Ethics Theory

In simplest form: deals with right and wrong

Not necessarily what's legal
Takes academic view
Morality is the less formal view of same issues
- The same ideas, only learned from family, early schools, church

Former Chief Justice Earl Warren: "Society would come to grief without ethics, which is unenforceable in the courts, and cannot be made part of the law."

Ordinary citizens have ethical responsibilities

Professionals have extra ones:

Shun participation in deception
Avoid conflicts of interest with other obligations
Be faithful agent to client interests

What is ethics within a technical profession?

Technical question: Can a certain thing be done?
Ethical question: Should it be done?
Example: ELIZA

Does it always mean you shouldn't work on a project that you believe has unethical aspects? Ask David Parnas.

Ethical theory

Provides framework to:

Get at underlying rationale
Classify and understand arguments
Defend conclusions about right and wrong

Some ethical theories try to be normative (or perhaps we would more likely use the term "prescriptive")

Others are descriptive or relative

Ethical relativism

Often used as disparaging term

Basis of the doctrine: There are many differences among individuals, groups

Cannot agree on definitions, principles

Therefore, what's ethical depends on the individual, the group, the culture, tradition, background

E.g., Student caught breaking into computer says that, at another university where he came from, it was accepted and encouraged

Argument against: Just because one class of individuals does something, doesn't mean it's right.

Utilitarianism

One must act to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number

Requires definition of good

Requires computation of amount of good

Places public good over private good

Possible harmful to minorities and individuals, sacrificed for the majority

It is the consequences, not the acts, that are right or wrong (the ends justify the means)

Deontological theories

What is the etymology of this term?

First, what is etymology?

The act itself is prime, carries the moral weight

Rejects acts that harm minorities, individuals

Stems from Immanual Kant, 1724-1804

Biggest rival of utilitarianism
Moral or categorical imperative - a rule that commands action independent of desired end (including happiness)
Criterion of universality = the logical possibility of requiring universal obedience to a rule of action
"Never treat another human being as a means but always as an end in himself or herself."
Obvious objection: "No one would agree any one rule should be followed without exception"
"Do what is right, though the world should perish."

Summary of ethics theory