Ethics in the Information Age Third Paper Assignment Due: Monday, December 12, by 10 AM
Please submit your paper as a Word document (not a PDF) to the appropriate assignment folder (AKA dropbox) on the class D2L site.
General Directions:
Write an essay explaining and supporting your views on one of the following topics. Write a total of 4-6 pages, typed, double-spaced. Write as clearly and concisely as you can. Explain any technical terms you use. Pretend that, instead of being read by a teacher who has read all the class readings, your essay will be read by an intelligent and well-informed person who has read no such material, and who needs to have the issues explained in a way that does not assume any acquaintance with academic writing about ethics or about the social policy issues you are discussing. Answer mainly in your own words. Put quotations in quotation marks (and use quotes sparingly). When you borrow a phrase or argument or idea from another writer, give them credit. Be sure: 1) that your essay has a clear thesis; 2) that you give reasons to support your thesis; 3) that you explain the arguments that others have made (or might make) against your thesis; and 4) that you provide answers to those arguments.
See the paper writing guides linked on the class website for lots more guidance.
Specific topic options:
1. Intellectual property: Why do some people think that it is important that our legal system provide strong protections for ‘intellectual property’ in the form of patent and copyright laws? What reasons have been given for strengthening those protections in recent years (by extending the period of copyrights, for example)? Why do Jochai Benkler and Richard Stallman (among others) think that these protections have become counter-productive, given the economics of information production and, especially, the growth of ‘commons-based peer production’ (for example: open-source/free software)? What do you think?
2. Can the Internet help us be more democratic? In The Wealth of Networks Jochai Benkler argued that the Internet makes possible a more vibrant and democratic ‘public sphere,' where more people than ever before can participate in public debate and discussion. Sunstein (among others) thinks the effects on democratic politics may well be negative. Explain briefly the arguments on each side of this debate. What do you think? (Who’s right? Why?) Do the developments in our public discourse since Benkler’s book was written (2006) show that his thesis is flawed? Does his more recent research, which he interprets as showing that our problems are caused more by broadcast media (radio and TV) than by Internet-based social media, vindicate his view that the Internet is (at least potentially) good for democracy?
3. Will the Internet make our economy better or worse from an ethical point of view? Benkler argues that the internet is making possible a new ‘mode of production” (commons-based peer production, exemplified by Wikipedia and open-source software) that will greatly improve our economic lives. Others see trouble ahead as automation destroys jobs and technology facilitates “winner-take-all” markets and poorly paid 'gig-work'. How do you see information technology making our economic lives better or worse? (Ground your answer in the class readings.)
4. If you did not write about freedom of speech and social media in your second paper, you could write about that in your third one. If you do, make some use of our more recent readings about polarization, misinformation and possible policies to reduce these ill-effects.
5. If you did not write about privacy in your second paper, you could write about that in your third paper. If you do, make some use of our recent readings on the relation between privacy (and the threat to privacy posed by 'surveillance capitalism') and democracy.