The Internet, ethical values, and conceptual frameworks: an introduction to Cyberethics

ABSTRACT

What exactly is Cyberethics? How did the field develop? What are some of the central issues and themes in this field, and what methodologies are used by those working in this area of applied ethics? These and related questions are considered in the readings included in Chapter 1. It is perhaps important to note at the outset that the field that many are now beginning to refer to as "cyberethics" has until quite recently been referred to by the more general label "computer ethics." Other expressions that are also now used to refer to ethical issues involving computing and Internet technologies are "information ethics," "information technology ethics," "information and communication technology (ICT) ethics," "global information ethics," and "Internet ethics." As in the case of "Internet ethics," "cyberethics" is intended to refer to ethical concerns involving the Internet, in particular. And it is primarily with ethical issues involving that particular medium that we will be concerned in this textbook of readings. It is also important to note that the expression "computer ethics" describes better the impact that computing technology in general has had for ethics as well as for our social and political institutions. Although our main concern will be with those ethical issues involving the Internet, many of the readings included in Chapter 1 are also concerned with ethical issues in a broader sense of computing technologies. Hence, the expressions "cyberethics" and "computer ethics" may, at times, be used interchangeably in this chapter.

REFERENCES

• 1: Bynum, Terrell Ward and Simon Rogerson (1996). "Global information ethics: introduction and overview," Science and engineering ethics, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 131-136.
• 2: Luciano Floridi, Information ethics: On the philosophical foundation ofcomputer ethics, Ethics and Information Technology, v.1 n.1, p.33-52, 1999 [doi>10.1023/A:1010018611096]
• 3: Gert, Bernard (1998). Morality: its nature and justification. New York: Oxford University Press.
• 4: Deborah G. Johnson, Computer ethics (2nd ed.), Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1994
• 5: Johnson, Deborah G. (2001). Computer ethics. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
• 6: Maner, Walter (1996). "Unique ethical probelms in information technology," Science and Engineering Ethics, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 137-154.
• 7: Moor, James H. (1985). "What is computer ethics?"Metaphilosphy, vol. 16, no. 4, Oct., pp. 266-275.
• 8: Rawls, John (1971). A theory of justice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.4 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY
      K.4.1 Public Policy Issues
          Subjects: Ethics

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.4 INFORMATION SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS
      H.4.3 Communications Applications

          Nouns: Internet

General Terms:
Human Factors, Theory