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Class 2Ethics And Professions

Keith A. PrayInstructor

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Overview1. Imaginary Societies2. Ethics3. Professions4. Assignment

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Quiz1. What is Ethics?

2. Explain at least 2 Ethical theories.

3. What is the difference between liberties and claim rights?

4. What information processing technology issue interests you most so far?

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Utopias and Dystopias Types:

Economic Political Technological

What makes it a utopia or dystopia? Why do we create them? Examples, real or fictional?

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Class Discussion Where do different people get their ethical

principles? What are some of these principles?

Various levels. Things that are right and wrong. Ways to decide if something is right or wrong.

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Why? Why does society care about ethics? Why do individuals care about ethics? Is it just following your conscience? Is it just a matter of personal choice?

Conflicts in two directions.

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Ethical Views Deontological Theories

A.k.a. nonconsequentialist Consequentialist Theories

Social Contract Theory Establishment of a set of moral rules to govern relations

among citizens Government capable of enforcing the rules

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Professions Examples?

Compensation Qualifications -Skills, Education Autonomy, clients, and mobility Associations

Standards Licensing Code of Ethics – Why? Self Regulation

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Assignment One page paper which answers: Does the Software Engineering

Code of Ethics support whistle blowing? Please cite specific clauses of the Code you include in your arguments.

Class Timeline Wiki Add the items from your individual timeline to the class timeline wiki. Please sort according to date.

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Class 2 The End

Keith A. PrayInstructor

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Rights Where do they come from? What are they?

“Life, liberty, and property” – Locke. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” – Jefferson. Others?

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Rights How does one acquire a specific right?

E.g. ownership?

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Distinctions Actions: Right, wrong, OK. Types of rights

Negative (liberties) Positive (claim-rights)

Harm vs. wrong “No harm, no foul”?

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Ethics What is it?

‘Do the right thing.’ Based on belief that people:

Are rational Make free choices

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Deontological Theories Kant

Principle of universality A.k.a. categorical imperative.

Base ethics on rationality, not emotion. Treat people as ends, not means.

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Consequentialist Theories Ethics based on consequences of actions or

inactions. John Stuart Mills’ utilitarianism. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the

few.” --Mr. Spock, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

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Can Theories Go Too Far? Hurting self or others. Trampling on rights.

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Law and Ethics Are laws based on ethics? Are all laws ethical?

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Ethics vs. Law Not liking a law doesn’t give you the right to

disregard it. Unfairness is not necessarily unethical. “Consent of the governed”

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Professional Ethics Why?