gian carlo torres - pbworksgeanu.pbworks.com/f/an itethic reader - cmp.pdfan itethic reader 5 an...

An ITETHIC Reader IT Ethics

Gian Carlo Torres

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

An ITETHIC Reader 2

An ITETHIC Reader

An ITETHIC Reader

Contemporary Moral Problems

For IT Ethics Class

Gian Carlo De Len Torres

Copyright 2010 February. Some Rights Reserved.

An ITETHIC Reader 3

An ITETHIC Reader

Dedication

I dedicate this to Mommy, who never forgot to give me baon every day; to Daddy, who never forgot to call me after class kasi they might go to the mall after school; to Kuya, who never stopped believing in my abilities even though I don’t know exactly YET what I want to be; to Popet, who knows what he wants but doesn’t want my help, but he really does need my help – I mean REALLY.

To Fluxxed, TheSlutGirl, LadySayuri, PrideShirt, Kimoruh, TheLadyKiki, PoohKee, Mikeeke and the rest of the [CHE] Heroes of Newerth clan who never stopped playing HoN until 5am at 129 internet café at Katipunan, Q.C.

To Mareng Kia, Mareng Drew and Mareng Marion, my CSB friendships who never left me behind.

To Luigi, Jai and Migs who so passionately want to end this college with me WITH A BANG.

And to every reader out there who wants to know more about ethics, may you find wisdom.

An ITETHIC Reader 4

An ITETHIC Reader

Preface

What was my motivation in doing this book? Well, I basically thought of my college graduation. I also kept on thinking how much I hate writing and how it kept on bugging me since I started writing books related to the growing age of information technology and the systems plus processes evolving.

This is a work of a computer programmer, web designer, web developer, origami folder, cartoon watcher, volleyball player, network administrator or whatever I am, but please, be patient on what I’ve done because I really want this to be completed with all of my efforts. But I did my best. VERY BEST.

Gian Carlo D. Torres

An ITETHIC Reader 5

An ITETHIC Reader

Table of Contents

DEDICATION 3

PREFACE 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

BOOK REVIEWS 6 1ST CHAPTER 7 EGOISM AND MORAL SKEPTICISM BY JAMES RACHELS 7 2ND CHAPTER 9 RELIGION, MORALITY AND CONSCIENCE BY JOHN ARTHUR 9 3RD CHAPTER 10 MASTER AND SLAVE MORALITY BY FRIEDRICH NIETZCHE 10 4TH CHAPTER 11 TRYING OUT ONE’S NEW SWORD BY MARY MIDGLEY 11 5TH CHAPTER 12 UTILITARIANISM BY JOHN STUART MILL 12 6TH CHAPTER 13 THE DEBATE OVER UTILITARIANISM BY JAMES RACHELS 13 7TH CHAPTER 14 THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE BY IMMANUEL KANT 14 8TH CHAPTER 15 HAPPINESS AND VIRTUE BY ARISTOTLE 15 9TH CHAPTER 16 THE NATURE AND VALUE OF RIGHTS BY JOEL FEINBERG 16 10TH CHAPTER 17 TAKING RIGHTS SERIOUSLY BY RONALD DWORKIN 17 11TH CHAPTER 18 A THEORY OF JUSTICE BY JOHN RAWLS 18 12TH CHAPTER 19 THE NEED FOR MORE THAN JUSTICE BY ANNETTE BAIER 19

An ITETHIC Reader 6

An ITETHIC Reader

Book Reviews

An ITETHIC Reader 7

An ITETHIC Reader

1st Chapter

Egoism and Moral Skepticism by James Rachels

Quote:

Even if this were granted, it would not follow that Smith is acting selfishly or from self-interest.

What I expect to learn:

Every reader of IT Ethics who wanted to understand concepts on how egoism causes the negative and positive effects on morality wants to cope fully the significance of their relationship.

Book Review:

Hedonism is the pursuit of pleasure and also, the sensual self-indulgence, according to the built-in dictionary of Macintosh. For example, the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life. To fully understand hedonism, the book started with an introduction to Psychological hedonism that has been exclaimed as “the pleasure principle.” But what incorporates these to another issue is the self-interest and happiness that is being fought about in some common instances in the present society.

Psychological egoism, as a paraphrased, is the action of selfishly fostering happiness pretty much for self-interest as conspicuous as what the people have been seen doing in most generations. Some eye-openers have given a lot of communities to distract them from believing the most fraudulent actions of a lot of issues going on in their territories.

Egoism needs no explaining, because us humans have different qualities and characteristics, and personalities, as I may add. Communities may be seen uplifting their spirits because of their individual’s individualism or uniqueness – that is the result of their uprising. Having differences may be a spontaneous advantage, but they should match, as contradictions may, indeed, strike when the time comes.

What I learned:

• The functions of a community when having diverse individuals.

• Brief definitions of egoism and hedonism, and how they are contrasted.

• How skepticism becomes an issue in a community of believers.

Integrative Questions:

1. Morality is the set of principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Relate it as to how the individual may vary when their morality has formed.

An ITETHIC Reader 8

An ITETHIC Reader

2. How does ethical egoism go about the individuality of person as a relational being?

3. Being a student, how can you show other students who you think are morally corrupted to explain that their actions are just acquired by physical egoism? Can you do something about their lack of judgment and wisdom when they finally understood this?

An ITETHIC Reader 9

An ITETHIC Reader

2nd Chapter

Religion, Morality and Conscience by John Arthur

Quote:

Religion is necessary to morality because without God, there could be no right or wrong.


I am expecting good concepts on how they differ from each other and how they can relate to morality and the problems they go with.

Chapter Review:

“Is it true that church makes you more moral? I'm unconvinced. A new poll shows that, in addition to making you less likely to support abortion or gay rights, church goers are more likely to condone the use of torture.

Atheists are the least likely to support torture policies. Why? Because there is nothing for them to use to justify such policies; it is left entirely to their own conscience. (Actually, a cynical, Randian Darwinism by non-religious intellectuals like George Will can also be used to rationalize selfishness and deceit.)”

(Posted by Dylan Otto Krider)

As said profoundly by Friedrich Nietzsche, "There are no moral phenomena; there are only moral interpretations." Thus, master morality speaks of "good" and "bad" rather than "Good and Evil." Rather than being tied down by the weakness of pity and mercy, and lying about the will-to-power that underlies moral judgments, master morality is self-conscious about the will-to-power, and so produces superior human beings.

What I learned:

• Some religious beliefs that encounter problems in morality of human beings being affected by that belief.

• How interpretations counted as exceptions rather than inconsistencies like problems.

•


1. How can justice be an advantage when society still strikes to become the favorable half?

2. What can a student do to bring consular diplomacies between social classes to endorse gracefulness and power to form a “revolt” to stop injustice in between?

3. Is being just a form of an ethical action? Explain.

An ITETHIC Reader 10

An ITETHIC Reader

3rd Chapter

Master and Slave Morality by Friedrich Nietzche

Quote:

The cowardly, the timid, the insignificant, and those thinking merely of narrow utility are despised; moreover, also the distrustful, with their constrained glances, the self-abasing, the dog-like kind of men who let themselves be abused, the mendicant flatterers, and above all the liars – it is a fundamental belief of all aristocrats that the common people are untruthful.

Learning Expectations:

The relationship of the Master and the Slave as elaborated along the reading given

Chapter Review:

Is this about the encomenderos and the peasants of the Spanish-colonial period in the Philippines? Nations have erupted revolts and continuous rebellions because of some contradictions between the master and the slave. Too much colonialism in being idealistic, morality in between these characters bounds to be fulfilled when the perfect issue has been arisen.

For instance, the encomenderos or the land-owners are collecting taxes in monthly basis, but the peasants have nothing to pay, even the chicken for their dinner for three days, in jeopardy cannot be exchanged for exemption.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but shouldn’t masters treat their slaves with dignity? Enforcement doesn’t help talaga eh. Even if these slaves are from very lost places, they are still humans who deserve to be respected. The natural law is a very powerful covenant to be followed, even if not stated clearly.

What I learned:

• The differences of masters and slaves according to how they are treated by each other.

• A brilliant definition of a morality, as related to “master and slave” theory.

• Power as a form of non-corruptive trinket of masters


1. Differentiate the advantages of being a master and being a slave.

2. Consider being a master. How must you treat your slave? What about being a slave? How should you treat him?

3. How can power be a useful strategy to encompass all arising problems of you and your slave?


An ITETHIC Reader

4th Chapter

Trying Out One’s New Sword by Mary Midgley

Quote:

We cannot criticize cultures that we don’t understand.


Culture has been a part of a nation because it’s the traditional part in the growth of a certain civilization that has risen from ignorance. I expect that the reading to explain bits about how different kinds of culture affect nations and their people.

Chapter Review:

I never really knew how the Filipinos became the cultural civilization of ignorant members because the Philippines have diverse crowds of population. These tribes are collectively called the indigenous peoples, and these are obviously are being preserved by the national government for traditional purposes. Why bother? Since civilization is already at its peak of technological advancements, why sustain indigenous tribes?

It’s all about culture. Beginnings. Origin.

Contemplate on why we are called The Philippine Islands. This must be called a History and Cultural set of texts since discussion here is abided by the collateral sets of placements founded by traditionalists and conversationalists who want to sustain our humble origin. These are differences between other nations. PRESERVE IT. What would other nations think if they found out, we aren’t embracing our own culture? That’s why others think we’re so forgetful of our beginnings.

What I learned:

• Culture and Historical imperatives that should be openly discussed within our society.

• Deficits of cultural manifestations of our nation.

• Judgment of other nations as diverse because we do not stand as one to preserve our origin.


1. What countries practice “tsugijiri”?

2. Judgment is basically for proud civilizations. Should this still be upheld by most nations?

3. Enumerate some assets of culture to withstand the ignorance of civilians from their origins.


An ITETHIC Reader

5th Chapter

Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill

Quote:

Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that places the locus of right and wrong solely on the outcomes of choosing one action over other actions. As such, it moves beyond the scope of one's own interests and takes into account the interests of others.


What foundations of this theory and how did it develop to become an ideology of some leaders who have taken great advantage over this one.

Chapter Review:

One of Rawls’ writings, included, “saw a weakness in utilitarianism in that it assumed that the rights of the minority could be sacrificed for the good of the majority. Rawls believed that the basic social institutions of the well-ordered state, including its constitution, had to satisfy the fundamental principles of social justice. This was his main concern. He especially believed that such a principle was directly connected to having a contract where everyone understood that it was in everyone's interest to have social justice.”

Though John Stuart Mill believed that societies which encouraged individual freedom was ideal, it encouraged individuals plus those who are satisfied with the status quo to reach their maximum level of happiness. Mill's fundamental idea is that eccentricity among individuals is a key ingredient of genius. Society should not reign in an individual with different interests to conform to different principles. Argues state that there is still valuable complications and listings in Mill's thoughts on individualism.

What I learned:

• Utilitarianism has negated all democratic beliefs and concepts.

• It makes sense that the rightness or wrongness of an action must be judged solely by its usefulness.


1. Cite once significance how utilitarianism can contribute freedom to a community.

2. Can utilitarianism be considered as an immoral belief?

3. Enumerate some good and bad effects when utilitarianism is prevailed.


An ITETHIC Reader

6th Chapter

The Debate over Utilitarianism by James Rachels


How can I be aware of the circumstances around utilitarianism when it is already an issue to become widely renowned.

Chapter Review:

An implication of utilitarianism that I have never heard discussed much is that pain turns out to be a fate worse than death. Death is just a way of going to zero: no pain and no pleasure either. If you are a utilitarian and you know how to put people out of their misery painlessly, maybe a career as a serial killer is morally obligatory for you.

I suspect most utilitarians would deny that death is just a way of going to zero because of opportunity costs. Thus death would have to be decided not only against current misery but the utilities of genuinely possible predicted forecasts. The cases where this would favor death are already cases on which some people are inclined to favor mercy killing, so that's really where this sort of discussion would have to take place.

What I learned:

• Utilitarianism has a negative side that contributes to a lot of retributions in communities.

• Utilitarian’s are considered unappealing to democratic principles.


4. Enumerate some good and bad effects when utilitarianism is prevailed.

5. Can utilitarianism be considered as an immoral belief?

6. Cite once significance how utilitarianism can contribute freedom to a community.


An ITETHIC Reader

7th Chapter

The Categorical Imperative by Immanuel Kant Learning Expectations:

The essence of categorical imperative with regards to what category mentioned in the reading.

Chapter Review:

The writer declared one instance about good qualities of a person by his intelligence, strength and dexterity by some apparent reason. Being good towards others is obviously not a negative statement, but seeing it in a deeper sense on how he did that act. For instance, a store clerk was assigned by the branch manager to assist all clients, but when the branch manager wasn’t around, the clerk orders his assistants to do his work for him, but he still does his deeds of managing the store in a specific perspective. The act of laziness is considered an evil act, but considering all facts, he still did his job as a store clerk, though obedience is literally needed and required by the manager.

Going to categorical imperative, it is sounding the only lost symbol of the Roman Catholic Church, the Holy Bible of “Do not do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.” Mentioning some quotes from the book, Kant includes some of the verses that has been applied from the Natural Law:

“…which we should act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law.”

We have responsibilities that we need to fulfill, because we are human beings. This independent clause is fallacious enough to get over what we intend to do: is it good or bad. Our responsibility is necessarily good, but it can be evil, in terms of how we act it with. We should always be careful on how we uplift and deliver our motions.

What I Learned:

• Rough definition of categorical imperative

• Hint of how hypothetical imperative is evident in our daily lives

• Importance of good will, as a way to decisions and responsibilities


1. Elaborate on the differences of categorical and hypothetical imperatives.

2. Being a college student, what can hinder you to finish your own assignment when you can just copy it and learn from the lecture instead? Isn’t that a lesser evil?

3. How can a person tell if what they’re thinking is for the good?


An ITETHIC Reader

8th Chapter

Happiness and Virtue by Aristotle Learning Expectations:

One of the most intuitive feelings of the human mind: to deliver a sense of happiness to everyone and the virtues that come with the package. What does Happiness and Virtue got to do with Contemporary Moral Problems?

Chapter Review:

Enjoyment, political and contemplative lives are those mentioned by Aristotle and he specifically declared that these categories are the ones prominent to the human being’s daily dosage of distinct inputs from relational beings.

We pursue happiness because happiness’ feeling is incomparable to others. Of course, it’s a general feeling for example: success, endeavor, sensitivity, et cetera. Virtues however are characteristics of human beings that is stuck or permanently part of him.

We have lived in the Earth that gave us a lot of insights towards how to love, happiness and every virtue that is blessed among us. The importance of virtues being present in human beings is a way of life. It has been evolving since people started studying and observing it in a scientific manner.

What I Learned:

• Happiness is needed for virtues to become obsolete and incomparable.

• Aristotle is a philosopher who gives intuitive feelings theoretical and scientific concepts, functions and definitions to result meanings.

• Contemplation may continue to withstand our pressures, but it may only temporarily extinguish their effects on a person, but afterwards, it comes back if thinking is applied.


1. What can happiness do to a person if it has overdosed a human being?

2. Is it possible that a human being be called a virtuous person, even if the person has less happiness?

3. Suppose a person would want to kill another person, in order to be happy. Elaborate as to why that person is not virtuous.


An ITETHIC Reader

9th Chapter

The Nature and Value of Rights by Joel Feinberg Learning Expectations:

What rights might do to human beings if they do actions out of hand and beyond their limits.

Chapter Review:

Though, one danger of introducing a discussion on the significance on rights is that one instance may end with a definition according to which rights are not significant, but is not acceptable to those who claim or believe that they are.

We have duties that give us the right to act inside a certain event. The people who are doing everything, maximizing their actions with the concern of their rights is the only duty that is, in my opinion, evil. The human being has a lot of rights, but doing it out of hand is not a good thing to do.

Learning about these rights is a very common thing to do for a civilian. The person has a lot of rights, which could protect him if another does another negative deed to him. The people have rights, so duties are in accordance to it.

An opposite danger is of proving the importance of rights by calling anything of value a right. Both dangers have exemplified the nature of giving argues for a moral/political view by verbal or oral beliefs. Following these, politics and morality who typically use the term to refer to a lower class of all the cases to which it can be applied with language proficiency and suitability.

What I Learned:

• Rights are naturally given to the human being.

• Dangers of assessing rights within the community.

• Communication is used to continue to grasp education concentrating on the nature of rights.


1. Is the purpose of assessing the significance of rights in morality and ethics in danger of scrapping the nature of rights with an illegitimate bias?

2. Explain how ethical problems such as nature of rights become concerned with relatively technical points such as philosophies contradicting rights, duties and interests.

3. Relate our nature of rights to other nations’. How did they comprehend theirs’, even though our account is one unique set?


An ITETHIC Reader

10th Chapter

Taking Rights Seriously by Ronald Dworkin


I want to realize once of the biggest returns of my life: some philosophical questions involving rights, duties and other important points that are being mentioned as I’m reading the chapter.

Chapter Review:

Following these, politics and morality who typically use the term to refer to a lower class of all the cases to which it can be applied with language proficiency and suitability. A different danger is of proving the importance of rights by calling anything of value a right. Both dangers have exemplified the nature of giving argues for a moral/political view by verbal or oral beliefs.

The human being has a lot of rights, but doing it out of hand is not a good thing to do. We have duties that give us the right to act inside a certain event. The people who are doing everything, maximizing their actions with the concern of their rights is the only duty that is, in my opinion, evil.

Consequently, one danger of prefacing a discussion on the significance on rights is that one instance may end with a definition according to which rights are not significant, but is not acceptable to those who claim or believe that they are.

What I Learned:

• How rights differ from duties and their implementations becoming obsolete and controlled.

• Privileges if you’re aware of your rights and contributions in duties once you have lamented some of them.

• Control of consequences once rights and duties are disrespected and missed out, being these are conceptually built to last a long time for a certain nation.


1. What can people get, as benefits or burdens if they have taken their lawful rights seriously?

2. Mention some duties that can be accepted to almost all nations.

3. A universalist continues to do duties for the world, crossing nations. What can you do as a student to become a “rights and duties icon” for your fellow students and the youth?


An ITETHIC Reader

11th Chapter

A Theory of Justice by John Rawls


A derogatory explanation and origin of how justice became an engine for different uses

Chapter Review:

A lot are squandering, indefinitely leaving time behind because time is no pressure, it is a gift taken for granted. That’s why they couldn’t live life to their fullest, they tend to lay around sniffing others’ business.

As said profoundly by Friedrich Nietzsche, "There are no moral phenomena; there are only moral interpretations." Thus, master morality speaks of "good" and "bad" rather than "Good and Evil." Justice is a property of the implemented form of the rules, but the ideal form is just inasmuch as each proper implementation is just. Sub-institutions may have their own rules, which may be just or unjust, but they must conform to the overall rules of society, or else we do not have a proper implementation of the basic rule. Rather than being tied down by the weakness of pity and mercy, and lying about the will-to-power that underlies moral judgments, master morality is self-conscious about the will-to-power, and so produces superior human beings.

What I learned:

• The significance of the ethical problem, injustice in explaining the differentiation of fair amount of advantages and benefits, in between social classes.

• The imposition of justice in social classes and how collaboration may determine its weakness as a community.


1. Briefly explain how ethical problems such as nature of rights become concerned with philosophies contradicting rights, duties and interests.

2. Possibly, can it be the purpose of assessing the importance of rights in ethics and morality, despite of danger, of deleting the nature of rights?

3. How did this chapter become a lesson to your life? Cite an application and relate to the causes and effects that grew beyond that experience.


An ITETHIC Reader

12th Chapter

The Need for More Than Justice by Annette Baier

Quote:

The differences are as much emphasis as in substance or we can say that they are differences in tone of voice. But thesis differences to do tend to make a difference in approaches to a wide range of topics not just in moral theory but, in areas like medical ethics, where the discussion used to be conducted in terms of patients’ rights.


How far can justice offer help when ethical issues attack

Chapter Review:

Justice cannot be served when not much harm has trampled beneath the victim. Issues arise according to their magnitude. As a result, leaders have found out that they can take this opportunity as an advantage to bring more followers behind their footsteps of wisdom, career and power. The insolence of many, especially in our nation is indescribable, and because of that, we tend to yell at our leaders. A lot are squandering, indefinitely leaving time behind because time is no pressure, it is a gift taken for granted. That’s why they couldn’t live life to their fullest, they tend to lay around sniffing others’ businesses.

So how is this issue connected to “justice has prevailed”? Almost everyone is incompetently ignorant. The most powerful of the powerful have the advantage. They consist of the following competencies: intelligence, will power, strength, background, determination, serendipity and wealth. Justice has been swiftly swiping all nations, but has it really covered up to the highest mountains up to the gracious social circle. They are nothing but intangible wealth. Nothing has reached the foot of the mountain but ignorance, hopelessness and laziness.

What I learned:

• The significance of the ethical problem, injustice in explaining the differentiation of fair amount of advantages and benefits, in between social classes.

• The imposition of justice in social classes and how collaboration may determine its weakness as a community.


1. How can justice be an advantage when society still strikes to become the favorable half?

2. What can a student do to bring consular diplomacies between social classes to endorse gracefulness and power to form a “revolt” to stop injustice in between?


An ITETHIC Reader

3. Is being just a form of an ethical action? Explain.

gian carlo torres - pbworksgeanu.pbworks.com/f/an itethic reader - cmp.pdfan itethic reader 5 an...

Documents