CSC 7006 Ethics in Digital World
We spend a considerable portion of our lives in the digital world. What moral considerations ought to guide our conduct as cyber-citizens, given the possibility that online behavior is morally distinct from real world behavior? This class will engage in materials that address the philosophical issues raised by these two questions. Specifically: What's the relationship between our virtual identities and our physical identities? How is online activity changing our interpersonal relationships? What are our rights and responsibilities toward others in the cyber-world? How do we trade between the potentially conflicting values of anonymity and accountability? How do we balance copyright claims against demands for open access? Is piracy always wrong? Does a hacker's code of ethics make any sense? How should we respond to forms of hate and exclusion in online communities?