August 24 (Thu), 2017 HW1 assigned: exercises at the end of chs. 1 and 2 of textbook (referred to as [B]), due on August 31, 2017. See elsewhere for details of submission. Administrative information: objectives, textbook, syllabus, grading policy. The students take the Ross-Barger philosophic inventory (cf. ch.4 [B]).
August 31 (Thu), 2017 Definitions of computer ethics. Notes based on: James H. Moor. "What is Computer Ethics?" _Metaphilosopthy_, 16, 4 (October 1985), 266-275, and James, H. Moor. "Reason, Relativity, and Responsibility in Computer Ethics." In: Terrell Ward Bynum and Simon Rogerson (eds.). _Computer Ethics and Professional Responsibility_. ISBN 1-85554-844-5. Blackwell Publishing, 2004. (In addition to Moor's article, the paper also contains historical and introductory material on the topic of Computer Ethics.) "Logical malleability" formalized: interpretations, models, entailment. Some Q&A.
September 7, (Thu), 2017 HW3 (professional activity-related) assigned, due Thursday, October 12, 2017. See elsewhere on the course website for details. Presentation by Ms. Katie Kinniburgh of the CEC Satellite Office of the USC Career Center.
September 14, (Thu), 2017 Anatomy of the computer revolution: technological introduction and technological permeation. Examples of "informational enrichment:" money, warfare, provacy, copyright, education. Notes based on: James H. Moor. "What is Computer Ethics?" _Metaphilosopthy_, 16, 4 (October 1985), 266-275, and James, H. Moor. "Reason, Relativity, and Responsibility in Computer Ethics." In: Terrell Ward Bynum and Simon Rogerson (eds.). _Computer Ethics and Professional Responsibility_. ISBN 1-85554-844-5. Blackwell Publishing, 2004. Good Q&A. Philosophical belief systems (ch.3 [B]): introduction, metaphysics (ontology), epistemology, axiology (ethics and aesthetics). Raphael's "School of Athens" (1511).
September 21, (Thu), 2017 Idealism and realism (first part of Ch.3 [B]).
September 28, (Thu), 2017 Presentation by Professor Patrick Hubbard of the USC Law School on Risk and "Sophisticated Robots."
October 5, (Thu), 2017 HW2 (exercise at the end of chapters 3 and 5 [B]) assigned; due on Thursday, October 19 (changed on 2017-10-09 from October 12). HW3 (assignment related to the career fair) due date changed to Thursday, October 19. Both assignments must be submitted via the departmental dropbox as single pdf files. Pragmatism and existentialism (first part of Ch.3 [B]). The possiility of a unifying ethical theory (Ch.5 [B]).
October 12, (Thu), 2017 HW4 assigned: due the exercise at the end of Ch.6 [B]. This is due on October 26, 2017. Ch.6 [B]: The Ethical Decision-Making Process. Brief comments on IRAC, a methodology for legal analysis. A framework for ethical decision making in journalism, from: Stephanie Craft and Charles N. Davis. Principles of American Journalism: An Introduction. Routledge, 2013. A Framework for Ethical Decision Making from Santa Clara University's Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. The culture clash on the net case, in detail.
October 26, 2017 (Thu) Presentation by Prof. Duncan Buell on the security of electronic voting.
November 2, 2017 (Thu) HW5 assigned: esercise at the end of Ch.7[B]. See main website for due dates for this and the following two assignments (HW6 and HW7). HW6 assigned: exercises 1 and 4 at the end of Ch.9[B]. HW7 assigned: student presentation; see description elsewhere on the course website. Psychology and Computer Ethics: brief review of Ch.7[B], with mention of Papert (the Logo language) and Piaget's role. The Computing Field as a Profession (Ch.8[B]). Computer-Related Codes of Ethics (Ch.9[B]).
November 9, 2017 (Thu) (Invited speaker cancels talk.) Three case studies for the Joint Software Engineering Code: a paper by Gotterbarn and Miller; see link to paper on course website. Good discussion!
November 16, 2017 (Thu) Presentation by Dr. Ioannis Rekleitis on Ethical Issues in Robotics.
November 30, 2017 (Thu) Four student presentations, with questions and discussion: "Android Apps use 3rd party Trackers," "Technology edits voice like text," "Killer Spiders, Killer Snakes, But No Killer Robots? Researchers' Bid to Eliminate Autonomous Weapons in Australia", "If Looks Could Kill."
December 7, 2017 (Thu) End of course evaluation. One student presentation: "Funding Quantum Computing." End of course.