Intro to Ethics

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Intro to Ethics

• CSCI 327

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Scenarios (see textbook section 2.1.2)

• Alexis using the campus computer for homework.
• U.S. ISPs block all traffic from Asian ISP
• FBI uses traffic cameras to catch terrorists
• Possible release of medical software with bugs.

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Definitions

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

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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.

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Relativism

• Relativism - because there is no universal moral
  system, there is no 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.

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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
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Kantianism (duty based)

• moral system must be based in our
  obligations to each other
• act only if the rule can be applied universally
  to all humans (what if everyone did that?)
• act only if the rule ensures that all humans will
  be treated as ends-in-themselves

Example - student turns in paper late to save
professor from being swamped.
not moral because rule can not be applied to
everyone
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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
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Just Consequentialism

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

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Scenarios (again)

• Alexis using the campus computer for homework
• U.S. ISPs block all traffic from Asian ISP
• FBI uses traffic cameras to catch terrorists
• Possible release of medical software with bugs.

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Next Class

• Critical Thinking
• How to form and evaluate arguments
• In-Class Writing Assignment