Introduction to Ethics - Ethics for the Information Age - page 101

31. Evaluate the four scenarios presented in Section 2.1.2 from a rule utilitarian perspective.
32. Evaluate the four scenarios presented in Section 2.1.2 from the perspective of social
contract theory.
33. Evaluate the four scenarios presented in Section 2.1.2 from the perspective of virtue
ethics.
Discussion Questions
34. If everyone agreed to take the ethical point of view by respecting others and their core
values, would there be any need for a rigorous study of ethics?
35. If you had to choose only one of the ethical theories presented in this chapter and use it
for all of your personal ethical decision making, which theory would you choose? Why?
How would you respond to the arguments raised against the theory you have chosen?
36. Most ethical theories agree on a large number of moral guidelines. For example, it is
nearly universally held that it is wrong to steal. What difference, then, does it make
whether someone subscribes to the divine command theory, Kantianism, utilitarianism,
or one of the other ethical theories?
37. Suppose a spaceship lands in your neighborhood. Friendly aliens emerge and invite
humans to enter the galactic community. You learn that this race of aliens has colonized
virtually the entire galaxy; Earth is one of the few inhabitable planets to host a different
intelligent species. The aliens seem to be remarkably open-minded. They ask you to
outline the ethical theory that should guide the interactions between our two species.
Which ethical theory would you describe? Why?
38. The Silver Rule states, “Do not do unto others what you do not want them to do unto
you.” Which of the five workable ethical theories is closest to the Silver Rule?
39. According to the Golden Rule, you should do unto others as you would want them to
do unto you. Which of the five workable ethical theories is closest to the Golden Rule?
40. Are there any ethical theories described in this chapter that would allow someone to use
the argument, “Everybody is doing it,” to show that an activity is not wrong?
41. How well does Moor's theory of just consequentialism (described in the interview at the
end of this chapter) solve the problems associated with Kantianism and rule utilitarian-
ism?
42. Can moral decisions be made on a purely rational, algorithmic basis, or are there limits
to rationality in moral decision making?
43. What are some examples of contemporary information technology issues for which our
society's moral guidelines seem to be nonexistent or unclear? (Hint: Think about issues
that are generating a lot of media coverage.)
44. People give a variety of reasons for copying a music CD from a friend instead of buying
it [30]. Refute each of the reasons given below, using one of the viable theories described
in this chapter. (You don't have to use the same theory each time.)
a. I don't have enough money to buy it.