introduc)on to computers and society csc 301 fall 2016 howard...
TRANSCRIPT
Introduc)onToComputersandSocietyCSC301Fall2016
HowardRosenthal
LessonGoals� Describethiscourse,includingitsgoalsandmethods� Providesomehistoricalbackgroundintoethics� Providesometoolsandmethodsforstudyingethicalissuesandcomingtosomeconclusions
� Provideanoverviewofsomeoftheethicalissuesandproblemsassociatedwithadvancesincomputerscience
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ClassDescrip,on(1)� Thisclassisintendedtoextendthebackgroundandknowledgeofstudents,allowingthemtobetterunderstandsomeoftheethicalandlegalissuesassociatedwithworkinginthecomputerfield� When you start out in industry or government you will be told
very explicitly what to do or not do – i.e. export laws � As you grow into management or other decision making
positions you are sometimes forced to make difficult decisions � As you will learn in this class, the answers aren’t always clear
and straight forward � Some of the issues you will be deciding on in the future are not
yet issues today – i.e. Artificial Intelligence � If a machine gains consciousness must it be given the rights of a
human being? � If it is conscious can you turn it off? Is that murder or going to
sleep? (see 2001- A Space Odyssey)
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ClassDescrip,on(2)� Thisclassisgoingtobehighlyinteractive
� You will need to participate, present and debate in a clear, logical and well-prepared way. You need to back up your arguments with facts.
� There will be lots of reading and writing in this class, starting with the text “A Gift of Fire”, but not ending there � You will need to read ahead in this class in order to be better
prepared for the lectures � This book does often take a libertarian approach, but we will try
to steer away from political issues for the most part. � However, depending on the ethical approach you adopt, you
may come up with different conclusions � I will be introducing computer technology topics as we go
along in order to provide additional background. That will allow for greater depth in our discussions
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ClassGroundRules� Ethics,religionandpoliticscansometimesgetmixedup,withour
religiousbeliefsand/orethicalbeliefsdrivingourpoliticalbeliefs� Thesesubjectscansometimesgeneratestrongreactions
� Thereforewehavesomerules� Respecteachothersopinions� Presentyourargumentslogicallyandsuccinctlysothatotherscan
haveachance–thinkandmaybejotafewnotesbeforespeaking� Don’tinterruptaclassmate,youwillhaveachancetorespond� Don’tdenigrateanotherclassmate’sposition� Noinsults,cursingoruseofinappropriatelanguage� TheProfessorwillcontrolthelengthofanydiscussion,andtheorder
ofspeaking� Ifyoufeelthatyouarebeingtreatedunfairlyinanyway,letthe
Professorknowsothatthesituationcanberemedied� Remember,wecomefrommanydifferentbackgroundsandmayreact
tothesamesituationsorargumentsincompletelydifferentway
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Homework� Homeworkwillinclude
� Afactualreviewofthechapter� Answerscanbefoundinthetext� Pleaseprovideexactanswers� Iwillposttheanswerstothispartonline
� Willincludemultiplepossibleanswers,eventhoughyoumaybeaskedtosupplyonlyoneortwo
� Additionalessaysorpresentations� Gradedonlogicalthoughtandconvincingarguments� Whenconclusionsarereached,shoulddescribehowtheywere
reached� Mayincludereferencestotheethicalframeworkusedincomingto
yourconclusion� Mayrequiresomeadditionalresearch
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EthicalandMoralDilemmas� Everytechnologybringsbothbenefitsandproblems
� Moralissues� Crime� Privacy(obviousandnotsoobvious)
� Canyousecretlytakepicturesofsomeone(Obvioussometimes,butwedohavemachinestakingfilminalmosteverystore)
� OnceyoupostallyourinformationonFacebook(Notsoobvious)
� Postinguntrueormisleadinginformation
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EthicalandMoralDilemmas–Some)meFic)onReflectsTheRealWorld–TheMar)an� TheheadofNASAdecidedtosendanemergencypodwithoutpropertestinginordertomeetthescheduledlaunchdate� Thepodblewupduetoanunanticipatedproblem� Intheendthedecisionmakerwasnotpunished
� TheastronautmanagersentsurreptitiousdirectionstothecrewtoreroutetheshipbacktoMars,forcingNASA’shand� Thedecisionledtoasuccessfulrecovery� Themanagerwasretiredaftertheshipreturnedsuccessfully
� Thecrewdecidedtofollowthesecretinstructions,by-passingNASAdespitealonglistofrisks� Ledtoasuccessfulmission� Unclearwhattheimpactwasonindividualcareers
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Isbuckingthesystemeverethical?Canotherconsiderationsforceyoutoviolateprocedures?Aretheseethicalissues?
SomeKeyEthicalIssues� MetadataCollection
� Metadatadescribesotherdata.Itprovidesinformationaboutacertainitem'scontent� Animagemayincludemetadatathatdescribeshowlargethepictureis,thecolordepth,the
imageresolution,whentheimagewascreated,andotherdata.� Atextdocument'smetadatamaycontaininformationabouthowlongthedocumentis,who
theauthoris,whenthedocumentwaswritten,andashortsummaryofthedocument.� TheNSAhastriedtousemetadatatrackingandcomplexanalyticalformulasto
identifypotentialsecuritythreats,butthisabilityhaslatelybeenrestrictedbyCongress
� NetworkNeutrality� Canyougiveprioritytopayingservices?
� SearchEnginePrioritization� Canadvertiserspaytobelistedearlier,andmustthesepaymentsbe
disclosed� Privacy� Softwareorcontenttheft,plagiarism,copying,sharing� Bullying,shaming� Viruses–goodandbaduses–whathappensiftheygetloose
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ThePaceofChange� Whentherewereafewmega-industriesthepaceofchangewasslower
� Therewasactuallyatermcalledplannedobsolescence,wherecompaniesslowlyintroducednewtechnologiesoveranextendedtimeframe–theautoindustrywasfamousforthis
� Todaythepaceofchangeissofast,drivenbycomputersandothertechnologies–thatwholeindustriesareoftenwipedoutintheblinkofaneye� Amazon(booksandmovies)andNetflix(movies)-CompanieslikeBlockbuster,andmost
bookstoreswerewipedoutalmostovernight.� AppleiPodsandiPhoneschangedthemusicandtelecommunicationindustries–mobile
phoneswentfromluxurytonecessityinafewyears,bothintheU.S.andaroundtheworld,eveninthepoorestofcountries
� On-lineshopping–BothSportsAuthorityandSportsChalethavedeclaredbankruptcy?� Information–Whobuysencyclopediasanymore?� On-linebankingandATMs–rapidaccessbutachangedbankingindustry� Automatedinventoriesandsupplychain–cutsoutmanyreorderingactivities,automates
inventorymaintenance
� Internet–accesstoeverythingandworld-wideconnectivitybutalso:� CrimeandTheft� Spying� Pornography
� E-mail–Greatcommunicationtoolbutledto� Phishing,spam,spoofing,scams
� Anengineofequality� Everyonecangainequalaccesstotheworldwithalittleeffort� Theworldhasgonefromshortwaveradiotoinstantaneousaccess
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Baase’sThemes(1)� Oldproblemsinanewcontext
� Regulatinggambling,protectingcopyrights,….� Adaptingtonewtechnology
� Howwelive,howweteach,etiquetteontheInternet,businesspractices
� Solutionstoproblems� Newandvariedsourcesforsolutions� Solutionsmaycomefromhardware,software,legalsystem,modes
ofoperation,etc.� ThereachoftheInternet
� Dictatorshipstrytocontroltheflowofinformation,butitismuchhardertodoinaninterconnectedworld
� Trade-offsindecisionmaking� Privacyvs.thelaw,technologyvs.people,etc.
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Baase’sThemes(2)� Perfectionasadirection,notanoption
� Trade-offsareusuallybetweenimperfectoptions� Differencesbetweenpersonalchoices,businesspoliciesandlaw,none
ofwhichmayinvolveactualethicalchoices,althoughtheymaybeinformedbythem� Personalchoices–basedonourownpreferences–whatwebuy,
wherewework,whatwewatchonTV,howwevote,whatorganizationswebelongto
� Businesspolicies–goalsofthecompany,fiduciaryresponsibilities,investmentstrategies,etc.
� Laws–imposeddecisionswithfarreachingconsequences,mustbecarefulinpassinglawsthatimposeyourvaluesonotherswhomaynotagree
� Note:Theauthorseemstohaveasomewhatlibertarianviewoftheuseoflaw.Othersmayviewthelawdifferently,wantingtoshapepersonalchoicesthroughtheforceoflaw.
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Ethics� DictionaryDefinition
� Thebranchofphilosophythatdealswithmorality.Ethicsisconcernedwithdistinguishingbetweengoodandevilintheworld,betweenrightandwronghumanactions,andbetweenvirtuousandnon-virtuouscharacteristicsofpeople.
� BaaseDefinition� Whatdoesitmeantodotherightthing,giventhatpeopleare
rationalandfreetomakechoices� Manytimespeopleareencumberedintheirchoicesandthisleadstoabreakdownintheirthinking� Classicexample:TheChallengertookoffoutsideofthelaunch
parameters,theO-ringfailedandtheshipblewup� Peoplewereunderbusiness,financial,careerandpoliticalpressures
thatcloudedtheirjudgment� Oneofthehardestthingstodoistostepoutsidetheboxofallthese
pressurescomeupwithasolutionthatismadeinatrulyfreemanner� Sometimessocialnormsvarygreatlyfromethicalstandards
� Slavery,segregation,holocausts
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SeeReference:WhatisEthics
EthicalTheories-Deontology� EmmanuelKant(1724–1804)wasaleadingproponent� Basedontheconceptofabsoluterules,whethertheyleadtogoodorevil,thisiswhyitiscalledthenonconsequentialistoractbasedethics
� Rulescanbeuniversallyapplied� Logicorreasondeterminesethicalbehavior–“Respectthereasoninyou”
� Kantarguedthatitwasnottheconsequencesofactionsthatmakethemrightorwrongbutthemotivesofthepersonwhocarriesouttheaction.
� Kanttooktheabsolutistviewonethics–i.e.“Lyingisneverpermitted”butofcoursetheconsequencesofnotlyingcouldbeaproblem
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EthicalTheories-U)litarianism� PrimaryadvocatesinJohnStuartMill(1806–1873)andJohnDewey
(1859-1952)� Theaggregatevalueofachoiceisusedtocalculateitsethicalvalue–the
consequentialistorresultbasedethicsapproach� Rulesarejudgedbytheirnetimpact� Itmaybenecessaryundercertaincircumstancestobreakarule� Tendstolookatthecommongood
� Itfocusesonsociety,ratherthanonloneindividuals,astheentitywhichachievesmorality.
� Itallowsthatamoraljudgmentmaybeappropriateinoneageofagivensociety,eventhoughitwillceasetobeappropriateafterthatsocietyprogresses(ormayalreadybeinappropriateinanothersociety).� Shouldwejudgedifferentsocietiesorcenturiesbydifferentstandards� Weretheirethicalstandardsevolving?
� Mainobjectionisthatitmaydisregardindividualfreedom� Pragmaticethicsmaybemisunderstoodasrelativist� AdilemmainUtilitarianism
� Canyoutakefoodfromonepersonandgiveittoanotherjustbecausethesecondpersonisstarving?
� Ifyousaidyes–Canyoutakeakidneyfromonepersonandgiveittoanotherjustbecausethesecondpersonneedsittosurvive?
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EthicalTheories–NaturalRights� JohnLocke(1632-1704)wasaprimaryproponent
� ExtremelyinfluentialontheFoundingFathers� Definesasphereoffreedom,includingfundamentalrights
� Life,Liberty,PursuitofHappiness,PropertyRights� Fromtheseprincipleswecanimplyethicalrulesagainstkilling,
stealing,deception,andcoercion� Voluntaryinteractionswithoutdeceitorcoercionareemphasized–
theprocessisofgreatimportance,notnecessarilytheresult
� Ifeveryoneadherestotheseprinciplesvoluntarilythentheprocesswillbepureeveniftheresultsaren’talwaysso
� Thisiswhytheyword“pursuit”issoimportantandsoarguedover
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EthicalTheories-Nega)veandPosi)veRights� NegativeRights–alsocalledLiberties
� Rightswithoutinterference� Otherscan’toverruleorinterferewiththeserights� Life,property,speech,religion,etc.aresuchrights
� EmbodiedinmuchoftheBillofRights� Oftendeniedinauthoritarianstates
� Example–youcanchoosewhereyouwanttowork� PositiveRights
� Claimed0rcreated� Imposeanobligationfromonegrouptoanother
� Examplesincludingpayingforsomeoneelse’shealthcareorfood� Imposingarequirementononepersonorgrouptohireanotherperson� Socialjusticeisbasedonthepremisethatclaimrightsarelegitimateandeven
ethicallyrequired� Impositionofpositiverightsrequiresalargergovernment
� Leadstolargescalelobbyingasspecialinterestscompetefortheirclaimrights
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EthicalTheories–GoldenRule� TheBibleandConfucius–anotherconsequentialapproach
� Considerotherswhenmakingethicaldecisions� Theoutcomecandeterminetheactiontotake
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EthicalTheories–SocialContracts� Whatistheroleofgovernmentinanethicalbodypolitic� Peoplesubmittoabasicsetofgoverninglaws
� TheseareembodiedintheConstitutionandtheBillofRights� PeoplelikeLockebelievedinlimitedgovernment–thegovernmentisthereto
enforcenaturalrights� ThomasHobbes(1588-1679)believedthatthesocialcontractrequiredpeople
tocederightstogovernmentinordertoformabettersociety� InhisbookLeviathansaysthatmanstartsfroma“StateofNature”whereeach
personactsaccordingtohisownselfinterest� Rationalthoughtleadstomancedingsomeindependenceinordertoseeka
bettersituationthroughasocialcontract� HistoricalsocialcontractsincludetheMagnaCartaandU.S.Constitution
� JohnRawls(1921-2002)tookamoreradicalviewinhisbook‘ATheoryofJustice’� Governmentwastheretofurthersocialjustice� Heseesthegovernmentgoingbeyondthepursuitofhappinessto
guaranteeingfairnessandequalityofoutcomes� ThisisthegreatdebateragingintheSupremeCourtandthecountrytoday
19SeeReference:Lockevs.Hobbes
EthicalTheories–TheVeilofIgnorance(1)� JohnRawlsusedthe“VeilofIgnorance”and“OriginalPosition”asstartingpoints� Peopleintheoriginalpositiondonotknowtheirplaceinsociety,theirnaturaloracquiredtraitsorabilities,whatconceptionsofthegoodtheyhave,norwhattheirparticulargoalsare.
� Theydonotknowtheparticularpolitical,economicorculturalcharacteristicsoftheirownsocietynordotheyknowtowhichgenerationtheybelong.
� Theydoknowthattheyarecontemporaries,thattheyareinthecircumstanceswherehumancooperationisbothpossibleanddesirableandthattheyareeachcapableofasenseofjustice.
� Thereisnolimittotheirknowledgeofgeneralinformationsuchasiscontainedinpolitical,social,economicandpsychologicaltheories.
20SeeReference:OriginalPosition…
EthicalTheories–TheVeilofIgnorance(2)� Rawlsmaintainsthatpeopleintheoriginalpositionwouldchoosethefollowingspecialconceptionofjustice:� Eachpersonistohaveanequalrighttothemostextensivetotal
systemofequalbasiclibertiescompatiblewithasimilarsystemoflibertyforall.
� Socialandeconomicinequalitiesaretobearrangedsothattheyaretothegreatestbenefitoftheleastadvantagedandareattachedtoofficesandpositionsopentoallunderconditionsoffairequalityofopportunity.
� Therewillbeequalopportunityforeveryonetoclimbtheeconomicand/orsocialladderandthatanysocialoreconomicinequalitiesthatareallowedmustbearrangedsothattheyimprovetheaccesstoPrimaryGoodsfortheLeastAdvantaged.
� Hebelievedthatifnooneknewtheirpositionorcircumstancethattheywouldlooktoensurethegreatestlevelofequality
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EthicalTheories–TheVeilofIgnorance(3)� Oneruleofchoice—called“maximin”
� Directsthatweplayitassafeaspossiblebychoosingthealternativewhoseworstoutcomeleavesusbetteroffthantheworstoutcomeofallotheralternatives.
� Theaimisto“maximizetheminimum”regretorlosstowell-being.� Tofollowthisstrategy,Rawlssaysyoushouldchooseasifyourenemy
weretoassignyoursocialpositioninwhateverkindofsocietyyouendupin.
� Whathappensifyouproduceaproductthatimprovesefficiencybutleadstounemployment–Isitlegitimatetoproducethatproduct?
� Bycontrastanotherstrategyleadsustofocusonthemostadvantagedpositionandsaysweshould“maximizethemaximum”potentialgain—“maximax”—andchoosethealternativewhosebestoutcomeleavesusbetteroffthanallotheralternatives.� ClearlythisinnottheRawlsalternative� However,itmorecloselyresemblesthecapitalisticview
� Humannaturedrivesusalltosucceedandtherewillbemorewealthifeveryoneisworkingtomaximizetheirrewards
� HenryFordpaidhisworkersabetterwagesothattheycouldbuyhiscars
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Summary� Notallethicalissuesareeasilydecided
� Somethingsareobligatoryanduniversallyaccepted,whileothersaremoreambiguous
� Notallactionsthatmaycauseharmarenecessarilyunethical–Isitunethicaltobancoalbecauseitwillharmcoalminers?
� DistinguishWrongfromHarm� Anactthatcausesharmmaynotnecessarilybeunethical
� Destroyinganenemyinwarmaycauseharm,butcanbeethical� Thereisadifferencebetweentakingsomethingfromaperson,andnotgivinga
personsomething� Distinguishgoalsfrommeans
� Youcanimproveprofitsbymakingabetterproduct,butnotbystealing� LawandEthicsaredifferentthings
� Somelawsenforceethicalstandards� Otherlawsaremeanttoimposepublicpreference(onereligionoveranother)
orbusinessgoals� Insubsequentlessonswewillexploretheseissuesusingthecomputerworld
asourprimarysetofexamples
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ClassExercise1� Exercise 1 Profitability and CEO Responsibility
� The CEO of an Internet provider is approached by a streaming company and offered a per user payment for priority streaming on the network. The CEO has a fiduciary obligation to maximize profits for the shareholders (short and long term). However, there are also strong ethical reasons for making sure that the network remains neutral in terms of the flow of information. What should the CEO do?
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ClassExercise2� Exercise2–ReleasingSoftware
� Isitlegitimatetoreleasesoftwarewithbugs?Whatifyouknowthatthereareprobablybugs,butdon’tyetknowwhatthosebugsorleaksare?Whoisliableforanylossesrelatedtobuggyorvirusvulnerablesoftware?Somethingstothinkabout:� Perfectsoftware(itdoesn’tactuallyexist)comesatanextremecost–i.e.spaceplatformsetc.,althougheventhesesystemshavebugsfixedwhileinorbit
� IftheoriginalWindowshadn’tbeenreleased,despitethebugs,wouldwehaveWindows10,MSOffice,Explorer,oranyoftheotherproductswerelyoneveryday
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Exercise3� KillSwitches
� AcompanyfindsthatanApphasmalicioussoftware.Dotheyhavetherighttodeletethesoftwarefromyourphoneandthennotifyyou?
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Exercise4� LegalEthics
� FormanyyearsmargarinewasbannedinWisconsinbecauseithurtdairyfarmers?WhatwouldLockethinkaboutthis?Rawls?
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Exercise5� CorporateObligations
� RecentlythegovernmentaskedAppletofindabackdooropeningtotheiPhoneoftheSanBernardinoterrorist.Applerefused,citingthedangersthatwouldposetootheriPhoneusers.Whodoyouthinkwasrightinthiscase?Why?
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