giving all A’s makes more people happy, then do
it.
For a scarce resource, those who will contribute
most to society should have access- is this correct?
The rights of the minority might be trampled.
Does not seem to adequately handle the distribution of
benefits and burdens.
8
Categorical Imperative
Kant-Never treat another human being merely as a means but
always as an end
In business, pay fair wages and treat employees with
respect.
Do not misuse data collected about people.do not sell their identities,
don’t sell their names for mailing lists,
disclose information about themfinancial or medical without notifying them.
9
Rights
Your right to swing your arms ends at my nose.
Negative rights- requires restraint of others-
my right not to killed, spindled or mutilated. My right not to
spammed or to get anonymous threatening emails.
Positive rights- duty of others to do something for another-
feed me if I am hungry, care for me if I am sick.
Distinguish between legal rights and moral rights. Does
company have a moral right to block employees from getting
at their 401k plans.
10
Social Policy Ethics
Should a government grant creators a legal right to
their own software?
Should software engineers be liable for errors in their
software design?
Should companies be allowed to electronically
monitor their employers?
Should the internet be monitored?
Should truth in advertising rules be enforced?
Should the government ensure privacy rights on the
internet?
11
Computer ethics involves extending traditional moral
concepts to new situations with new features.
We need a dialogue- a dialectic to arrive at the truth.
We need to distinguish between what is and what should
be.
We need to realize what is our ethical standard- whether
we are using people as means not as ends in themselves.
12