Paper Topics for the Second Paper
PHL 117: Computer Ethics is a new course at the University of Rochester, which I will be teaching for the first time this summer.
Computers have become a much more pervasive part of our lives than they were just two decades ago. Computers have given us new ways to commit crimes, new ways to affect the lives of others, and new ways to steal from others. Issues such as software piracy, computer hacking, and computerized record keeping affect nearly everyone who uses computers.
In PHL 117: Computer Ethics, we will examine how computers have affected society and how they could further affect it in the future. We will examine various ethical issues surrounding computers. These will include piracy, hacking, viruses, responsibilty and liability for the use of software, cyberporn, computerized invasion of privacy, computers in the workplace, and the use of artificial intelligence and expert systems. We will also consider many of the moral and professional issues that those who work with computers might expect to face.
The ACM and the IEEE both recognize that it is important for undergraduates in computer science to understand the social, ethical, and professional issues that arise in the field of computing. Like physicians and law-makers, computer professionals are put into unique positions of responsibility. So it is important for them to understand the responsibilities they bear, to know how their actions can affect both society and individual people, and to appreciate both the good and the harm they can do. It is also important for others to know the ethical issues surrounding computers, because computers will still play a large part in their lives.
Here is a working syllabus for the course.
