What is Ethics Ethics is our continuous search

What is Ethics? Ethics is our continuous search for an answer: Is this behavior right or wrong? 1 -1 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -1

When Did This Search Start? It all started when man moved into living within communities (the beginning of civilization) 1 -2 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -2

When Did This Search Start? Man moved from caves to built houses Is it right to take a house some one else has built? 1 -3 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -3

When Did This Search Start? If not ! Would it be right if I kill the man first then take the house? 1 -4 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -4

When Did This Search Start? OK ! I will not kill the man and will not take the house… can I walk into the house and take the food they have inside it? 1 -5 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -5

When Did This Search Start? OK ! I will not kill the man and will not take the house and will not take the food… can I walk into the house without the owner’s permission and just sit in there? 1 -6 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -6

When Did This Search Start? OK ! I will not kill the man and will not take the house and will not take the food and will not walk into the house… can I just stand at the window and look at the people inside the house? 1 -7 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -7

When will this Search End? As long as there are new behaviors, the search for right and wrong behavior will continue 1 -8 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -8

Why Ethics in IT? IT brings new inventions like: www Emails Facebook Cell phone 1 -9 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -9

Why Ethics in IT? New inventions bring new behaviors: Porn web sites Spam Emails Facebook privacy Cell phone eavesdropping 1 -10 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -10

What are the Basis for Ethics? This is a search for an ethical theory 1 -11 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -11

What are the Basis for Ethics? behavior Ethical theory Right / wrong ? right wrong 1 -12 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -12

Where is the Problem? behavior Ethical theory Right / wrong ? right wrong 1 -13 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -13

Where is the Problem? Finding a universal ethical theory Ethical theory behavior Right / wrong ? right wrong 1 -14 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -14

What is Ethics? • Some years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you? " Among their replies were the following: "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong. ” Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -15 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -15

What is Ethics? • Some years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you? " Among their replies were the following: "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong. ” "Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs. ” Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -16 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -16

What is Ethics? • Some years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you? " Among their replies were the following: "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong. ” "Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs. ” "Being ethical is doing what the law requires. ” Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -17 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -17

What is Ethics? • Some years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you? " Among their replies were the following: "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong. ” "Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs. ” "Being ethical is doing what the law requires. ” "Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts. ” Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -18 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -18

What is Ethics? • Some years ago, sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you? " Among their replies were the following: "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong. ” "Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs. ” "Being ethical is doing what the law requires. ” "Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts. ” "I don't know what the word means. " Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -19 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -19

Feelings about what is right & wrong • But being ethical is clearly not a matter of following one's feelings. A person following his or her feelings may recoil from doing what is right. In fact, feelings frequently deviate from what is ethical. • Should a Muslim girl cover hair? Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -20 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -20

Feelings about what is right & wrong • But being ethical is clearly not a matter of following one's feelings. A person following his or her feelings may recoil from doing what is right. In fact, feelings frequently deviate from what is ethical. • Should a Muslim girl cover hair? • Should a Muslim girl cheat in an exam? Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -21 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -21

Religious Beliefs • Most religions, of course, advocate high ethical standards. Yet if ethics were confined to religion, then ethics would apply only to religious people. • But ethics applies as much to the behavior of the atheist as to that of the saint. Religion can set high ethical standards and can provide intense motivations for ethical behavior. • Ethics, however, cannot be confined to religion nor is it the same as religion. Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -22 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -22

Following the Law • Being ethical is also not the same as following the law. The law often incorporates ethical standards to which most citizens subscribe. • But laws, like feelings, can deviate from what is ethical. • America’s pre-Civil War slavery laws and the old apartheid laws of South Africa are obvious examples of laws that deviate from what is ethical. Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -23 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -23

Acceptable to Society • Finally, being ethical is not the same as doing "whatever society accepts. " In any society, most people accept standards that are, in fact, ethical. • But standards of behavior in society can deviate from what is ethical. An entire society can become ethically corrupt. • Nazi Germany is a good example of a morally corrupt society. Developed by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S. J. , and Michael J. Meyer 1 -24 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -24

Why IT Students Study Ethics? • The discipline of information technology is providing a continuous flow of innovations. • With IT innovations come user utilization of the innovations (a new behavior). 1 -25 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -25

Why IT Students Study Ethics? Are all of our behaviors while utilizing IT innovations ethical? 1 -26 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -26

Why IT Students Study Ethics? How about e-business fraud? 1 -27 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -27

Why IT Students Study Ethics? How about software copying? 1 -28 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -28

Why IT Students Study Ethics? How about invasion of privacy? 1 -29 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley 1 -29