EthiCs in The ComPutiNg WoRLd

Based on the lectures, I think it would be the Nicomachean Ethics which dominate the computing world. I want to emphasize that there is no specific theory that will fit computing exactly but I think Nicomachean ethics will describe it in a much large scope. I want to point examples that would make other finalist theories invalid.

BUYING LICENSED SOFTWARES. It was clearly pointed out in the lecture that most people buy licensed not by their own will but in compliance to the law. If people will be given the choice between licensed and pirated, they are more inclined in choosing pirated softwares because of the significant price difference. If this is the case, this defies the theory on categorical imperatives because the theory said an act is good not because of certain consequences that occur in its performance, or on the basis of its end-result, but because of the "will" that accompanies the act. Also because people are suppressed in choosing their own free will, this will also inhibit their happiness. Now based on the utilitarian view, what inhibits happiness is morally wrong which is not true for this case because we all know that piracy is illegal.

DEVELOPING SOFTWARE\PROGRAMS. This will again make categorical imperatives out of the picture because nowadays people make softwares not because they "will" it but because they are paid to do it. For people who develop viruses or other evil softwares it is their happiness to develop such softwares, but this is not morally good because viruses destroy other people's work. This a contradiction to the utilitarianism theory.

Final Word: Man has intellectual capabilities which means that he has been given the choice to do or not to do. The world of computing is so complex in itself so to live in that world, man must weigh the consequences of his action, decide for himself not depending on others and using the arguments of reason he can do things that are morally right. This was described in the Nicomachean Ethics and that based on these arguments, I believe it is the one dominating the computing world.