quartz/content/notes/12-ethics-and-computing.md

title	aliases	tags
12-ethics-and-computing		cosc203 lecture

what is ethics

• concerned with the fundamental issues of practical decision making. what actions should we take or not take?

requirements for an ethical system

• must be usable and practical
• need to be able to learn it, and use it

need to maintain respect for others views

normative ethics

• the study of ethical behaviour
• investigates questions regarding how someone should act

three approaches

• deontology (duty or rule based)
• utilitarianism (consequentialism)
• virtue ethics (character based)

deontology

• categorical imperitive - instrinsically valid principles that are good in and of themselves
  • must be obeyed always
  • e.g., dont murder people
• immanuel kant
• fundamental assumption that each person has intrinsic worth and deserves basic respect
• may be disagreements about principles involved - e.g., inherent universal ethics, religious laws, or cultural values

utilitarianism

• maximise happiness and wellbeing for people
• john stuart mill
• practical approach, does not consider the rights of those who disagree