16 Questions
What is the main concern of ethicists working in fields of applied ethics?
Applying ethical theories to analyze moral problems
What is the term used to describe the gaps in laws and policies resulting from technological advancements?
Policy vacuums
Why do some policy vacuums require clarification before new policies can be formulated?
Because of conceptual muddles
What is the term used to describe the ability of computers to be molded in ways that allow for many different kinds of uses?
Logical malleability
What is the primary distinction made by Moor (2000) in analyzing the issues involved in this debate?
Between unique technological features and unique ethical issues
What is the main concern of traditionalists in the debate?
No new ethical issues introduced by computers
What is the example given in the text to illustrate a policy vacuum?
Duplication of software
What are the three distinct perspectives of applied ethics mentioned in the text?
Professional Ethics, Philosophical Ethics, and Sociological Ethics
What is the main issue of debate in the context of cyberethics?
Whether technology has introduced new ethical issues
What is the main argument of Traditionalists regarding cyberethics?
Crime is crime, regardless of the medium
What is an example of the impact of scale in cyberethics?
A single bully can harass multiple victims
What is a criticism of the Uniqueness Proponents' argument?
They confuse unique features with unique issues
What is an example of a unique feature of computer technology?
Its speed and malleability
What is the logical fallacy in the Uniqueness Proponents' argument?
Confusing unique features with unique issues
What is a consequence of the impact of scope in cyberethics?
Cyberbullies can operate globally
What is the conclusion of the debate between Traditionalists and Uniqueness Proponents?
Both sides are partly correct
Study Notes
Cyberethics Issues: Uniqueness Debate
- The debate revolves around whether cybertechnology has generated new or unique ethical issues, with traditionalists and uniqueness proponents holding different views.
Traditionalist View
- Traditionalists argue that nothing is new – crime is crime, and murder is murder, implying that cyberethics issues are not unique.
- They underestimate the role of scale and scope in cyberethics issues, which can have a significant impact on the severity and reach of the issue.
Uniqueness Proponent View
- Uniqueness proponents argue that cybertechnology has introduced new and unique ethical issues that could not have existed before computers.
- They tend to overstate the effect of cybertechnology on ethics, confusing unique features of computer technology with unique ethical issues.
Critique of the Uniqueness Thesis
- The argument is based on a logical fallacy: premise 1: cybertechnology has unique technological features, premise 2: cybertechnology generates some ethical issues, conclusion: (at least some of the) ethical issues generated by cybertechnology must be unique.
Moor's Argument
- Moor (2000) argues that computer technology generates “new possibilities for human action” because computers are logically malleable.
- Logical malleability in computers means that they can be molded in ways that allow for many different kinds of uses, leading to policy vacuums.
Policy Vacuums
- Policy vacuums are “voids” or gaps in our laws and policies.
- Some policy vacuums cannot easily be filled because of conceptual muddles, requiring elucidation before clear policies can be formulated and justified.
Applied Ethics
- Applied ethics examines "practical" ethical issues, analyzing moral issues from the vantage-point of one or more ethical theories.
- Three distinct perspectives of applied ethics in cyberethics: Professional Ethics, Philosophical Ethics, and Sociological/Descriptive Ethics.
This quiz assesses understanding of the debate around whether computer technology introduces new ethical issues or merely complicates traditional ones. It covers the views of Moor (2000) on computer technology and human action.
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