The document discusses a scenario where a software engineer learns that a nuclear missile is about to launch, which could start a war and kill thousands. Following deontology, the engineer should not hack the system without permission as it violates their code of ethics. However, a rights ethics approach would say the engineer should hack the system to cancel the launch in order to respect human rights and save thousands of lives, even if it means violating their duties as a software engineer.
The document discusses a scenario where a software engineer learns that a nuclear missile is about to launch, which could start a war and kill thousands. Following deontology, the engineer should not hack the system without permission as it violates their code of ethics. However, a rights ethics approach would say the engineer should hack the system to cancel the launch in order to respect human rights and save thousands of lives, even if it means violating their duties as a software engineer.
The document discusses a scenario where a software engineer learns that a nuclear missile is about to launch, which could start a war and kill thousands. Following deontology, the engineer should not hack the system without permission as it violates their code of ethics. However, a rights ethics approach would say the engineer should hack the system to cancel the launch in order to respect human rights and save thousands of lives, even if it means violating their duties as a software engineer.
We had a discussion on deontology and its possible
problems. Rigidly following deontology can produce results that many people find unacceptable.
Problem: Suppose you’re a software engineer and learn that a
nuclear missile is about to launch that might start a war. You can hack the network and cancel the launch, but it’s against your professional code of ethics to break into any software system without permission. And, it’s a form of lying and cheating. Deontology advises not to violate this rule. However, in letting the missile launch, thousands of people will die. Question: What would be a Rights Ethics oriented approach to this problem be?
-Rights theory is a normative theory which means that it is a
theory that focuses on how people should or ought to behave in a right-mannered way. With respect to rights theory, an action of decision that respects the right of other people would be considered ethically correct. “RESPECT” is the key word to rights theory, that is considering and upholding the rights of others is the foundation of rights theory. In relation to the above- mentioned scenario, a rights ethics oriented approach would definitely break his duty or obligated work and would prefer to abide what he thinks would adhere to rights theory, which is to hack the network and save thousands of people and prevent a war. A rights ethics oriented would definitely choose to respect human rights than adhere to his duty as a software engineer.