1. Ethical Issues in Computer Science CSCI 328, Fall 2013 Session 4 Handout Ethical Theories

2. Utilitarianism Utilitarians focus on the consequences of actions.
They seek actions, rules or policies that bring about good consequences.
Basic Rule: (What is it?)

3. Intrinsic vs. Instrumental Value
Some things have instrumental value: They are valued because they lead to something else that is valued for its own sake.
Example: Money
Other examples?
Some things have intrinsic value: They are valuable in themselves.
Example: Knowledge

4. Happiness has Intrinsic Value
Utilitarians focus on maximizing happiness, because happiness has intrinsic value.
Some utilitarians argue that everything else is desired as a means to happiness.
Example: Why major in CS?
3. Therefore, each person should choose actions that bring about the most happiness.

5. Utilitarianism vs. Egoism
Want to bring about the most happiness for everyone.
Each person's happiness counts for the same as everyone else's.
Ethical choice could make one's self unhappy, if it makes others happy.
Egoism:
What is Egoism and how does it differ from Utilitarianism?

6. Rules vs. Acts
Rule utilitarians want to adopt rules that, if followed, will bring about the maximum happiness in the long run.
Example: Always tell the truth.
Act utilitarians note that the action that brings about the most happiness depends on the context.
We should try to anticipate the consequences of our actions and choose the one that will maximize happiness.
Example: In some cases it may be appropriate to lie.
Examples?

7. Critique of Utilitarianism
Sometimes maximizing the happiness of the group results from sacrificing the happiness of a few.
Examples: (Can you think of any?)
Do the long term consequences of these policies alter the utilitarian equation?
There appears to be something missing from utilitarianism.

8. Deontological Theories
Deontology comes from the Greek "deon", meaning duty, and "logos" meaning science.
Deontological Theories put emphasis on the internal character of the act itself (as opposed to the consequences of the action).
Example: If I tell the truth because I know I must respect the other person, then I act out of duty and my action is right.

9. The Categorical Imperative
The categorical imperative states that "We should never treat human beings merely as a means to an end. We should always treat human beings as ends in themselves."
Immanuel Kant stated that one must always act according to the categorical imperative.
Humans are creatures with goals and act to achieve these goals.
We must respect this in others and cannot treat them merely a means to our own ends.
Deontologists therefore believe that some things are always wrong. E.g. killing.

10. Capacity for Rational Decisions
Deontologists believe that the capacity for rational decision making is the most important thing for human beings.
We should respect this capacity in others.
We could not be moral beings without rational capacity.

11. Case Illustration
Sociology Professor promises her subjects confidentiality.
Can she give the raw data to her graduate students to process?
What does deontological theory say?
What does utilitarianism say?