Ethics
for the Information Age
Michael J. Quinn
Terms
• Society
– An association of people organized under a system
of rules designed to advance the good of its
members over time
• Morality
– Rules of conduct describing what people ought and
ought not to do in various situations
• Ethics
– The philosophical study of morality, a rational
examination into people’s moral beliefs and
behaviors
Scenario 1
page 56
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Did Alexis do anything wrong?
Who benefited from Alexis’s course of action?
Who was hurt by Alexis’s course of action?
Did Alexis have unfair advantage over her high
school classmates?
Would any of your answers change if it turns out
Alexis did not win a college scholarship after all and
is now working at McDonalds?
Are there better ways Alexis could have
accomplished her objective?
What additional information would help you answer
the previous questions?
Scenario 2
page 57
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Did the anti-spam organization do anything wrong?
Did the ISPs that refused to accept email from the
blacklisted ISPs do anything wrong?
Who benefited from the organization’s action?
Who was hurt by the organization’s action?
Could the organization have achieved its goals
through a better course of action?
What additional information would help you answer
the previous questions?
Scenario 3
page 57
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Did the East Dakota State Police do anything
wrong?
Who benefited from the actions of the EDSP?
Who was hurt by the actions of the EDSP?
What other courses of action could the EDSP have
taken to achieve its objectives? Examine the
advantages and disadvantages of these alternative
courses of action.
What additional information would help you answer
the previous questions?
Scenario 4
page 58
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Should you recommend release of the product next
week?
Who will benefit if the company follows your
recommendation?
Who will be harmed if the company follows your
recommendation?
Do you have an obligation to any group of people
that may be affected by your decision?
What additional information would help you answer
the previous questions?
Ethical Theories
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2400 years ago Socrates was
His student, Plato, put Socrates’ philosophy in
writing
A useful theory is one that allows its proponents to
examine moral problems, reach conclusions and
defend those conclusions in front of a skeptical, yet
open-minded audience
If you are unable to give logical reasons that
support your conclusions, you are unlikely to
persuade anyone
Following are 7 ethical theories
Subjective Relativism
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Relativism
There are no universal moral norms of right and
wrong
Individuals or groups can have completely
opposite views of a moral problem and both can
be right
Subjective Relativism
Holds that each person decides right and wrong
for himself/herself
Cases for and against
Cultural Relativism
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The meaning of right and wrong rests with a
society’s actual moral guidelines
The guidelines vary from place to place and
time to time
Read dilemma p. 63
Cases for and against
Divine Command
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This 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
Cases for and against
Kantianism
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Kant believed that people’s actions ought to be guided by
moral laws and that these laws were universal
In order to apply to all rational beings, any supreme principle of
morality must itself be based on reason
Kant concluded that the only thing in the world that can be called
good without qualification is good will
Accordingly, we should focus on what we ought to do ...
dutifulness
Allows the moral laws to be derived through a reasoning
process
A Kantian goes beyond simply stating that an action is right or
wrong and can explain why it is right or wrong
Categorical Imperatives (1st and 2nd page 70 and 71)
Scenario p. 72
Cases for and against
Act Utilitarianism
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An action is good if it benefits someone
An action is bad if it harms someone
The principle of utility
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An action is right (or wrong) to the extent that it
increases (or decreases) the total happiness of the
affected parties
Scenario page 75
Cases for and against
Rule Utilitarianism
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We ought to adopt those moral rules which, if
followed by everyone, will lead to the greatest
increase in total happiness
Applies the principle of utility to moral rules
instead of individual moral actions
Scenario page 79
Cases for and against
Social Contract
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Rational people understand that cooperation is essential and
possible only when people mutually agree to follow certain
guidelines
Thus, moral rules are set up when those living in a civilized
society agree to:
1.
2.
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Establish a set of moral rules to govern relations among citizens
A government capable of enforcing those rules
Rousseau adds that the critical problem is to find an
association that guarantees each person safety and property,
yet enables each person to remain free
Scenario page 86
Cases for and against