Date

Topic

Reading

Writing assignments/ Discussion Projects

January 12

Introduction

none

January 19

MLK Holiday – No Class

January 26

Overview: Personal, Professional, and Social Issues in Information Technology

Quinn, Chapter 1;  Benkler, Wealth of Networks, Introduction (online here); The Case of the Killer Robot (online here)

Response to reading; Cases for Discussion (Identify several ethical issues that might be raised in connection with your case.)

February 2

Ethical Theories 1: Relativism, Religion, Kant

Quinn, Chapter 2 through p. 74;  Excerpts from Kant (with notes); "The Truth in Ethical Relativism" by Hugh LaFollette

Response to reading;; Discussion Project: Applying Kant

February 9

Ethical Theories 2: Utilitarianism, Social Contract theory

Quinn, Chapter 2, the rest; "The Singer Solution to World Poverty" by Peter Singer; Prisoners' Dilemma: Game and Explanation: "We are all Prisoners" and "An Ethic Based on Prisoners' Dilemma" by Jonathan Wallace

Response to reading;; Discussion Project: Applying Utilitarianism

February 16

Professional/Business ethics 1: responsibilities, standards, codes

Quinn, Chapter 8, through p. 408

Response to reading;  Mid-term exam questions handed out (due March 2)

February 23

Professional/Business ethics 2: whistleblowing, loyalty

Quinn, Chapter 8, the rest; also "Encouraging Internal Whistleblowing in Organizations" by Lilanthi Ravishankar ;  "Illusions of whistleblower protection" by Brian Martin, University of Wolongong;  Brian Martin's summary of Robert Jackall's discussion of whistleblowing;  Summary of Jackall's book "Moral Mazes" (pdf) by Damian Grace, University of New South Wales

Response to reading; Discussion project: Look at the five criteria for whistle-blowing on p. 415. Notice that DeGeorge says that when the first 3 are satisfied it is OK to blow the whistle, and when all 5 are satisfied one has an obligation (duty) to blow the whistle. Discuss whether or not these are reasonable and appropriate criteria.

March   2

Computer Reliability

Quinn, Chapter 7

Response to reading; Midterm exam due;  Discussion project on software warranties

March 9

Spring Break – No class

March 16

Spam, Pornography, Free Speech, Censorship

Quinn, Chapter 3

Response to reading;

March 23

Privacy 1

Quinn, Chapter 5, through p. 243; MSNBC article on privacy law

Response to reading; Discussion project on privacy

March 30

Privacy 2

Quinn, Chapter 5, the rest; plus whatever you have time for from the articles listed on this page

 Response to reading; Paper topic statement due; Discussion project on Surveillance

April 6

Intellectual Property 1

Quinn, Chapter 4

links to further materials on copyright

 Response to reading; Paper drafts due;Discussion project on Copyright

April  13

Intellectual Property 2

Benkler, Wealth of Networks, Introduction to Chapter 2 (pp. 35-41); Chapter 3 (pp. 59-90); last section of Chapter 5 (pp. 161-175)

Response to reading ; Final Exam questions handed out

April   20

The Internet and Democracy

Benkler, Wealth of Networks, Chapter 7 - html here, pdf here (Chapter 6 is optional); "The Daily We" by Cass Sunstein; "Bloggers and Parties: Can the Netroots Reshape Democracy" by Henry Farrell

 Response to reading

April   27

Access and Equity; course evaluations

Quinn, Chapter 9

Response to reading; Final Exam due

May 4

 No meeting - email papers

 None

Final version of papers due