Introduction to Social, Legal & Ethical Issues Lecture PDF

Lecture 1: Introduction to Social, Legal and Ethical Issues for Computing Technology Module Leaders: Prof. Vlad & Prof. Hesham February 2025 Based on the module textbook “Social, Legal and Ethical Issues for Computing Technology”, by Sara Baase, 4th Ed...

Lecture 1: Introduction to Social, Legal and Ethical Issues for Computing Technology Module Leaders: Prof. Vlad & Prof. Hesham February 2025 Based on the module textbook “Social, Legal and Ethical Issues for Computing Technology”, by Sara Baase, 4th Edition, Pearson Education, 2013 Chapter 1 Why “A Gift of Fire”? Prometheus, according to Greek myth, brought us the gift of fire. Technology can be a blessing and a curse… Fire is a prime example of a technology that kicked of civilization, yet no doubt with a downside. Many people have died from fire, but countless many people lived long productive lives because society had fire… Benefits of Computer Technology Computer technology has revolutionized the way we live and work. Here are some of the benefits of using computers: Efficient information management Better and real-time communication E-commerce and e-business Automation Increased productivity List some more… Drawbacks of Computer Technology Loss of Privacy Theft of Intellectual Property Computer Errors Cyberbullying Reduced physical activity Security risks List more of the negatives… The Contents of the Module In this module, we will explore ethical, legal, and other professional issues in computing What is Ethics? Definition 1: Ethics is the system or code of morals of a particular person, religion, group, or profession. Definition 2: Ethics is a set of beliefs about right and wrong behavior within a society. Definition 3: Ethics is the study of what it means to “do the right thing.” “Ethics” derived from the Greek word “ethos”, which means “custom”, “habit”, and “way of living”. The formal study of ethics goes back at least 2,400 years, to the Greek philosopher Socrates. Please note: Ethics are subject to personal interpretation. Two people may not view the same ethical issue the same way. Ethical Issues of Information Technology: Some Examples 1. Millions of people have downloaded music and movies at no charge and in apparent violation of copyright laws at tremendous expense to the owners of those copyrights. 2. Organizations contact millions of people worldwide through unsolicited email (spam) as an extremely low-cost marketing approach. 3. Web sites plant cookies and spyware on visitors’ hard drives to track their online purchases and activities. Ethical Issues of Information Technology: Some Examples 4. Hackers break into databases of financial and retail institutions to steal customer information, then use it to commit identity theft—opening new accounts and charging purchases to unsuspecting victims. 5. Students around the world have been caught downloading material from the Web and plagiarizing content for their essays and project papers. 6. Without doubt, you can give much more examples… Professional Ethics Professional Ethics concerns one's conduct of behavior and practice when carrying out professional work, e.g., consulting, researching, teaching and writing. Professional Ethics must take into account: Relations between professionals and clients Relation between profession and society Relations among professionals Relations between employee and employer Specialized technical details of the profession A computing professional must understand cultural, social, legal, and ethical issues in computing; responsibility and possible consequences of failure Overview of Ethical Theories – 1 of 7 The Golden Rule The Bible and Confucius tell us to treat others as we would want them to treat us. In other words, you should do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. This is a valuable ethical guideline. It suggests a reciprocity, or a role reversal. Overview of Ethical Theories – 2 of 7 Subjective Relativism Ethical relativism is the theory that there are no universal moral norms of right and wrong. According to this theory, different individuals or groups of people can have completely opposite views of a moral problem, and both can be right. Overview of Ethical Theories – 3 of 7 Divine Command Theory The divine command theory is based on the idea that good actions are those aligned with the will of God and bad actions are those contrary to the will of God. Since the holy books contain God’s directions, we can use the holy books as moral decision-making guides. God says do not lie or steal, so lying and stealing are bad. Overview of Ethical Theories – 4 of 7 Ethical Egoism Ethical egoism is the theory that each person should focus exclusively on his or her self-interest. In other words, according to ethical egoism, the morally right action for a person to take in a particular situation is the action that will provide that person with the maximum long-term benefit. Overview of Ethical Theories – 5 of 7 Kantianism and the Categorical Imperative Kantianism is the name given to the ethical theory of the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724–1804). For Kant, an imperative is a way in which reason commands the will. A categorical imperative is an unconditional rule: a rule that always applies, regardless of the circumstances. For Kant, only a categorical imperative can be a moral imperative. Overview of Ethical Theories – 6 of 7 Utilitarianism A theory proposed by the English philosophers Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806–1873). According to Bentham and Mill, an action is good if its benefits exceed its harms, and an action is bad if its harms exceed its benefits. Their ethical theory is based upon the Principle of Utility, also called the Greatest Happiness Principle: An action is right (or wrong) to the extent that it increases (or decreases) the total happiness of the affected parties. Overview of Ethical Theories – 7 of 7 Social Contract Theory According to Social Contract Theory, morality consists in the set of rules, governing how people are to treat one another, that rational people will agree to accept, for their mutual benefit, on the condition that others follow those rules as well. Overview Summary: A Variety of Ethical Views We cannot solve ethical problems by applying a formula or an algorithm. Ethical theories do not provide clear, incontrovertibly correct positions on most issues. We can use the approaches described to support opposite sides of many moral issues. Although ethical theories do not completely settle difficult, controversial issues, they help to identify important principles or guidelines. What is Law? Law is a system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties. It is a discipline and profession concerned with the customs, practices, and rules of conduct of a community that are recognized as binding by the community. The body of rules is enforced through a controlling authority. What is Rule of Law? The rule of law requires the government to exercise its authority under the law. “No one is above the law.” Legislations are the making or giving of laws, specifically: the exercise of the power and function of making rules that have the force of authority by virtue of their promulgation by an official organ of the state. In the UK, a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament. Sanctions Sanctions, in law and legal definition, are penalties or other means of enforcement used to provide incentives for obedience with the law, or with rules and regulations. To ensure that the rule of law is obligatory, it should be attached to a sanction ( a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule): Criminal sanction (Fine, Imprisonment, Capital Punishment) Administrative sanction (Firing, Suspension) International law sanction(Economic, Diplomatic, Political, Military) The Difference Between Morals, Ethics, and Laws Morals are one’s personal beliefs about right and wrong. Ethics are standards or codes of behavior expected of an individual by a group (nation, organization, profession) to which an individual belongs. Law is a system of rules that tells us what we can and cannot do. Laws are enforced by a set of institutions (the police, courts, law- making bodies). Legal acts are acts that conform to the law. Moral acts conform to what an individual believes to be the right thing to do. Laws can proclaim an act as legal, although many people may consider the act immoral—for example, abortion. Law and Ethics Ethics precedes law in the sense that ethical principles help determine whether or not we should pass specific laws. Some laws enforce ethical rules (e.g., against murder and theft). By definition, we are ethically obligated to obey such laws—not because they are laws, but because the laws implement the obligations and prohibitions of ethical rules. Thank you! Next week: Lecture 2: Professional Ethics