tim@attdso.ATT.COM (Tim J Ihde) (11/14/88)
In article <5390@medusa.cs.purdue.edu> spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford) writes: >I never claimed a course in ethics (or anything else) will help each >and every undergraduate live by the rules. However, it will help a >significant number of students understand the rules bit better than the >current system does, and that is important. If we advance the average, >it is a gain even if we don't advance every point. This is a good point. While I was an undergraduate, my operating systems professor took one day out of the class for a discussion on ethics. As I recall, this simple question took the whole time: If another student has directory and file permissions set so that you can look at his or her files, is it ethical for you as another student to look at the .profile? look at the mbox? look at the last finished project? look at the current working project? From the general reaction, it was obvious that almost none of the class had even considered the matter. There were arguments on both sides (in fact the professor insisted that there be debate), but I think the fact that the discussion existed at all was A Good Thing. If the student cannot resolve such questions, how will the student hired as system administrator do? The next year's students took an entire course on ethics, which I missed, but I'm glad to have been involved in the discussion. -- Tim J Ihde UUCP: att!attdso!tim (201) 898-6687 INTERNET: tim@attdso.att.com "Blimey - this redistribution of wealth is more complicated than I'd thought!" - Dennis Moore and various Presidents
libes@cme-durer.ARPA (Don Libes) (11/15/88)
Lest you think you are all treading new ground, I highly recommend the book: "Ethical Conflicts in Computer Science and Technology", by Donn Parker. It consists of 50 scenarios, that were discussed at an SRI workshop of academicians, lawyers, philosophers, psychologists, etc. Each party in each scenario was judged as to both ethics as well as legality. Results are interpreted with repect to 1) personal morality, 2) organizational loyalty, 3) contractual arrangement, 4) responsibility to public, etc. All I can say is, it's fascinating. Unfortunately, the Usenet discussion is hardly comprehensive by comparison. Don Libes libes@cme.nbs.gov ...!uunet!cme-durer!libes
mchinni@ardec.arpa (Michael J. Chinni, SMCAR-CCS-E) (11/17/88)
Your suggestion of the book: "Ethical Conflicts in Computer Science and Technology", by Donn Parker. sounds good. Can you provide some more info. on the book like publisher and when it came out and maybe also what revision your copy is ? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael J. Chinni ARPA: mchinni@ardec-cc1.arpa UUCP: ...!uunet!ardec-cc1.arpa!mchinni AT&T: 201-724-4140 AUTOVON: 880-4140 Work: SMCAR-CCS-E, Bldg 350Annex, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
libes@cme.nbs.gov (Don Libes) (11/18/88)
"Ethical Conflicts in Computer Science and Technology" is published by AFIPS Press. The author works for SRI International and can be contacted there (though I don't know his email address). Oddly, even though it is a hardcover book, there is no Library of Congress page, no copyright notice and no date. About the closest thing is that the note that "manuscript was supported by NSF grant #05577-27722 and #05576-16408" on the title page. I suggest you contact the author. (And let me know what he says.) Don Libes libes@cme.nbs.gov ...!uunet!cme-durer!libes
libes@cme-durer.ARPA (Don Libes) (11/19/88)
In article <17567@adm.BRL.MIL> mchinni@ardec.arpa (Michael J. Chinni, SMCAR-CCS-E) writes: >Your suggestion of the book: >"Ethical Conflicts in Computer Science and Technology", by Donn Parker. >sounds good. Can you provide some more info. on the book like publisher and "Ethical Conflicts in Computer Science and Technology" is published by AFIPS Press. The author works for SRI International and can be contacted there (though I don't know his email address). Oddly, even though it is a hardcover book, there is no Library of Congress page, no copyright notice and no date. About the closest thing is that the note that "manuscript was supported by NSF grant #05577-27722 and #05576-16408" on the title page. Don Libes libes@cme.nbs.gov ...!uunet!cme-durer!libes