ISY103 – Professional Issues in Computing

A. Definition of the following terms:

1. Ethics: general - examines the rational justification for our moral judgments;
it studies what is morally right or wrong, just or unjust. In a broader sense, ethics
reflects on human beings and their interaction with nature and with other humans,
on freedom, on responsibility and on justice.
2. Computer Ethics - is the set of commonly agreed principles that govern the
use of computers. Like ethics more generally, computer ethics is essentially a set
of philosophical guidelines or moral standards that aim to influence behavior and
prevent harm.
3. Law - the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as
regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of
penalties.

B. Brief explanations of the following legal maxims:

1. ignorantia legis neminem excusat – means that an individual who does
not know about the law cannot avoid the responsibilities for breaking it just because
he/she is ignorant of its details
2. nullum crimen nulla poena sine lege – means there is no crime committed
if there is no law created and so you cannot punish it.
3. dura lex, sed lex – meaning the rule of law concept dictates that all rules, no matter
how severe, must be observed and upheld; if one does not agree with the outcome, the law
must be changed.

C. Definition of the following ethical theories:

1. Divine command theory - the claim that morality is ultimately based on the commands
or character of God, and that the morally right action is the one that God commands or
requires.
2. Cultural Relativism - is the theory that holds that morality is relative to the norms of one's
culture. That is, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of the society
in which it is practiced. The same action may be morally right in one society but be morally
wrong in another.
3. Virtue Ethics - is arguably the oldest ethical theory in the world, with origins in Ancient
Greece. It defines good actions as ones that display embody virtuous character traits, like
courage, loyalty, or wisdom. A virtue itself is a disposition to act, think and feel in certain ways.
4. Contractarianism - claims that moral norms derive their normative force from the idea of
contract or mutual agreement. Contractarians are thus skeptical of the possibility of
grounding morality or political authority in either divine will or some perfectionist ideal of the
nature of humanity.
5. Utilitarianism - is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on
outcomes. It is a form of consequentialism. Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical choice
is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number.
6. Deontological Ethics - holds that at least some acts are morally obligatory regardless of
their consequences for human welfare.
7. Kantianism - implies an obligation for businesses to treat all persons with respect.
8. Consequentialism - is an ethical theory that judges whether or not something is right by
what its consequences are. For instance, most people would agree that lying is wrong. But if
telling a lie would help save a person's life, consequentialism says it's the right thing to do.
D. Applying Ethical Theories
A programmer, after returning from a holiday to an underdeveloped country, was deeply
affected by the level of poverty. When he returned to his job in a large international corporation,
it occurred to him that he could write a program that filtered off small amounts of money from
the advertising account and pay it in to a private account. His idea was to collect enough money
to provide IT equipment and training to the people in the town he had visited on holiday. However,
he is not sure about his decision

1. What solution does a Kantian approach offer?

The Kantian approach on this situation offers moral reasoning that the programmer is
doing the right thing for the poor people living in the underdeveloped country, however, it
does break the company policy of collecting money for not it’s gain. He is now stealing
from the company.

2. What solution does a Consequentialist approach offer?

The Consequential approach on this situation offers are more direct outcome if he does
so proceed to his plan of collecting money from the company’s advertising account, he
is morally doing the right thing by doing the wrong. Even if he is doing the wrong thing,
the benefits of the outcome are for the greater good.

3. Are their conclusions the same?

Yes, both Kantian and Consequential approach offers the same outcome and same
reason. The programmer can do the wrong thing for him/her to produce the right thing
he/she so desires. However, it may cause him/her career if by doing so break the policies
of the large international corporation.

4. What do you think he should do?

Reconsider his/her options in building funds without compromising his/her career. I

suggest to set up a fundraising campaign and open a charity drive to spread awareness
for the people who needed help from the ones that are capable.