August 20 (Thu), 2015 Administrative information: objectives, textbook, syllabus, grading policy. Definition of computer ethics according to Moor: James H. Moor. "What is Computer Ethics?" _Metaphilosopthy_, 16, 4 (October 1985), 266-275. (The paper is linked to the course website.) The students take the Ross-Barger philosophic inventory (cf. ch.4 [B]).
August 27 (Thu), 2015 HW1 assigned: exercises at the end of chs. 1 and 2 of textbook (referred to as [B]). See elsewhere for details of submission. Definitions of computer ethics. Notes based on: James H. Moor. "What is Computer Ethics?" _Metaphilosopthy_, 16, 4 (October 1985), 266-275, and James, H. Moor. "Reason, Relativity, and Responsibility in Computer Ethics." In: Terrell Ward Bynum and Simon Rogerson (eds.). _Computer Ethics and Professional Responsibility_. ISBN 1-85554-844-5. Blackwell Publishing, 2004. (In addition to Moor's article, the paper also contains historical and introductory material on the topic of Computer Ethics.)
September 3, (Thu), 2015 HW1 collected. Philosophical belief systems (ch.3 [B]): introduction, metaphysics (ontology), epistemology, axiology (ethics and aesthetics), idealism.
September 10, (Thu), 2015 HW2 (professional activity-related) assigned, due Thursday, October 1, 2015. See elsewhere on the course website for details. Presentation by Ms. Helen Powers of the CEC Satellite Office of the USC Career Center.
September 17, 2015 (Thu), 2015 Idealism, continued. An example of use of Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative, expressed as the Formula of Universal Law: "Act only according to the maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law": testing the maxim "May I not, when I am in distress, make a promise with the intention not to keep it?" The example is from pp.48-51 of: Roger J. Sullivan. _An Introduction to Kant's Ethics_. Cambridge University Press, 1994. Philosophical belief systems, part II: realism, pragmatism and existentialism.
September 24, 2015 (Thu), 2014 Review of existentialism. Passages on Conscience (pp.107-108) and Permissible Actions (pp.95-96) from Roger J. Sullivan. _An Introduction to Kant's Ethics_. Cambridge University Press, 1994. Ch.5 (Mohr's proposal for a unified ethical theory); quotes from Mohr's "Reason, Relativity, and Responsibility in Computer Ethics" (linked to course website). Mohr's paper, "Just Consequentialism and Computing" is also linked to the course website. Three short ethical dilemmas: absolutist (idealistic and realistic) and relativistic (pragmatic and existentialist) position.
October 1, 2015 (Thu), 2014 HW3 assigned: exercises at the end of chapters 3 and 5 [B], due on October 8, 2015. HW2 collected. Brief comments on Ch.4 (Inventory). Ch.6 [B]: The Ethical Decision-Making Process. The case study in the chapter was started, but not completed.
October 15, 2015 (Thu), 2015 Lecture of October 8, 2015 canceled due to inclement weather. HW4 assigned: exercise at the end of Ch.6 [B], due on October 29, 2015. HW3 collected. Presentation by Prof. Farkas on Legal and Ethical Issues in Computer Security.
October 29, 2015 (Thu), 2015 HW5 assigned: Read Ch.7[B]. Do the exercise at the end of Ch.7[B]. Due date: November 5, 2015. I expect at least one page. HW4 collected. Presentation by Dr. Duncan Buell: "Information, Intelligence, Cryptanalysis, and Responsibility: From Mary, Queen of Scots to Edward Snowden."
November 5, 2015 (Thu), 2015 HW7 assigned: exercises 1 and 4 at the end of Ch.9[B]. HW6 collected. Psychology and Computer Ethics: brief review of Ch.7[B], with mention of Papert and Piaget's role. The Computing Field as a Profession (Ch.8[B]). Computer-Related Codes of Ethics (Ch.9[B]).
November 12, 2015 (Thu), 2015 Three case studies for the Joint Software Engineer's Code. Presentation by Dr. Ioannis Rekleitis on Ethical Issues in Robotics.
November 19, 2015 (Thu), 2015 Student presentations on topics from ACM Technews, chosen by each student. Eight short presentations were given.
December 3, 2015 (Thu), 2015 There will be no final exam for this course. Video: Gino Strada's acceptance speech for the 2015 Right Livelihood Award, given at the Swedish Parliament on November 30, 2015. Two short student presentations. Student end of course evaluations. End of course.