CHAPTERS 1.3-1.4

CptS 401

Adam Carter

Quiz Question 1

According to the book, if we increase the privacy and security of computer technology, we also decrease :

A. freedom

B. convenience

C. natural rights

D. controversy

E. None of the above

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Answer

(p. 27): “Increasing privacy and security often means reducing convenience” (B)

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Quiz Question 2

According to the book, which of the following is a consequence of the new global reach of the Internet

A. It makes crime fighting and law enforcement more difficult

B. It makes sharing data with others more difficult

C. It makes political protests more difficult

D. It makes elections more difficult to hold

E. None of the above

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Answer

(p. 26) “The Net makes information and opportunities more easily available to people isolated by geography or by political system. It makes crime fighting and law enforcement more difficult, because criminals can steal and disrupt services from outside the victim’s country.” (A)

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What is Ethics?

Is it right or wrong? But actually, is it right, wrong, or okay

(ethically obligatory, ethically prohibited, or ethically acceptable)

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What is Ethics?

Is it right or wrong? But actually, is it right, wrong, or okay

(ethically obligatory, ethically prohibited, or ethically acceptable)

There are two general camps. Which one are you in? (Respond with clicker)A: Ethical rules are fundamental or universalB: Ethical rules are made up by humansC: Some mixture of A and B

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Quiz Question 3

According to the following ethical theory, ethical rules are absolute and follow from logic.

A. Utilitarianism Theory

B. Virtue Theory

C. Natural Rights Theory

D. Deontological Theory

E. None of the above

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Answer

(p. 31): “Deontologists tend to emphasize duty and absolute rules…Deontologists argue that logic or reason determines rules of ethical behavior.” (D)

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Quiz Question 4

A key objection to act utilitarianism is that

A. It fails to consider the consequences of acts

B. It fails to respect individual rights

C. It fails to take into consideration the circumstances of a given situation

D. All of the above

E. None of the above

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Answer

(p. 32): “A more fundamental (and ethical) objection to act utilitarianism is that it does not recognize or respect individual rights” (B)

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Quiz Question 5

This ethical position emphasizes the process by which people interact, seeing acts as ethical if they involve voluntary interactions free of coercion

A. Deontological Theory

B. Act Utilitarianism

C. Natural Rights

D. Rule Utilitarianism

E. None of the above

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Answer

(p. 33): “Those who emphasize natural rights tend to emphasize the ethical character of the process by which people interact, seeing acts generally as likely to be ethical if they involve voluntary interactions and freely made exchanges, where the parties are not coerced or deceived.” (C)

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Quiz Question 6

When interpreted as a(n) , access to the internet might imply the need for special taxes in order to provide access to those who couldn’t normally afford it:

A. Obligatory right

B. Negative right

C. Freedom right

D. Claim right

E. None of the above

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Quiz Question 7

The following is an example of a negative right:

A. The right to have access to the Internet

B. The right to life

C. The right to health care.

D. The right to Satellite TV

E. None of the above

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Answer (#6)

(p. 35) Claim rights (D) “impose an obligation on some people to provide certain things for others.

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Answer (#7)

(p. 35): “Negative rights, or liberties, are rights to act without interference.” (B)

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Quiz Question 8

The following best describes the relationship between law and ethics, as discussed in the book:

A. All laws are, by definition, ethical.

B. Some laws enforce ethical rules.

C. Some laws have little to do with ethical rules.

D. Laws do not enforce ethical rules.

E. More than one of the above

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Answer

(p. 37): Some laws enforce ethical rules (e.g., against murder and theft…Other laws fall into several categories. One category of laws establishes conventions for business or other activities….Unfortunately, many laws fall into a category that is not intended to implement ethical rules—or even be consistent with them.” (E)

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This Course Considers Murky Territory!

Usually not a right answer

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Aside: The Importance of Civility in This Class

“Even if you have a strong position on one side of a controversy, it is important to know the arguments on the other side…Knowing that there are reasonable arguments for a different point of view, even if you do not think they are strong enough to win overall, helps make a debate more civilized. We see that the people on the other side are not necessarily evil, stupid, or ignorant; they may just put more weight on different factors.” (p. 27)

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Case Study I (Clicker)

Suppose you bring your video camera to a political debate. After the debate, you quietly record candidates talking with individuals from the audience. One candidate, responding sympathetically to a person complaining about how an insurance company handled his claim, says “All insurance company executives ought to be shot.”

Should you post a video of the candidate’s comment?

A: Yes B: No C: Not sure

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Discuss Case Study in Your Group

Each person pick an ethical framework to use as a basis for your reasoning (each framework must be represented in your group)Deontological TheoryUtilitarianismNatural Rights

Formulate a position and rationale based on each of these

Share with group your reasoning Group spokesperson should be prepared to

share reasoning with entire class

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Case Study II (Clicker)

Suppose you create a fictional person on a social networking site. Further, you do not want to reveal that the person is really you.

Is this ethical?

A: Yes B: No C: Not sure

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Discuss Case Study in Your Group

Each person pick an ethical framework to use as a basis for your reasoning (each framework must be represented in your group)Deontological TheoryUtilitarianismNatural Rights

Formulate a position and rationale based on each of these

Share with group your reasoning Group spokesperson should be prepared to

share reasoning with entire class

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Case Study II from the Deontological Perspective (Clicker)

Consider the case study again From the perspective of a deontological

theory, should you post the video?A: YesB: NoC: Not sure

(Group will be picked randomly to share)

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Case Study II from the Utilitarianism Perspective (Clicker)

Consider the case study again From the perspective of utilitarianism,

should you post the video?A: YesB: NoC: Not sure

(Group will be picked randomly to share)

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Case Study II from the Natural Rights Perspective (Clicker)

Consider the case study again From the perspective of natural rights,

should you post the videoA: YesB: NoC: Not sure

(Group will be picked randomly to share)

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Your own Ethical Position (Clicker)

Based on what you now know about the three ethical perspectives just discussed, which perspective do you prefer?

A: Deontological Theory

B: Utilitarianism

C: Natural Rights

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Case Study:Warfare with Unmanned Drones

One of the segments in Digital Nation explored the U.S. military’s use of unmanned drones to carry out military operations overseas. From the comfort of a sophisticated control room on a military base on U.S. soil, pilots carry out reconnaissance missions and bomb targets overseas. Drones have been known unintentionally to strike innocent people. Is it ethical for the military to operate unmanned drones?

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Case Study: Unmanned Drones (Clicker Poll)

Is it ethical for the military to operate unmanned drones?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Not sure

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Case Study:Computer Game Addiction

As reported in Digital Nation, many youths in spend inordinate amounts of time playing video games. They play so much that their educations and social relationships suffer. Should the government establish restrictions on gaming for minors? If so, what kinds of restrictions? How would they be enforced?

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Case Study: Computer Game Addiction (Clicker Poll)

Should the government establish restrictions on gaming for minors?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Not sure

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Case Study III (Discuss with Group)

1. A man sued his health insurance company because it would not pay for Viagra, a drug for treating male impotence. He argued that the insurer’s refusal to pay denied his right to a happy sex life.

A. Negative (claim) right

B. Positive (liberty) right

C. A mix of the two

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Case Study IV (Discuss with Group)

2. Two legislators who ran for reelection lost. They sued an organization that sponsored ads criticizing their voting records. The former legislators argued that the organization interfered with their right to hold office.

A. Negative (claim) right

B. Positive (liberty) right

C. A mix of the two

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