Professional Ethics for Computer Scientists

A collection of flashcards covering key concepts in Professional Ethics for Computer Scientists.

What is ethics defined as in the lecture notes?

Ethics is a system of moral principles concerned with what is good for individuals and society, also known as moral philosophy.

What Latin word is the term 'moral' derived from?

The term 'moral' is derived from the Latin word 'mores', which means habits.

What is the formula for ethics as mentioned in the notes?

Ethics = Morals + Reasoning.

What are the main components that determine ethics?

Determinants of ethics include religion, law, society, individual, knowledge, and time.

What are the positive consequences of being ethical?

Positive consequences include safeguarding society, feeling good, creating credibility, and satisfying basic human needs.

What is the difference between ethics and morals?

Ethics involves reasoning and is considered universal for society's survival; morals adhere to societal rules and are relative to culture for individual survival.

What is the focus of deontological ethics?

Deontological ethics focuses on the relationship between duty and the morality of actions, emphasizing adherence to rules regardless of consequences.

What is virtue ethics concerned with?

Virtue ethics emphasizes an individual's character as the key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules about acts or their consequences.

What does applied ethics refer to?

Applied ethics refers to the practical application of moral considerations in real-world actions, addressing the moral permissibility of specific actions.

Give an example of a question addressed in meta-ethics.

An example is 'What is meant by being right?' or 'What is meant by being wrong?'.

What does prescriptive ethics attempt to do?

Prescriptive ethics argues what moral beliefs people ought to have and what is considered right and wrong.

What is the theory of consequentialism?

Consequentialism is the theory that suggests an action is good or bad depending on its outcome, with good actions bringing about more benefit than harm.

List three of Aristotle's virtues mentioned in the lecture.

Three of Aristotle’s virtues are courage (bravery), temperance (moderation), and justice (sense of right/wrong).

What distinguishes descriptive ethics from prescriptive ethics?

Descriptive ethics describes what moral beliefs exist in a certain time and place, while prescriptive ethics prescribes what people ought to believe.

In the context of deontological ethics, what does intention signify?

In deontological ethics, intention is relevant, meaning actions are judged based on whether they are done for the right reasons.

What types of applied ethics are mentioned?

Types of applied ethics include business ethics, bioethics, social ethics, professional ethics, and environmental ethics.