Computer Ethics, Assignment 1

Due Monday, 30 September 2019, 4:30 pm

We will be discussing ethical theories and ethical reasoning in the coming days. But where are you (we) starting from?

How do you make ethical decisions? What sort of guidelines do you use? Write a paragraph or two, saying how you decide, in your personal life, what is the "right" thing to do. HOW would you decide what to do when presented with some new situation, where there isn't an established rule, such as, "Drive on the left side of the street." This is personal, so I expect a wide variety of answers.

You might consider one of:

What to do if you received 2 emails not intended for you. One is a love letter, the other is a plan to commit arson.
As an advice columnist, you receive this letter:
"A family member on Facebook posts her childcare needs at least once a week. She posts the day and time she needs and has said the names of her three children. I want to tell her how unsafe it is to post when her children will be alone with a sitter... Should I bring up my concerns with her? - Worried for the Kids" (Sherbrooke Record, Sept. 11)
How would you answer "Worried"?
You are working as a software engineer on an aircraft control system, and you recognize that it could cause the plann to crash on takeoff. You are told to mind your own business.

Ways to submit:

Paper or parchment (try to write legibly)
Through Moodle

Also to do using Moodle: -- sign up for a panel

Since this is a Computer Science class, I am expecting you to have a bit of computer literacy, and use this tool of my devising to select and panel and role during the coming classes. Once you have made your selection, do background research so you can bring some insights to the discussion. For instance, if you take the role of Edward Snowden, you should know who he is!