Research Paper Topic Prosposal: Cyber Philosophy and Ethics

I plan to center this paper around the ethics regarding cyberphilosophy. I plan to show how different philosophical methods of ethical reasoning lead to different decisions, and how in some cases, both people can be right. I intend to include highlights of the following major ethical institutions: ethical egoism and psychological egoism; Kantian ethics; utilitarianism and Eudemonistic utilitarianism; and moral relativism. I intend to show that by taking an action, one can be proved either ethically wrong or ethically right, depending on the method of ethical reasoning used in determining that action’s morality. I will focus my questions around big-name issues of ethics, including stem cell research, abortion, and women in combat.

Annotated Bibliography

Beckett, David. “Internet Technology.” Langford 22.
Part of anthology edited by Langford, Duncan.
Graham, Gordon. The Internet: A Philosophical Inquiry. New York: Routledge, 1999.
The chapter of this book that will be especially helpful is that which is subtitled, “Assessing the value of technology” (39). In it, Graham explores the concept from a more philosophical approach, pointing out that the value of technology cannot truly be assessed because we will never know for sure in what direction it is headed. He does mention, however, that technology “is truly valuable if it raises the prospect of a better world,” which will aid in my argument for file sharing technologies in the capacity of expanding knowledge (61).
AU Library Homepage > ALADIN catalog > “Internet”
Kizza, Joseph Migga. Computer Network Security and Cyber Ethics. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2002.
The author attempts to analyze the effects of online attacks in terms of monetary and social implications. He makes specific notes on federally reported statistics about internet attacks that will make a great opposition to my view point of federal regulation of the net.
AU Library Homepage > ALADIN Catalog > “Cyberethics”
Langford, Duncan, ed. Internet Ethics. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000.
The authors included in this book have written several brief synopses of how computer relations were managed back when they were not as big of issues as they are today. The authors touch upon topics like copyright law, anonymity, and the free sharing of software. This broad coverage will be essential to my arguments examining the implications of having open source code for the Windows operating systems, and the regulation of internet theft involving intellectual property and individual documents.
AU Library Homepage > ALADIN catalog > “Internet”
Mawhood, John and Daniel Tysver. “Law and the Internet.” Langford 96.
Part of anthology edited by Langford, Duncan.
Weckert, John. “What is New or Unique about Internet Activities?” Langford 54.
Part of anthology edited by Langford, Duncan.
Willard, Nancy E. The Cyberethics Reader. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1997.
The author’s compilation of moral judgments in this book are quite strong in advocating a specific way of conducting oneself in the online world. Her opinions on not stealing copyrighted materials is an excellent confliction with my pro-file sharing stance. Additionally, she covers the topic of distributing massive spam e-mails and their negative moral implications. This is another great point of view that conflicts with what my paper will be advocating. AU Library Homepage > ALADIN Catalog > “Cyberethics”