Uniqueness Debate

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The uniqueness debate considers whether information and computer ethics constitutes an new branch of applied ethics or simply worsens already existing ethical problems. The term 'uniqueness' refers to the new ethical issues encountered within the field of information technology. The term is also referred to as the CEIU thesis, which stands for computer ethics is unique. Since the rise of computing, computer use has led to significant abuse and philosophers argue whether these abuses require a new field of ethics.

History

Uniqueness debate discussions began when Walter Maner Ph.D, proposed in his class at Bowling Green State University that computer ethics generates new and unique problems. He developed the first university course focused on computer ethics. A colleague in the philosophy department, Deborah Johnson became interested in his proposed new field of ethics. After discussions with Maner, Johnson became the first traditionalist while Maner maintained support for CEIU. Dialogue between Maner and Johnson led to publications that spurred conversations among scholars and philosophers, known as the uniqueness debate.

Arguments

Analysis has shown that computer use has led to significant abuse. Uniqueness advocates suggest that the scope and scale by which moral injustices occur through the use of computing devices establish computer ethics as completely new. Moreover, uniqueness advocates suggest that computer have changed our expectations about a cluster of ethical and social issues. On the other hand, opponents of the uniqueness of computer ethics, commonly called traditionalists, take the view that the use of Internet technology simply generates new tools and techniques that affect moral decision making.

Uniquely Malleable

It has been said that unique adaptability and versatility of computers justifies computer ethics as an new field of applied philosophy. Walter Maner, Peter Green, and Alan Brightman suggest that the adaptability of computers presents a new ethical duty to provide computing access to persons with disabilities. They claim that other machines 'are infinitely less adaptable than computers' and therefore, the moral institutions about adapting other machinery does not 'readily transfer to computers'.

Supporters

Walter Maner

Since the second half of the 1970s, when Maner coined the term computer ethics, he has been a strongly supporting the uniqueness of computer ethics. He insists that, "Computer Ethics is an academic field in its own right with unique ethical issues that would have not existed if computer technology had not been invented."

Herman Tavani

Herman T. Tavani PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Rivier University, where he has served as Chair of the Philosophy Department and Director of the Liberal Studies Program. He is also the author or editor of more than 100 publications. Tavani has stated in publications that he has found no compelling evidence that computer ethics introduces new ethical issues, but also argues that traditionalists are not correct by default. Tavani also writes that computer ethics could be considered a field of applied ethics even if no unique ethical issues exist. Tavani insists that computer ethics deserves philosophical consideration writing, “The powers of modern technology create for us a new moral condition by creating novel powers to act; novel powers to act, in turn, disclose new objects of ethical consideration; and, consequently, novel powers to act require ‘novel ethical rules and perhaps even a new ethics.’” Herman Tavani supports the notion that computer ethics deserves its own field of study, even without new ethical issues present.

Traditionalists

Deborah Johnson

Deborah G. Johnson is the Anne Shirley Carter Olsson Professor of Applied Ethics and Chair of the Department of Science, Technology, and Society in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences of the University of Virginia. Johnson published the first major computer ethics text book, "Computer Ethics" in 1985. In later versions of her textbook she wrote that computer technology creates new moral entities and new ethical questions. She insisted, however, that these ethical questions are adaptations of traditional ethical problems and therefore, are not wholly new.