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Computer Ethics: Current Perspectives and Resources
Herman T. Tavani
Rivier College htavani@rivier.edu www.rivier.edu/faculty/htavani
When I was invited to contribute an essay describing the current state of the field of computer ethics, I wondered how it would be possible to do so within a space limitation of 2,000 words. Realizing that such a task could not be accomplished adequately, I decided to limit my discussion to two aspects of computer ethics: current perspectives and current resources.
1. Some Current Perspectives on Computer Ethics
When James Moor’s classic article, "What is Computer Ethics?," appeared in the October 1985 issue of Metaphilosophy, the impact of computers and information technology on our social institutions was arguably very different from its effect today.1 At that time, the World Wide Web was still several years away from development; and the Internet, at least as we know it today, was in its infancy.2 Also, in 1985 personal computers were relatively new and were owned by proportionately few persons. The image of computers held by many, then, was that of a large, "unfriendly" mainframe—i.e., a giant machine whose operations were understood only by a select few technical "gurus" capable of writing programs in esoteric languages. Today, of course, a computer is no longer viewed merely as a machine that "crunches numbers," but is perhaps more commonly thought of either as a communications medium through which one is able to conduct many of the affairs of one’s day-to-day life or as a tool that is essential for carrying out many of one’s tasks in the workplace. Indeed, it would be difficult now for many us to imagine our lives without computers.
Because computer technology has changed significantly in recent years, one might assume that the issues on which computer ethicists focus today would have evolved accordingly. In one sense, that assumption would seem correct; in another sense, however, it would not. In the "early days" of
Herman T. Tavani
Rivier College htavani@rivier.edu www.rivier.edu/faculty/htavani
When I was invited to contribute an essay describing the current state of the field of computer ethics, I wondered how it would be possible to do so within a space limitation of 2,000 words. Realizing that such a task could not be accomplished adequately, I decided to limit my discussion to two aspects of computer ethics: current perspectives and current resources.
1. Some Current Perspectives on Computer Ethics
When James Moor’s classic article, "What is Computer Ethics?," appeared in the October 1985 issue of Metaphilosophy, the impact of computers and information technology on our social institutions was arguably very different from its effect today.1 At that time, the World Wide Web was still several years away from development; and the Internet, at least as we know it today, was in its infancy.2 Also, in 1985 personal computers were relatively new and were owned by proportionately few persons. The image of computers held by many, then, was that of a large, "unfriendly" mainframe—i.e., a giant machine whose operations were understood only by a select few technical "gurus" capable of writing programs in esoteric languages. Today, of course, a computer is no longer viewed merely as a machine that "crunches numbers," but is perhaps more commonly thought of either as a communications medium through which one is able to conduct many of the affairs of one’s day-to-day life or as a tool that is essential for carrying out many of one’s tasks in the workplace. Indeed, it would be difficult now for many us to imagine our lives without computers.
Because computer technology has changed significantly in recent years, one might assume that the issues on which computer ethicists focus today would have evolved accordingly. In one sense, that assumption would seem correct; in another sense, however, it would not. In the "early days" of
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