Evoldahc on Computer Ethics

1. If you are to choose your top 3 difficult-to-follow computer ethics commandments, what are these? Explain why.

If I were to choose my top 3 difficult-to-follow computer ethics commandments, I'd pick the following:

Commandment #3: Thou shalt not snoop around other people's files.

Personally, I find this commandment hard but not impossible to follow. I think so because I am a curious person, at times almost too curious, and I find it hard to resist the temptation of opening or exploring files and folders with enticing names, especially those which says "Don't Touch," or "Don't Delete" or, "Secret."

Commandment #6: Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid

This commandment is really really really difficult to follow because with the current economic status of our country, licenses for software are way too expensive. It's really hard to pay for a licensed software that costs as much as a brand new personal computer, and what makes it even harder is the rampant sale of pirated software all over the country.

Commandment #7: Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization.

I find this commandment difficult to follow because as a Computer Science student here in the university, there are times, a lot in fact, when we have nothing to do and it gets so boring that the only way we ease our boredom is by logging on unauthorized to the computers in our classrooms to surf the net or just play or do our assignments.

2. Suppose you are to add 2 more commandments to the existing 10 commandments of computer ethics, what are these? Are these 2 new commandments of equal importance to the existing ones? Discuss.

If I were to add 2 more commandments to the existing 10 commandments of computer ethics, it would be:

Commandment #11: Thou shalt use any computer resource in a productive and responsible manner.

Commandment #12: Thou shalt obey all these commandments with utmost sincerity and diligence.

I believe the above additional commandments are of equal importance to the existing ones because the above commandments guide us and prompt us in being true and honest in obeying the other commandments. These two commandments will measure our sincerity in being ethical.

3. What is ransomware? Which of the 10 computer ethics commandments is/are violated by ransomware?

Ransomware is a computer malware which holds a computer system, or the data it contains, hostage against its user by demanding a ransom for its restoration. Ransomware violates commandments 1, 9, 10, which reads as follows: 

Commandment #1: Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.

Commandment #9: Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write.

Commandment #10: Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect.

Evoldahc on Nicomachean Ethics

1. How often do you make an effort to practice your strengths and virtues? (A virtue is a trait you cultivate. Ex: patience, generosity kindness). Are these traits key to a happy life? Discuss.

I make it a point to always keep an eye on my efforts in practicing my strengths and virtues. In as much time and as many situations possible, I always do my best to cultivate my virtues. For example, I  try as much as possible to keep a cool head and be patient no matter how stressful and annoying the situation is, albeit there are times when I fail in doing so.

In my own opinion, Virtues and strengths are the keys to a happy life but not until they are exercised and/or cultivated. I believe so because like what Aristotle wrote in his Nicomachean Ethics, real happiness is that which reflects goodness or virtue and which is only achieved through the exercise of such virtues. A person can never be truly happy even if he has goodness/virtue in him, unless he acts on that virtue he has. The virtue of patience, courage, generosity, and friendship can never lead to a happy life without being acted out. So in the end, having these virtues may lead to a happy life if coupled with action.

2. For some, happiness relies on money. In some cases, hacking means money. Would you do hacking it if its outcome is a sure happiness of your family? What particular Aristotle theory contradicts this concept? Discuss.

I wouldn't do hacking even if its outcome is a sure happiness of my family because doing so will not give my family and I real happiness. Such an act, in my own opinion, contradicts with three of Aristotle's theories on happiness. The theories such action contradicts are as follows:

"Happiness is not pleasure, nor is it virtue. It is the exercise of virtue."

It is very obvious why the aforementioned act contradicts the above theory of Aristotle. Hacking for happiness satisfies the pleasures of my family and I, but as mentioned in the given theory "Happiness is not pleasure..." Moreover, it is an obvious fact that hacking is not virtuous nor does it correspond to the exercise of virtue. It is an act against virtue, thus it is an act against real happiness because as mentioned in the theory "happiness is the exercise of virtue." 

"Happiness is the perfection of human nature. Since man is a rational animal, human happiness depends on the exercise of his reason."

Hacking for money contradicts man's exercise of his reason, and reason is human nature and "happiness is the perfection of human nature," therefore hacking contradicts happiness. Hacking for happiness did not and will never go any closer to real happiness because real happiness is achieved through the exercise of one's reason in determining the goodness and correctness of one's actions in the pursuit of real happiness. Hacking for money, will never be an act of goodness nor a correct act because even if it gives happiness, so to say, to the hacker and his family, it does not bring about the welfare of all the parties involved. Real happiness can only be achieved using good and right reason.

"Happiness requires intellectual contemplation, for this is the ultimate realization of our rational capacities."

This is similar to that of the previous theory in that this theory asserts that for one to attain real happiness one must contemplate using his rational capacities in determining if the happiness he aims for is the real happiness. Sadly, hacking for money is an act that has not gone through much intellectual contemplation in the sense that it does not meet what is required in achieving real happiness, which is goodness.

In the end, to achieve Happiness, that is real happiness, one must act in line with virtue and good reason.

Evoldahc On Egoism

1. "We are all here on earth to help others. What I can't figure out is what the others are here for." - W. H. Auden. Discuss.

I believe that from an egoist point of view, this statement  simply means that there is no sense in doing deeds that would serve the benefit of others. Egotistical people believe that they should serve no one but the self.  With the statement above, egoists would argue that if we are to help "others," then the "others" would end up depending on those who helped them. This should not be the case because egoists believe that it is unfair to the self if we help others especially if the benefit that we get from helping is less than that of those who helped. In an egoist preference, the self should have more if not all the benefits from a certain act.

2. Ethical egoists think that people will be happiest if they look out for themselves and not concern themselves with others but is this where true human happiness lies? Discuss. 

I believe that this is not true. Furthermore, I believe this is wrong. Wrong because in my own opinion true human happiness is not just about what's good for the self regardless of others but it is for the good of ones self and that of others. True human happiness, knowing that we are rational beings, is achieved only and only through the correct practice of our rationality in judging and understanding the goodness of our actions in the pursuit of happiness. In this sense, using our reasons in determining what is good and gives happiness will always involve thinking not only about our self but of others too. If we deviate from this, like ethical egoists do, then we are bound to fail in achieving true human happiness which entails reason/rationality in its pursuit.

3. What are the roots of egoism? Where does it come from? What do egotistical people FEAR?????

The concept of egoism is rooted in the tradition of Greek hedonism. The ancient Greek philosopher, Epicurus asserted that our life's aim should be fulfilling our moral obligation to pursue pleasure and avoid pain.

The sources of egoism are instincts, psychic heritage, received from biological ancestors, which would perish with the species if not passed on in the course of evolution.

Put simply, egotistical people fear anything that would cause harm or damage their ego or self.

Ambitions of A Computer Science Student

Module 2 Questions

1. This is about the student handbook on computing for the students of Virginia
University (Please surf for it). Read and understand their handbook .

If you are to become a part of the VSU team who will formulate a handbook like that of Virginia University, give at least 2 policies that you want to be implemented in VSU or even just for CS students like you, regarding computing . Also include sanction or sort of punishment to those who will violate the said policy.

Policy 1:  Responsible Use of the WiFi Connection in the Department of Computer Science And Technology

The WiFi connection of the Department of Computer Science And Technology should be for exclusive use by BSCS students and the faculty members of the said department only. The password for the WiFi connection must not be divulged to students and faculties not belonging to the department.

Sanction: Anyone who will violate this policy will be fined Php500 for the first offense and an additional Php500 for every repetition of the said offense thereafter.

Policy 2: Responsible Use of Internet Bandwidth in the Department of Computer Science and Technology

The Internet connection of the Department of Computer Science and Technology must only be for educational and departmental use only. It must never be used for downloading and/or browsing items unrelated and unimportant to the department and the conduct of its purposes. Downloading and browsing videos, images, and any files not in lieu with department's duties and responsibilities must never be tolerated.

Sanction: Anyone who will violate this policy will be fined Php500 for the first offense, Php1000 for the second offense, and Expulsion or a grade of 5.0 for students. Employees of the department and of the university who violates this policy will be fined Php1000 for the first offense, Php2000 for the second offense, and for the third offense will be dishonorably discharged from the department and the university.


2. According to the definition of ethics, it can be connected to the norms or custom of the society. What could be ethical to one could be unethical to another. If this is the case, in which ethics seem to be subjective in nature, why is there a need to study computer ethics at all? Support your opinion with facts.

The Internet as a different type of communication, and having new parameters poses a need for a certain level of code of conduct among those who use it in order for the communication to be coherent, productive, and meaningful.

According to the website http://www.cs.bgsu.edu/, the importance of studying computer ethics can be summed up in six levels, where level 1 is the weakest and level 6 the strongest point. The levels state as follows:

Level 1 We should study computer ethics because doing so will make us behave like responsible professionals.

At worst, this type of rationale is a disguised call for moral indoctrination. At best, it is weakened by the need to rely on an elusive connection between right knowledge and right conduct. This is similar to the claim that we should study religion because that will cause us to become more spiritual. For some people, perhaps it may, but the mechanism is not reliable. 

Level 2 We should study computer ethics because doing so will teach us how to avoid computer abuse and catastrophes.

Reports by Parker, Neumann, Forester and Morrison leave little doubt that computer use has led to significant abuse, hijinks, crime, near catastrophes, and actual catastrophes. The question is: Do we get a balanced view of social responsibility merely by examining the profession's dirty laundry? Granted, a litany of computer "horror stories" does provide a vehicle for infusing some ethical content into the study of computer science and computer engineering. Granted, we should all work to prevent computer catastrophe.

Level 3  We should study computer ethics because the advance of computing technology will continue to create temporary policy vacuums.

Long-term use of poorly designed computer keyboards, for example, exposes clerical workers to painful, chronic, and eventually debilitating repetitive stress injury. Clearly employers should not require workers to use equipment that will likely cause them serious injury. The question is: What policies should we formulate to address problems of long-term keyboard use? New telephone technology for automatic caller identification creates a similar policy vacuum. It is not immediately obvious what the telephone company should be required to do, if anything, to protect the privacy of callers who wish to remain anonymous. 


Level 4 We should study computer ethics because the use of computing permanently transforms certain ethical issues to the degree that their alterations require independent study.

I would argue, for example, that many of the issues surrounding intellectual property have been radically and permanently altered by the intrusion of computer technology. The simple question, "What do I own?" has been transformed into the question, "What exactly is it that I own when I own something?" Likewise, the availability of cheap, fast, painless, transparent encryption technology has completely transformed the privacy debate. In the past, we worried about the erosion of privacy. Now we worry about the impenetrable wall of computer-generated privacy afforded to every criminal with a computer and half a brain. 

Level 5 We should study computer ethics because the use of computing technology creates, and will continue to create, novel ethical issues that require special study.

Level 6 We should study computer ethics because the set of novel and transformed issues is large enough and coherent enough to define a new field.

3. There are 4 types of non-jural law. Divine, natural, moral and physical. If you are to practice just one type of the non-jural law for the entire existence of your life, what would it be and why?

If I am to practice just one type of non-jural law for the entire existence of my life, it would be Natural Law. I chose Natural Law because it is the law that is easiest to follow since it is believed to be already innate in human beings. It being innate to us, humans, will surely be the most appropriate law for me to live a law-abiding life. Furthermore, man by nature is a rational being which means that by reason alone we have the ability to pinpoint right from wrong. Since being rational is innate to humans and that Natural Law is also inherent to us, then it is to my belief that these alone will be enough for me to live the "good life."

Ambitions of a Computer Science Student

Module 1 Questions

1. What would you like to be five years from now?

Five years from now? Five years from now. . .

Five years from now I'd like to have my own family - a wife and two kids (a girl and a boy). I'm 23 now and I plan to settle down at the age of 25 so 5 years from now I'd be married to a loving wife for 3 years with two beautiful children of ages 2 and 1. I'd like to have a boy for a first child and a girl for a second one. I don't have any profound reasons for my preference of a boy as the eldest child. I just like it that way. I'd like to have a wife who will take care of our family, who I can talk anything about anything every night before we go to bed, who will kiss me every morning to wake me up, who will tell me and will be mad at me if I'm not being a responsible father and husband...and a wife who will put up with me and our family no matter how rough the situation is.

Five years from now I'd like to have my own house big enough for my family to fit in. I'd like to have a bungalow house because I find it cumbersome to have to climb stairs every day and I don't feel safe in houses with multiple storeys. I'd like my house to be built adjacent to a river on one side and the beach on the other. A river because I'd like to have a fresh water swimming pool shaped like a guitar with jacuzzi on the side. The beach because, at the end of every day when I arrive from work, I'd like to sit on the shore with my wife and kids so we could watch the sunset together. I also like my house to have a wide lawn where my children are free to run around and we can setup a tent to have our regular family camping time.

Five years from now...I'd be contented if I have all of what I mentioned above; a loving family, a house, and a stable income to support the former two.

2. If you are to develop a program to promote moral values, what program would you do? and why?

If I were to develop a program to promote moral values I will develop a program that will identify and filter out websites and web pages with contents which can be considered immoral and will notify the user that what he or she is about to view may have immoral contents. The reason why I want to develop such a program is so I can help spread moral awareness all over the world.

3. If you are a machine, what would you be and why?

If I were a machine, I would be an escalator simply because I feel good every time I am able to help someone succeed in his/her endeavors or in life in general. Like an escalator I can only help in my own little ways but it makes me feel good that I have helped no matter how small.