A challenge is issued to the ACM Code of
Ethics (See Course Reader pages 1-13) saying that the code
includes clauses that are distasteful to some members of the computer
community. In your essay, evaluate this challenge. You may choose to
focus on the merits of this particular challenge, or you may use this
challenge as a way to tackle more general criticisms of the idea of a
code of professional ethics, or you may do some of both. If you focus
on the merits of this particular challenge, you may find it useful to
look ahead to the article by Richard Stallman in the readings for
March 25.
Imagine that you are writing on behalf of a citizen's group that
has been asked to evaluate a proposal for computer-equipped cars and
automated highways. (See attached
description.) In preparing your evaluation you should refer to
discussions about computer-related risks as well as discussions about
maintaining accountability in a computerized society.
Analyze and evaluate Gotterbarn's claims about the
nature of computer ethics. (You may draw on materials from that week's
readings, or any other that seem relevant to your case.)
Discuss scenario 3.1 or 7.1 from D.G. Johnson's Computer
Ethics. Refer to the relevant chapters in Johnson's book as
well as to other articles on the reading list dealing with
professional responsibility and general responsibility, respectively.