Business & Computer Ethics

Business & Computer Ethics

Philosophy
103

Gale Justin

What is Computer Ethics?

Study of how to resolve conflicts between
computer use and our values.

Why does computer use create a vacuum of rules?

We do not yet have moral conventions to govern the use of computer technology.

Why can’t we apply to computer technology the moral conventions that we apply to non-computer technology?

We do not have accurate classifications for computer activities and products.

Johnson says,:

"There [is] a need to clear up the conceptual muddle[s] so that the new entity [can] be seen in relation to familiar legal and moral norms."

What is software?

Is office e-mail private?

We cannot simply map the old rules onto the use of the new technology.

According to Johnson:

"It is a new species of a traditional moral issues."

Reasoning by Analogy is a tool for extending moral conventions to unfamiliar cases.

Reasoning by Analogy is:

Drawing a conclusion about an unfamiliar case by comparing it to a familiar, relevantly similar case.

The more numerous the relevant similarities,
the more likely it is that the judgment made about the familiar case is also true for the unfamiliar case.

Is a computer bulletin board like a bookstore?

What is Professional Ethics?

Study of the rights and responsibilities conferred on a person as a consequence of the
person’s job.

Jobs carry with them rights and responsibilities.

Jobs are performed under special constraints.

In jobs, people can do social harm and social good.

Job Relationships include:

Employee - Employer

Client - Professional

Professional - Professional

Values are associated with these job relationships.

Loyalty

Honesty

Cooperation

Debates

"Is the sole responsibility of business to make a profit?"

Business & Computer Ethics

Philosophy
103

Gale Justin

Debates

"Is there anything new in the moral issues raised by computers?"

Are the ethical issues surrounding the use of computers new?

The moral issues are not new. The technology whose use leads to moral issues is new.As

Johnson suggests:

The new issue can be addressed by extending familiar moral principles to the new situation. The technology is new. The values due to which the dilemmas arise are not new. Privacy, Property, Respect for Persons, Fairness are valued.To resolve value conflicts due to computer use, we need to:

Apply a traditional moral principle
or

Reinterpret a traditional moral principle.

There is a new issue only if there is a new value.

Consider Gift Giving
As Johnson says,:"The presence of computer technology means that the moral issue arises with a new feature or new possibility.
"Debates"Is the sole responsibility of business to make a profit?"