Consequences of Computing:
A Framework for Teaching

Principles and Skills Underlying the Social and Ethical Dimensions - Page 19 of 36

• Ethical Principles [EP]
  • 1) Ethical claims can be discussed rationally.
  • 2) Ethical claims must be defended with reasons.
  • 3) Ethical choices cannot be avoided.
  • 4) Some easy ethical approaches are questionable.
• Ethical Skills [ES]
  • 1) Arguing from example, analogy, and counter-example.
  • 2) Identifying ethical principles and stake holders in concrete situations.
  • 3) Identifying and evaluating alternative courses of action.
  • 4) Applying ethical codes to concrete situations.
• Social Principles [SP]
  • 1) The social context influences the design and use of technology.
  • 2) Power relations are central in all social interaction.
  • 3) Technology embodies value decisions made by designers.
  • 4) Populations are always diverse.
  • 5) Empirical data is crucial to the design process.
• Social Skills [SS]
  • 1) Identifying and interpreting the social context of a particular implementation.
  • 2) Identifying assumptions and values embedded in a particular design.
  • 3) Evaluating, by use of empirical data, a particular implementation of a technology.

Figure 3 provides an overview of the principles and skills. Note that they are all quite fundamental in nature and not tied to the technical characteristics of any particular technology. They are, however, important principles or skills for computer scientists to master as they design and implement technologies that will be used by, and will affect, people. They are generally matters about which there is great consensus among philosophers, theologians, social scientists, and computer professionals. For example, even where there is much disagreement about whether software is public knowledge or private property, there is general agreement that ethical choices on this issue cannot be avoided [EP3] and that simplistic ethical approaches to it are not helpful [EP4]. We propose that faculty while carefully explaining matters where disagreement occurs, also take care to stress these ethical and social principles on which most of us can agree. In this way we provide content for courses in this area, not simply unfounded and unresolved differences in opinion.