“Today, the widespread use of computers forces new evaluations of intellectual property ethics, censorship on the Internet, libel and deceit through both texts and doctored images, and the rights of inanimate entities such as software agents. This book is the joint product of a computer technologist and a philsopher; as such; it is authoritative on both perspectives. The writing is extremely clear and not highly technical, and the material very timely and fascinating. Topics discussed include the meaning of ethics; professional ethics, images; censorship on the Internet, intellectual property; privacy; responsibility; what computers should not do; quality of life and work; virtual reality; and machines and morality. An excellent introduction.”–
“This is a well-reasoned, closely written, highly practical volume attempting to cover serious problems of an industry that has grown from virtually nothing to an ubiquitous, all-powerful influence in one human's lifetime....The book is very well-written, making it possible for the layman to understand complex concepts. While it may not be the last word in computer and information ethics, it may well serve as one of the foundations of a much needed field.”–
“...an excellent monograph that addresses the issues surrounding computer and information ethics....[T]he authors do an excellent job in putting together a balanced work that does nore than just skin the surface. Each ethical and philosophical viewpoint is given equal time, and efforts are made to answer the myriad of questions posed. For the librarian or information professional who wants to take a step deeper into the issues relating to computer and information ethics, this book is a great starting point.”–
“The style is informative and practical, and the authors make clear their views on what is important (e.g. ensuring freedom of speech) and what is not (e.g., is librarianship or computer science a profession?), setting forth an agenda for inquiry and further study that avoids pretentiousness and is frequently humorous. As such, this book serves its intended purpose admirably, and is a welcome addition to the literature.”–
“Reading it is like eavesdropping on philosphers at work: the authors actually reason about things, going back and forth about what might be acceptable or good in a given situation. It is this "slice of life" quality that makes the book interesting and valuable as a new contribution to information ethics....Computer and Information Ethics is well written and interesting to read. I highly recommend it.”–
Product Description
Information technology has provided numerous options to individuals, governments, and corporations around the world. These options demand that choices be made, and such choices often involve ethical decisions. Users must decide, for example, whether certain data should be made available on the Internet, whether the information contained in various databases should be sold to third parties, and whether software developers should be held responsible for social and economic problems that result from their programs. This book provides a rigorous but accessible discussion of some of the major ethical issues concerning computers and information technology. The text gives particular attention to widespread issues concerning intellectual property rights, censorship, and privacy, along with less frequently raised topics, such as ethical worries about image manipulation, virtual reality, and the moral status of "intelligent" machines and expert systems.
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