CSCI 369 Ethical Issues in Computing

Fall Semester, 2016

“What is the right thing to do?” -Michael Sandel

“People are the only sources or destinations of information, or indeed of any meaning . . . Digital information is just people in disguise.” -Jaron Lanier

Course Description

Is computerized surveillance good or bad? Was Edward Snowden a hero or a villain? Will artificially intelligent computers eventually replace human beings? Should scientists stop researching in fields such as artificial intelligence or nanotechnology in order to safeguard future lives? When software malfunctions, who is responsible? Do humans have a right to privacy? How does Facebook change our relationships? Is playing video games harmful to our children?

This course will examine how computers contribute to our lives in good and bad ways. Students will become familiar with a variety of ethical perspectives, will look at how these perspectives crop up in twenty-first century life and dialog, and will apply these perspectives to questions that arise in the design and use of computers.

This course is designed to address the professional and ethical concerns of computer science majors. It is also designed to help students integrate their orientation as scientists with their personal belief system to promote better informed decisions as professionals and to see their lives as an integrated whole.

Goals of the Course

The goals of the course will be for each student:

1. to gain an understanding of some of the numerous and complex ethical issues that underlie computer
use and development

2. to use scientific, religious, and ethical reasoning to approach a variety of questions that arise in computer technology

3. to examine the work of computer science researchers and software developers in relationship to concepts of the good society

4. to develop a personal professional code that integrates the student’s work as a computer scientist with his or her belief system.

Dr. James Schnepf
Computer Science Department
Office: 201 Peter Engel Hall
Phone: 3073
E-mail: jschnepf@csbsju.edu
Office hours: T/TH 9:30-11:00, or by appointment

Required Texts

Sandel, Michael. Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?
Lanier, Jaron. Who Owns the Future?

Evaluation
Because this class depends on discussion, attendance is mandatory. In case of illness or other unavoidable difficulties, contact me as soon as possible.   After two unexcused absences, your grade will be low­ered by two percentage points for each class that you miss. Class attendance also presumes that you come prepared and demonstrate completion of the reading assignments for each day. Lack of demon­strated preparation will lower your grade. To earn an A you must show consistent deep engagement with the material.

The following criteria will be used to assess your work in the course:

Your grade will be based on the following:
Four short papers 80% (20% each)
Class attendance and participation 20%
You may request S/U grading any time before the last day of class.

Etiquette

You may bring the beverage of your choice to class, but please, no food. No laptops allowed (except for e-books). E-mail and Facebook are just too distracting, even for me. Cell phones off. This is one CSCI class that is for sitting and talking, so let’s have a more or less personal technology free zone.