Laue, Cheyenne L.

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025 Spring 2-1-2022 CSCI 315E.01: Computers, Ethics, and Society Cheyenne L. Laue University of Montana, Missoula, cheyenne.laue@umontana.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi2021-2025 Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Laue, Cheyenne L., "CSCI 315E.01: Computers, Ethics, and Society" (2022). University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025. 182. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi2021-2025/182 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. CCSCI 315E.01 Computers, Ethics, and Society Spring 2022   Course Instructor: Dr. Cheyenne Laue Contact: Cheyenne.laue@mso.umt.edu  Office Hours SS 206: Thursday 8-9 Office Hours MC 412: Wednesday 11 -12 Office Hours Zoom: Tuesday 3-4, By appointment   Course Objectives This course introduces the basics of ethical reasoning and argumentation as a basis for understanding the ethical dilemmas faced by computer scientists. Students are introduced to the professional code of ethics used by computer scientists, legal issues involved in technology, and the social implications of computers, computing, and other digital technologies.  During this class, you will:  • Understand, identify, and apply different ethical philosophies, frameworks, and methodologies. • Identify and interpret the codes of professional conduct relating to the disciplines of computer science and software engineering.  • Analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society. • Understand and apply the concepts and principles of moral thinking to problems relating to computing and digital technologies.  • Improve your skills writing argumentative essays and pieces, and in critical thinking, analysis, and presentation. • Become familiar with a number of noteworthy essays written by influential researchers in the field of cyber ethics.   This class also satisfies the UM upper-division writing requirement. Writing objectives are as follows: • Identify and pursue more sophisticated questions for academic inquiry • Find, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize information effectively from diverse sources • Manage multiple perspectives as appropriate • Recognize the purposes and needs of discipline-specific audiences and adopt the academic voice necessary for the chosen discipline • Use multiple drafts, revision, and editing in conducting inquiry and preparing written work • Follow the conventions of citation, documentation, and formal presentation appropriate to that discipline • Develop competence in information technology and digital literacy  Course Policies Academic Integrity All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by The University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online. During this course we will discuss ethical issues and topics that may be sensitive in nature for some students. All students are expected to maintain a respectful attitude towards diverse opinions and perspectives during class discussions and interactions. Disability Accommodation Eligible students with disabilities will receive appropriate accommodations in this course when requested in a timely way. Please contact us after class or in one of our offices. Please be prepared to provide a letter from your DSS Coordinator. For more information, visit the Disability Services website at http://www.umt.edu/dss/ or call 406.243.2243 (voice/text) Changes to Syllabi The instructor reserves the right to modify syllabi and assignments as needed based on faculty, student, and/or environmental circumstances. If changes are made to the syllabus, amended copies will be dated and made available to the class. Course Text There is no required course text. All readings will be provided as links to online sources or as pdfs on the course Moodle Page. Please note that some of these readings may not be free. However, the objective of the instructors is to keep materials costs low. In general readings should be available online for a reasonable price or through the UM Mansfield Library.  Grading and Assessment  Pre-class assignments are due prior to each class meeting time in order to ensure that students have completed assigned course materials and are prepared for class discussions. These assignments require short, informal writing based on readings, videos, and other assigned course content.  Analysis reports provide students with the chance to investigate important course topics more carefully and allow opportunities to improve formal writing skills and formatting techniques. The analysis reports are due every other Sunday of the course and require logical discussion of a topic drawn from course materials that week. Students will be provided with detailed feedback on these papers, which they will use to revise prior to resubmission in the final portfolio.  The Final Portfolio asks students to assume the identity of a Chief Ethics Officer at a major technology company and to produce a report on the ethical implications of five of the company’s new technologies. Students will revise their Analysis Papers and compile them into report format, including a report introduction and summary as well as appropriate formatting.  Discussion and Attendance assume that students will attend every class and will come prepared to discuss readings, case studies, and ethical theories. Students who do not demonstrate preparation prior to class may have points deducted from their attendance grade. Assessment Item Assessment Amount  Discussion and Attendance 20 % Analysis Reports 35 % Final Portfolio  20 % Pre-Class Assignments  25%  Grading Scale  90-100% A 80-89% B 70-79% C 60-69% D >59% F  Instructor reserves the right to add +/- modifiers as deemed necessary.  Course Topics Schedule and Due Dates  Unit 1 January 18 – 23:  Introduction to ethics Questions: Why study ethics in computer science? What are some of the signficant ethical issues involving technology today? Topics: Class introductions Ethics and technology overview Assignments: Pre-class Assignment Due: Thursday by 9 am  Unit 2 January 24 - 30: Logic and Argumentation  Questions: Is there an ethical way to argue? How does logic aid ethics? Can machines help humans avoid bias? Ethics Topics: Premises and conclusions, Rules and methods of discourse, Fallacies and biases Technology Topics: Human and algorithmic bias Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am Analysis Report 1 Due: Sunday by 11:59 pm  Unit 3 January 31 – February 6: The Social Contract and the State of Nature Questions: Are ethics essential to human society? Is the internet a commons, and how should it be accessed and regulated? Ethics Topics: Rousseau: Social Contract Hobbes: Leviathan Technology Topics: Democracy and digital space, social media censorship Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am     Unit 4 February 7 - 13: Absolutism and Relativism  Questions: How can we identify and understand ethical dilemmas? Are there some universal moral truths or are ethical values time, culture, and situation relative? Ethics Topics: Kant: Deontology Plato, Aristotle: Virtues Rand: Selfishness Arendt, Mead: Violence Technology Topics: Violence, Digital Violence and LAWs Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am Analysis Report 2 Due: Sunday by 11:59 pm  Unit 5 February 14 - 20: Rights and Responsibilities   Questions: Who are the stakeholders in an ethical dilemma? What are our rights and responsibilities relative to technology and digital space? Ethics Topics: Mill:  On Liberty Kant: Duty  Technology Topics: Digital ownership, sovereignty and monopolization, right to repair Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am  Unit 6 February 21 - 27: Ethical Obligations and Legal Constraints Questions: Does lawful imply ethical? How closely should personal and professional ethics correspond? How do we quantify harm and assess responsibility when harm is caused? How do ethics and laws conflict and correspond in multi-cultural situations?  Ethics Topics:  IEEE and ACM codes of conduct Role morality Cultural relativism Technology Topics: Google Dragonfly, Facebook Whistleblower Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am Analysis Report 3 Due: Sunday by 11:59 pm  Unit 7 February 28 – March 6: Justice and Care  Questions: How do we assess harm and benefit and distribute those equitably? How do personal connections and human emotion interact with ethical decisions?  Ethics Topics:  Aristotle, Plato, Rawls: Justice Nodding and Gilligan: Care Technology Topics:  Raw material and labor sourcing for tech, technology and the environment Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am  Unit 8 March 7 - 13: The Majority and the Least Empowered  Questions: Does ethical decision-making mean minimizing harm for the most stakeholders? How can we protect the least empowered when we make ethical decisions, or is some harm or suffering necessary? Ethics Topics: Principles vs. consequences Bentham: Utilitarianism/ Principle of Utility Rawls: Veil of Ignorance LeGuin: Omelas Technology Topics: Autonomous Vehicles Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am Analysis Report 3 Due: Sunday by 11:59 pm  Unit 9 March 14 - 20: Metaphysics and Morals  Questions: What characteristics are unique to the human experience and can machines help us understand ourselves more deeply? Is there a metaphysical aspect to ethics and do we need this in order to be moral beings? Can machines make ethical decisions?  Ethics Topics: Kant: Metaphysics Hume: Human Understanding Haraway: Cyborg Manifesto Technology Topics: Generative / Creative AI, Machine Ethics Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am  March 21 - 27: Spring Break  No Classes  Unit 10 March 28 – April 3: Privacy  Questions: Is privacy necessary to human morality? Should privacy be considered an inherent right?  Topics: Data collection/ brokerage, surveillance capitalism  Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am Analysis Report 4 Due: Sunday by 11:59 pm  Unit 11 April 4 - 10: Dignity  Questions: How can we preserve/ enhance human dignity in the face of data collection and consumer surveillance? Topics: Data dignity, privacy protection regulations, right to be forgotten Assignments:  Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am  Unit 12 April 11 - 17: Security Questions: How do security and privacy overlap? Do we have to sacrifice one in order to get the other? Topics: Vulnerability, disclosure, hacking, cybercrime Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am Analysis Report 5 Due: Sunday by 11:59 pm  Unit 13 April 18 - 24: Integrity  Questions: What is the connection between reliability, trust, and honesty in the context of computing technology?  Topics: System failures, deepfakes, blockchain, economies of trust Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am  Unit 14 April 25 – May 1: Autonomy Questions: Does technology enhance or hinder human autonomy?  Possible Topics: Social robots, automation and the human workplace, Cicero’s Friendship and Old Age Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am Analysis Report 6 Due: Sunday by 11:59 pm  Unit 15 May 2 - 8: The Future  Questions: What is the future of human technology interaction? Are utopia and dystopia both possible futures?  Possible Topics: Bostrom’s Paperclip Apocalypse, Moore’s Utopia, Kurzweil’s Singularity Assignments: Pre-class Assignments Due: Tuesday and Thursday by 9 am Final Report Due: Sunday by 11:59 pm  May 9 - 13: Finals Week       

CSCI 315E.01: Computers, Ethics, and Society

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CSCI 315E.01: Computers, Ethics, and Society

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