Morality and Ethics and Computers
There are many different sides to the discussion on moral and ethical
uses of computers. In many situations, the morality of a particular use of a
computer is up to the individual to decide. For this reason, absolute laws
about ethical computer usage is almost, but not entirely, impossible to define.
The introduction of computers into the workplace has introduced many
questions as well: Should employers make sure the workplace is designed to
minimize health risks such as back strain and carpal tunnel syndrome for people
who work with computers? Can employers prohibit employees from sending personal
memos by electronic mail to a friend at the other side of the office? Should
employers monitor employees' work on computers? If so, should employees be
warned beforehand? If warned, does that make the practice okay? According to
Kenneth Goodman, director of the Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy at the
University of Miami, who teaches courses in computer ethics, "There's hardly a
business that's not using computers."1 This makes these questions all the more
important for today's society to answer.
There are also many moral and ethical problems dealing with the use of
computers in the medical field. In one particular case, a technician trusted
what he thought a computer was telling him, and administered a deadly dose of
radiation to a hospital patient.2 In cases like these, it is difficult to decide
who's fault it is. It could have been the computer programmer's fault, but
Goodman asks, "How much responsibility can you place on a machine?"3
Many problems also occur when computers are used in education. Should
computers replace actual teachers in the classroom? In some schools, computers
and computer manuals have already started to replace teachers. I would consider
this an unethical use of computers because computers do not have the ability to
think and interact on an interpersonal basis.
Computers "dehumanize... [continues]
There are many different sides to the discussion on moral and ethical
uses of computers. In many situations, the morality of a particular use of a
computer is up to the individual to decide. For this reason, absolute laws
about ethical computer usage is almost, but not entirely, impossible to define.
The introduction of computers into the workplace has introduced many
questions as well: Should employers make sure the workplace is designed to
minimize health risks such as back strain and carpal tunnel syndrome for people
who work with computers? Can employers prohibit employees from sending personal
memos by electronic mail to a friend at the other side of the office? Should
employers monitor employees' work on computers? If so, should employees be
warned beforehand? If warned, does that make the practice okay? According to
Kenneth Goodman, director of the Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy at the
University of Miami, who teaches courses in computer ethics, "There's hardly a
business that's not using computers."1 This makes these questions all the more
important for today's society to answer.
There are also many moral and ethical problems dealing with the use of
computers in the medical field. In one particular case, a technician trusted
what he thought a computer was telling him, and administered a deadly dose of
radiation to a hospital patient.2 In cases like these, it is difficult to decide
who's fault it is. It could have been the computer programmer's fault, but
Goodman asks, "How much responsibility can you place on a machine?"3
Many problems also occur when computers are used in education. Should
computers replace actual teachers in the classroom? In some schools, computers
and computer manuals have already started to replace teachers. I would consider
this an unethical use of computers because computers do not have the ability to
think and interact on an interpersonal basis.
Computers "dehumanize... [continues]
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