DEFINITION

1. computer ethics is the analysis of the nature and social impact of computer technology and the corresponding formulation and justification of policies for the ethical use of such technology

• a central task in computer ethics is to formulate policies to guide our actions
  • both personal and social policies for the ethical use of computer technology
• it’s more than just ethics applied
  • there’s obstacles
    • policy vacuum → no policies exist or they are inadequate
    • conceptual vacuum → lack of a coherent conceptual framework to formulate a policy for action
      • example: unclear definition of what is a computer program. is it property? or is it more like an idea or algorithm which is not owned by anybody?
  • computer technology provide us with new possibilities for acting
    • new values emerge
    • old values need to be reconsidered
  • not all ethical situations involving computers are important to computer ethics. the mark of a computer ethics problem lies on
    • computer technology essentially involved
    • uncertainty about what to do and how to understand the situation
• other fields of knowledge are key for computer ethics
  • plain ethics play an important role: it provides categories and procedures for determining what is ethically relevant
  • scientific information is crucial in ethical evaluations

2. computer ethics is a dynamic and complex field of study which considers the relationships among facts, conceptualizations, policies and values with regard to constantly changing computer technology

WHY COMPUTERS / COMPUTER REVOLUTION

what makes computer technology different from other technologies?

• enablers of the spread of the computer revolution
  • computers are affordable and abundant
  • computers are integral part of products that we use in everyday life and do not look like computers (cars, watches, etc.)
  • recent advances in computers make them revolutionary
    • dramatic increases in computer speed and memory
    • dramatic decrease in computer size
    • computer hardware and software are more user friendly

what is revolutionary about computers is logical malleability

• computers can be shaped and molded to do any activity that can be characterized in terms of inputs, outputs, and connecting logical operations
• because logic applies everywhere, the potential applications of computer technology appear limitless
• dimensions of logical malleability
  • syntactically, the logic of computers is malleable in the sense if the number and variety of possible states and operations
  • semantically, the logic of computers is malleable in that the states of a computer can be taken to represent anything

ANATOMY OF THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION

two stage development:

1. introduction stage (1945-1985)
   • electronic computers have been created and refined
   • typical question: “how well does a computer do such and such activity?”
     • election example: “how efficiently do computers count votes in a fair election?”
     • financial example: “how well do computers count money?”
2. permeation stage (1985~)
   • computer technology becomes an integral part of institutions throughout society
   • human activities and social institutions will be transformed by computer technology
     • transformed = the basic nature or purpose of the activity/institution is changed
   • typical question: “what is the nature and value of such and such activity?”
     • election example: “what is a fair election? is it appropriate that some people know the outcome before they vote?”
     • financial example: “what is money?”