Download Oct. 18 - Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

PROFESSIONAL
ETHICS
Calvin Gotlieb,
Professor Emeritus, Department of Computer Science
University of Toronto
York University
October 18, 2006
ETHICS
Webster
“The branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human
conduct with respect to rightness and wrongness of actions and the
goodness and badness of motives and ends”
In considering professional ethics it is necessary to put these in
context with different ethical theories proposed through the
centuries, in many countries, by religious leaders and moral
philosophers
Reference: Michael J. Quinn “Ethics for the Information Age”
Pearson Education, 2nd ed. 2006
York, October 18, 2006
Professional Ethics
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Ethical Theories
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Descriptive ethics---as practiced
Normative ethics-from the writings of
philosophers and religious leaders
Assumption
Will accept theories based on logic/reason
(as opposed to, say, belief or practice)
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Professional Ethics
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SUBJECTIVE/CULTURAL RELATIVSIM
Negative claim
There are no universal norms
Positive claim
Right and wrong are relative to the individual and society
Problems
Accepts intolerance, slavery, apartheid, torture, where these are societal norms
Negates idea of moral progress
Relativism view in itself is a universal claim
York, October 18, 2006
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DIVINE COMMAND THEORY
Good actions are those aligned with the will of God
God’s will is revealed in the “holy book” handed down
through his messenger
Problems?
York, October 18, 2006
Professional Ethics
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CONSEQUENTIALISM
( ACT) UTILITARIANSIM
Jeremy Bentham John Stuart Mills
What makes acts right or wrong depends wholly on the
consequences
Consequences are difficult to predict So-Act so as to achieve the “greatest good for the greatest number”
Problems
Leads to a “calculus of values” But can values be quantified?
Should we kill one person to get many body parts?
York, October 18, 2006
Professional Ethics
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DEONTOLOGICAL THEORIES
Immanuel Kant
The only unambiguous good thing is the will to do good
There are absolutely, inherently right rules
Rationality—Man is unique in ability to reason
Therefore rules are good if they follow from logic
Categorical Imperative
Rules are good if they apply to everyone (Universality)
E.g. Do no harm (-) Golden rule (+)
Never treat human beings as means to an end, but rather as ends in themselves
Leads to idea of “human rights”---privacy, intellectual property rights
Are there universal rights?—e.g. life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
Problems
How to adjudicate between conflicting rights?—privacy and free speech
Does absolute right imply existence of absolute evil?
York, October 18, 2006
Professional Ethics
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SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
Thomas Hobbes Jean-Jacques Rousseau
There is a “social contract” between individuals and society where
everyone gains (is not hurt)
This leads to legal contract i.e. Laws
Hence the connection between laws,ethics, morality
Laws about driving (on the left or right) or protecting intellectual
Property may not be inherently moral but they prevent harm and promote good
Social Contract theory recognizes the harm resulting form the concentration of
wealth and power
York, October 18, 2006
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Ethical Codes for Professions
Requirements for Codes to be Effective
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A Code has to formulated and promulgated
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A transparent process has to be in place to judge cases
where there has been a possible transgression of the code
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A support system has to be known to aid persons who
are willing to be whistleblowers on witnessing what they
believe is a serious infraction of the code
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Professional Ethics
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