CSCI 369 Ethical Issues in Computing
Fall Semester, 2012
“Contrary to what people of science and religion long believed, questions, not answers, are the building
blocks of the universe.”
-Kenneth Arnold, Cross Currents
Course Description
Will artificially intelligent computers eventually replace human beings? Should scientists stop researching
in fields such as artificial intelligence or nanotechnology in order to safeguard future lives? When software
malfunctions, who is responsible? Do humans have a right to individual privacy? How does the Internet
change our relationships? Is playing video games harmful to our children? Should the net be free?
This course will examine how computers contribute to the good life. Students will become familiar with a
variety of ethical perspectives, will look at how these perspectives crop up in twenty-first century life and
dialog, and will apply these perspectives to questions that arise in the design and use of computers.
This course is designed to address the professional and ethical concerns of computer science majors. It is
also designed to help students integrate their orientation as scientists with their personal belief system to
promote better informed decisions as professionals and to see their lives as an integrated whole.
Goals of the Course
The goals of the course will be for each student:
1. to gain an understanding of the complexity of the ethical issues that underlie computer
use and development by engaging with a variety of philosophical and ethical systems
2. to see scientific, religious, and ethical reasoning as three valid ways to approach the variety of
questions that arise in conjunction with the development and application of computer technology
3. to examine the work of computer science researchers and software developers in relationship to
various concepts of the good of society
4. to develop a personal professional code that integrates the student’s work as a computer scientist with
his or her belief system.
Professor
Dr. Noreen Herzfeld
Computer Science Department
Office: 207 Peter Engel Hall
Phone: 2693
E-mail: nherzfeld@csbsju.edu
Office hours: 10-11 T and Th, and by appointment
Course Calendar (this is a best guess and likely to change)
Aug.
27
29
Introduction: What is Moral Reasoning?
What are information and computing today? Lanier, chapters 1-8
Sept.
3
5
Moral Development
Moral Fallacies
10
12
Utilitarianism
Issues in CSCI: Surveillance
17
19
Libertarianism
Issues in CSCI: Censorship, Blogging, and Anonymity
24
26
AI: Do computers have rights? video
What or who is a person? What does it mean to be human?
1
3
Should some research be stopped? Bill Joy, Jaron Lanier, Mary Shelly
Trials of Dr. Frankenstein and the monster
10
12
Justice and the Market
Issues in CSCI: Music and Intellectual Ownership, Paper1 due
15
17
Issues in CSCI: Copyright
Issues in CSCI: Real problems in a real world
22
24
Kant and Motives
Issues in CSCI: Faulty Software
29
31
Rawls and Equality
Issues in CSCI: Computers and Ecology
5
7
Aristotle and Virtue
Issues in CSCI: Video Games,
12
14
Dilemmas of Loyalty
Issues in CSCI: Whistle Blowing, Hacking, Snowdon and Manning, Paper 2 due
19
21
Issues in CSCI: Computers and the Military
Issues in CSCI: Drones
26
29
Issues in CSCI: Privacy, video and discussion
Issues in CSCI: Privacy and the Internet
3
5
The Common Good
Lanier Revisited, 4-5
10
12
Ethical Codes: Personal and Corporate
Final Class, Paper3 due
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Required Texts
Lanier, Jaron. You are not a Gadget: a Manifesto
Sandel, Michael. Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. on-line or buy from Amazon
Evaluation
Because this class depends on discussion, attendance at all classes is mandatory. In case of illness or
other unavoidable extremities, contact me as soon as possible. Two unexcused absences are ok. After
that, your grade will be lowered by two percentage points for each class that you miss. Class attendance
also presumes that you come prepared and demonstrate completion of the reading assignments for each day.
Lack of demonstrated preparation will lower your grade. To earn an A you must show consistent deep
engagement with the material.
The following criteria will be used to assess your work in the course:
-accuracy in representing an author’s viewpoint or data
-a clear thesis
-organization and coherence of your argument
-appropriate grammar, spelling, and proofreading
-read the university policy on plagerism. Any plagerism will result in failure of the course.
Late papers will be accepted for up to one week but will lose points for each day they are late. Work that is
more than one week late will not be accepted unless you have a prior arrangement with me.
Your grade will be based on the following:
Three short papers
Book Review
Class attendance and participation
Moodle participation
60% (20% each)
20%
10%
10%
You may request S/U grading any time before the last day of class (December 12).
Etiquette
You may bring the beverage of your choice to class, but please, no food. No laptops allowed. Email and Facebook are just too distracting, even for me. Cell phones off. This is one CSCI class
that is for sitting and talking, so let’s have a more or less personal technology free zone.