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.