Ethics Chapter 02 Overview

Chapter 02 - Ethics

• Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy.
• It involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.

Ancient Ethics

• Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh
• Homer's Iliad
• The Icelandic Eddas
• The Sumerian Farmer's Almanac
• The Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope

Ethical Theories

• An introduction to the main three branches of normative ethics.

Normative vs. Descriptive Ethics

• Descriptive Ethics: describes how people behave and the moral standards they claim to follow(e.g., Anthropology, sociology)
• Normative Ethics: seeks to create or evaluate moral standards. It figures out what people should do or if their behavior is reasonable.

Three Types of Normative Ethics

• Teleological: looks at the ends or consequences of actions
• Deontological: adheres to independent moral rules or duties; motives behind actions are right or wrong instead of outcomes (Duty-based)
  • The Golden Rule
  • Religion (e.g., The Ten Commandments)
• Virtue Ethics: character-based theories that examine the role character plays in decision-making and its impact on others.

Therefore, The Ethics Is...

• Merriam-Webster defines ethics as the discipline dealing with what is good/bad and moral duty/obligation.
• Ethics refers to principles people live by and involves self-reflection and moral duty/obligation.
• Ethics involves determining the difference between good and bad and holding responsibility for decisions/actions.
• People generally try not to do "bad" things and consider the consequences of actions.

Why Is Ethics an Issue?

• How are good and bad defined?
• Who decided what is socially acceptable?
• Are there degrees of good and bad?
• What if an action has both good and bad consequences?
• Actions can impact society and the environment, which requires responsibility & consideration
• Ethical dilemmas arise when faced with challenging situations. (e.g., finding a wallet)

Components/Qualities

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Confidentiality
• Objectivity
• Respectfulness
• Obedience to the Law

Dimensions of Ethics (3 Rs of Ethics)

• Rules
• Responsibility
• Respect

Codes of Ethics

• Provide a framework for ethical judgment for professionals
• Guide professionals on how to conduct themselves and resolve issues
• Outline the rights, duties and obligations of members of a profession.

Positive Roles of Codes of Ethics

• Inspiration
• Guidance
• Support for responsible conduct
• Deterring/disciplining unethical professional conduct
• Education and promoting mutual understanding
• Contributing to a positive public image of the profession
• Protecting status quo and suppressing dissent within a profession
• Promoting business interests through restraint of trade

Protecting the Status Quo

• Codes institute ethical conventions that promote minimum acceptable level of ethical conduct.
• They can suppress disputes within the profession.

Limitations of Codes of Ethics

• Broad guidelines, restricted to general phrases; can't be applied to all situations
• Internal conflicts in codes due to overlapping entries
• Codes cannot be the final authority for professional conduct

Computer Ethics

• The study of ethical issues associated with computing machines and computing professions.
  • Concerns about personal data privacy and security, intellectual property, & social consequences of technology design

Computer Ethics (Cont...)

• Don't use a computer to harm other people.
• Don't interfere with other people's computer work.
• Don't snoop around in other people's computer files.
• Don't use a computer to steal.
• Don't copy/use proprietary software without payment.
• Don't use other people's computer resources without authorization or proper compensation.
• Don't appropriate other people's intellectual output.
• Consider social consequences of programs/designs.

End of Lecture

Dive into the principles of ethics in this quiz, exploring ancient ethical texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh and Homer's Iliad. Learn about the distinctions between normative and descriptive ethics, as well as the three primary branches of normative ethics: teleological, deontological, and virtue ethics. Test your understanding of moral philosophy and its applications.