1. COM 354 Week 1 (8/23) New Media Ethics

2. Related to my work “Privacy and Participation in the Cloud: Ethical Implications of Google’s Privacy Practices and Public Communications” in Ethics of Emerging Media (Continuum, 2011)Ethics of Emerging Media "This collection provides a rare opportunity to ask how emerging media affect the ethical choices in our lives and the lives of people across the globe.”

3. OUTLINE Introduction (course, syllabus, Wiki) Traditional ethical theories Spheres of Information ethics – Group Activity Central Issues of digital media ethics

4. Syllabus Required Text Basic Structure Assignments Grading Student's Responsibilities Course Schedule

5. Key terms Values - goals and ideals we aspire to and measure ourselves, others and society by moral values - values that give voice to the needs and legitimate expectations of others as well as ourselves Ethics - study of moral values, reflection on how to think about them, and clarify, prioritize, and/or integrate them.

6. Morals and ethics Often interchangeable Morals – something we hold (static) Ethics –deliberate process of thinking them through, criticizing, and revising them (dynamic)

7. pitfalls Dogmatism – Ask why, study other's views, reasons of opposed positions – Speak in an open ended way – Hint of Offhand self-justification

8. dogmatism Ask why, study other's views, reasons of opposed positions Speak in an open ended way Less categorical, less final Think in an open ended way A hint of uncertainty is appropriate

9. Offhand self-justification Know that its self-defeating – rationalizing and making excuses can perpetuate unintelligent opinions Observe yourself – Try not to make excuses just to put questions to rest Watch for signs of anger or irritation when challenged Avoid automatic counterattack – Give yourself space to think

10. Three families of values Utilitarianism Theories of Right Action Theories of Virtue

11. 1. Utilitarianism J. Bentham, J. S. Mill – Moral commitment to happiness of all – “greatest good of the greatest number” – Typically asks “does it promote the social good?” – Involves balancing social costs with social benefits (a calculation) – Social utility

12. 2. Theories of Right Action (also deontology or categorical imperative) Kant – Decide what is right independent of social utility – Social utility reduces people to a means, a thing – People are not “means” but “ends” in themselves – Profound sense of equality

13. 2. Theories of Right Action (cont.) Kant – Decisions often framed as universal laws, rights, rules applying to everyone, universally – A law for all to follow – Can't “make an exception for myself” (golden rule) – e.g., Universal Declaration of Human Rights –

14. 3. Theories of Virtue Aristotle – One's function, derived from his/her essential activity, determines their virtues – Our function, to bring a complex self into order “balanced self actualization” – “means between extremes of emotion and action” (golden mean) e.g., courage is the mean between cowardice and foolhardiness

15. 3. Theories of Virtue (cont.) Aristotle – Moral virtues Courage, temperance, justice, generosity, humor – Vices Excesses

16. 3. Theories of Virtue (cont.) St. Thomas Aquinas adapted Aristotle's logic – Reason a way to know oneself God. – Theological virtues Faith, hope, charity Expanded Greek virtues - e.g., temperance to include humility, patience, chastity – Deadly sins – fatal to spiritual progress pride lust, avarice, etc.)

17. 3. Theories of Virtue (cont.) Alasdair MacIntyre – Professions have a moral dimension – Determined by specific function e.g., teachers enable and inform – Virtue is related to professional practice – Acquired qualities to achieve our goals e.g., Bloggers “code of ethics”

18. 3. Theories of Virtue: Ethics of Care Our practices are rooted in human relationships – based on love, care, connecting – Rooted in awareness of connections btw us – & recognition of our responsibility for one another Key virtues – imagination, sensitivity, patience, acceptance, nurturing, responding

19. Activity Think about ethical problems: – Wikileaks – Online targeted advertising – Virtual sex in Second Life

20. Activity Speak to the issue from within each theory – e.g., how would utilitarians view it, – how would Kant view it – what virtues are relevant? (list them) –

21. Activity (part two) Declare yourself Which of these theories describes how you mainly think? Are their good arguments for each? How might you combine them? How would you prioritize them? –

22. Spheres of ICT ethics Ethics of informational resources – issues of availability, access, and accuracy Ethics of Informational Products – devices, applications, services (SNSs), sites, games Ethics of the informational environment – piracy, IP, FOSS, FoE, censorship, filtering, content control

23. Central Issues of Ethics in Digital Media Ethics of informational resources – issues of availability, access, and accuracy Ethics of Informational Products – devices, applications, services (SNSs), sites, games Ethics of the informational environment – piracy, IP, FOSS, FoE, censorship, filtering, content control

24. Central Issues of digital media ethics Mainstream media reports on technology – “moral panic” to attract attention – focus on sensational and deep seated fears fosters polarized way of thinking – e.g., technology=good, technology=bad short circuits critical reflection

25. Distinguishing characteristics of digital media Digital vs. analog (bits easily manipulated) Instantaneous enduring global

26. Pedagogical approach Case studies discussion/writing/reflection/research We'll pursue our own case studies, as well

27. HWK (Due Monday 8/30) Journal #1 (on Wiki) Read Chapter 2