Description

Features

• Ethical theories are introduced early—The text surveys eight popular ethical theories in Chapter 2, and helps students understand why utilitarianism, Kantianism, and social control theory are the most useful bases for constructing persuasive moral arguments. In the remainder of the text, these theories are used to evaluate moral problems related to information technology.
• A balanced, impartial approach to ethical issues avoids biased arguments, encouraging students to consider and analyze issues for themselves.
• All major topics listed in the recommended syllabus of the IEEE Computer Society and the Association for Computing Machinery’s report Computing Curricula 2001 are addressed.
• End-of-chapter interviews with leaders from industry and academia provide important new insights and perspectives into ethical topics.

New To This Edition

• Chapter 1 is substantially revised to focus on the social impact of computing.
• Chapter 8 focuses on computer professionals rather than simply on software engineers. The topics are reorganized to motivate the need for professionals to abide by a code of ethics, and an analysis of the software engineering code of ethics is included.
• News stories and emerging ethical topics from recent years are integrated throughout, including:
• Chapter 3: The emergence and recent prevalence of social networks such as wikis, blogs, podcasting, myspace.com, facebook.com, and digg.com.
• Chapter 4: The uproar following the discovery of Sony’s “rootkit” CD tool designed to limit copying and prevent users from making unprotected MP3 files.
• Chapter 5: The report in USA Today that the National Security Agency was secretly collecting telephone call records of millions of Americans from AT&T, BellSouth, and Verizon.
• New interviews with leaders in various fields of information technology and computer ethics are added, covering relevant topics in social networking, intellectual property, and computer reliability.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1 Catalysts for Change
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Milestones in Computing
1.3 Milestones in Networking
1.4 Milestones in Information Storage and Retrieval
1.5 Information Technology Issues

Chapter 2 Introduction to Ethics
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Subjective Relativism
2.3 Cultural Relativism
2.4 Divine Command Theory
2.5 Kantianism
2.6 Act Utilitarianism
2.7 Rule Utilitarianism
2.8 Social Contract Theory
2.9 Comparing Workable Ethical Theories
2.10 Morality of Breaking the Law
 
Chapter 3 Networking
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Email and Spam
3.3 Fighting Spam
3.4 The World Wide Web
3.5 Ethical Perspectives on Pornography
3.6 Censorship
3.7 Freedom of Expression
3.8 Children and the Web
3.9 Breaking Trust on the Internet
3.10 Internet Addiction
 
Chapter 4 Intellectual Property
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Intellectual Property Rights
4.3 Protecting Intellectual Property
4.4 Fair Use
4.5 New Restrictions on Use
4.6 Peer-to-Peer Networks
4.7 Protections for Software
4.8 Open-Source Software
4.9 Legitimacy of Intellectual Property Protection for Software
4.10 Creative Commons
 
Chapter 5 Privacy
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Perspectives on Privacy
5.3 Disclosing Information
5.4 Public Information
5.5 U.S. Legislation
5.6 Public Records
5.7 Covert Government Surveillance
5.8 U.S. Legislation Authorizing Wiretapping
5.9 Data Mining
5.10 Identity Theft
5.11 Encryption
 
Chapter 6 Computer and Network Security
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses
6.3 Phreaks and Hackers
6.4 Denial-of-Service Attacks
6.5 Online Voting

Chapter 7 Computer Reliability 
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Data-Entry or Data-Retrieval Errors
7.3 Software and Billing Errors
7.4 Notable Software System Failures
7.5 Therac-25
7.6 Computer Simulations
7.7 Software Engineering
7.8 Software Warranties
 
Chapter 8 Professional Ethics
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Is Software Engineering a Profession?
8.3 Software Engineering Code of Ethics
8.4 Analysis of the Code
8.5 Case Studies
8.6 Whistleblowing
 
Chapter 9 Work and Wealth
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Automation and Unemployment
9.3 Workplace Changes
9.4 Globalization
9.5 The Digital Divide
9.6 The “Winner-Take-All Society”
9.7 Access to Public Colleges

Appendix A Plagiarism 

Courses

Computer Ethics  (Computer Science)

Next Edition(s)

• Ethics for the Information Age, 4/E
  Quinn
  ©2011  |  Addison-Wesley  |  Paper; 544 pp  |  Instock
  ISBN-10: 0132133873  |  ISBN-13: 9780132133876
  Suggested retail price: $94.00  Buy from myPearsonStoreNet price: $70.50  (What's this?)Brief Description  | 

  

  This book is appropriate for any standalone “computers and society” or “computer ethics” course offered by a computer science, business, or philosophy department, as well as special "modules" in any advanced CS course.
  
  In an era where information technology changes constantly, a thoughtful response to these rapid changes requires a basic understanding of IT history, an awareness of current issues, and a familiarity with ethics. Ethics for the Information Age is unique in its balanced coverage of ethical theories used to analyze problems encountered by computer professionals in today’s environment. By presenting provocative issues such as social networking, government surveillance, and intellectual property from all points of view, this market-leading text challenges students to think critically and draw their own conclusions, which ultimately prepares them to become responsible, ethical users of future technologies.
  
  View Michael Quinn's The Secret to Meaningful Discussions in Computer Ethics Classes archived webinar session.

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Author Bios

Backcover Copy

Ethics for the Information Age

3rd edition

Michael J. Quinn, Seattle University

This book offers a balanced, impartial presentation of the ethical and moral controversies surrounding information technology. Topics such as spam, Web censorship, Internet addiction, file sharing, privacy, software failures, whistle-blowing, and the digital divide are explored through multiple ethical theories, encouraging readers to think critically about these issues and to make their own decisions.

In addition to coverage of many provocative issues, the Third Edition features news stories and emerging ethical topics from recent years, including social networking, digital rights management, and surveillance by telecommunications companies. Interviews with industry, government, and academic leaders give additional perspectives on these issues to help readers build an informed ethical foundation.

"I like the scope and depth of the material in this text. The fair-and-balanced presentation of moral and ethical issues helps students become aware, thinking individuals capable of forming their own assessments and opinions that guide their behavior."

--Diane Cassidy, University of North Carolina -- Charlotte

"Of the dozen or so books I've considered using for my computer ethics class, Quinn's is the best-balanced, best-written, most accessible option. Highly recommended."

--Richard Gordon, University of Delaware                                                                                                                       

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©2009  |  Addison-Wesley  |  On-line Supplement  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0321541456  |  ISBN-13: 9780321541451

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Quinn
©2009  |  Addison-Wesley  |  On-line Supplement  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0321541464  |  ISBN-13: 9780321541468

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• Pearson Custom Computer Science
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