Lecture Notes: Moor - What is Computer Ethics

Introduction to Computer Ethics

• Computers raise unique ethical issues due to their special technological nature.
• Computer ethics involves analyzing the social impact and ethical use of computer technology.
• The field encompasses concerns about software, hardware, and networks.

Key Concepts in Computer Ethics

• Policy Vacuums: Lack of policies on how computer technology should be used.
  • New capabilities create new choices that require policy formulation.
• Conceptual Vacuums: Absence of a clear understanding of ethical problems.
  • Requires creating a coherent framework to develop policies.

Example of Conceptual Work

• Formulating policies for protecting computer programs:
  • Challenges in defining software as intellectual property.
  • Distinctions between copyrights and patents.
  • Need for conceptualization to form effective policies.

Values and Policy Formulation

• Computer technology introduces new values while challenging old ones.
• Consideration of alternative policies reveals underlying value preferences.

The Role of General Ethics and Science

• Computer ethics is not just applied ethics but an interdisciplinary field.
• Ethical theory and scientific information are crucial for policy formulation.

The Computer Revolution

• Computers are often considered revolutionary due to their logical malleability.
• Logical malleability: Ability to shape computers for various tasks through hardware and software changes.
• Computers as universal tools with limitless applications driven by human creativity.

Stages of the Computer Revolution

• Introduction Stage: Development and refinement of electronic computers over the past 40 years.
• Permeation Stage: Ongoing integration of computers into societal institutions, transforming human activities.

Transformative Effects of Computers

• Computers redefine traditional activities and institutions (e.g., voting, work, money, education).
• Questions emerge about the nature and value of these activities as computers become integral.

Invisibility Factor

• Computer operations are mostly invisible, leading to ethical challenges:
  • Invisible Abuse: Unethical use of computers without detection (e.g., stealing fractions of a cent).
  • Invisible Programming Values: Values embedded in programs often unknown to users.
  • Invisible Complex Calculations: Complex calculations beyond human understanding.

Conclusion

• Computer ethics must address dilemmas posed by the invisibility factor.
• Importance of formulating policies to determine when to trust computers.
• Computer ethics is vital due to the transformative and pervasive nature of computer technology.