The syllabus below is the one for fall 2015. The summer 2015 course will cover similar contents.
Reference materials:
The first day of classes is Thursday, August 20, 2015.
The last day to withdraw without failure is Monday, October 12, 2015.
The final exam for the course will last two and a half hours and
will take place on Thursday, December 10, 2015, at 1600
in the classroom (300 Main St B201).
This is the regularly scheduled time for courses taught from 1800 to
1850 on Thursdays.
(See
the university exam schedule.)
See
here
for the fall 2015 academic calendar.
The syllabus is subject to change. Some invited lectures are not yet confirmed.
Day | Topic | Homework |
---|---|---|
(1) August 20 | Philosophical inventory; Introduction; The Computer as a humanizing agent (Chs.1-2 [B]) | TBD |
(2) August 27 | What is Computer Ethics? Definitions by Walter Maner, Deborah Johnson, James Moor, Terrell Ward Bynum, and Donald Gotterbarn (Ch.1 [B] and readings). | TBD |
(3)September 3 | Philosophic Belief Systems: Idealism and Realism (Ch 3 [B]) | TBD |
(4) September 10 | Talk on careers by Ms. Helen Powers of the USC Career Center: The Value of Experiential Learning | TBD |
(5) September 17 | Philosophic Belief Systems: Pragmatism and Existentialism (Ch 3 [B]). The possibility of a unifying ethical theory (Ch. 5 [B]) | TBD |
(6) September 24 | The ethical decision-making process (Ch. 6 [B]). | TBD |
(7) October 1 | The ethical decision-making process, ctd. | TBD |
(8) October 8 | Presentation by Prof. Duncan Buell on Voting Machines: Postponed due to University Closing. | TBD |
(9) October 15 | Presentation by Dr. Csilla Farkas on Computer Security and Information Assurance | TBD |
October 22 | Fall Break | NA |
(10) October 29 | Presentation by Dr. Duncan Buell: "Information, Intelligence, Cryptanalysis, and Responsibility: From Mary, Queen of Scots to Edward Snowden." | TBD |
(11) November 5 | Psychology and computer ethics (Ch.7 [B]). The computing field as a profession (Ch.8 [B]). Computer-related codes of ethics (Ch.9 [B]). Three case studies for the Joint Software Engineer's Code. | TBD |
(12) November 12 | Presentation by Dr. Ioannis Rekleitis on Ethical Issues in Robotics. | TBD |
(13) November 19 | Student Presentations | TBD |
November 26 | Thanksgiving Recess | NA |
(14) December 3 | Student Presentations | TBD |