Ethics in an Information Age Mid-term Exam Due: March 6

General Directions: Write a total of 5-8 pages, typed, double-spaced. Make your answers as clear and concise 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 answers 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. For example, do not assume that your reader already knows what ‘utilitarianism’ or ‘whistle-blowing’ is. Assume that they need brief clear explanations of such terms.

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.

Part 1 Answer the following question :

1. Choose one of the following scenarios from our textbook: #22 on page 146, #30 on page 316, #40 on page 364, #17 on page 449, #19 on page 450. Analyze your chosen scenario from the point of view of each of the following

a. act utilitarianism,

b. Kantianism,

c. social contract theory

d. The Software Engineering Code of Ethics

Part 2 Answer any two of the following questions:

1. Under what conditions, if any, do you think that employees in the field of information technology have a moral obligation to ‘blow the whistle’ – i.e., to report wrongdoing to the media or to the authorities?

2. Would it be a good idea to subject software manufacturers to the same liability standards as manufacturers of other products?

3. Is there anything wrong with producing pornography and distributing it online?

4. Discuss: “There should be no restrictions whatsoever on what people may post on websites.”

5. Do producers of video games, and other electronic entertainment bear any responsibility for the effects of their products on consumers or on our culture?

6. What are reasonable and fair restrictions on the use of email for marketing?