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, minorities, or the powerless

• identify various courses of action, ask who will be affeced by each acction, and what benefits or harms with be derived from each

• the ethical action is the one that provides the greatest good for the greatest number

• best for everyone overall

virtue ethics

• focues on character of individuals and developing qualities of virtue or excellence.
• being a moral person rather than rule or action oriented
• aristotle
• eudaimonia - state of happiness, blessedness, or well-being
• golden rule - treat other the way you want to be treated
• golden mean - balance between extremes
  • e.g., courage - cowardice - recklessness

problems with ethical theories

• virtue
  • depend on community having similar beliefs, values and close relationsihps
• deontology
  • how to decide on common rules when different groups have opposing views
  • what is a "right" choice results in bad consequences
• utilitatianism
  • harming a minority and benefiting a majority doesn't build mutually be