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Ethical Dilemmas Related to Technology

Posted by michael on from the stop-dave...-will-you-stop-dave dept.

Anonymous Coward writes "I have a relative who will be teaching a college class on the topic of ethical dilemmas brought about by new technology. Unfortunately, he doesn't keep up with technology news, so he's not sure what the most relevant dilemmas are. For example, 'If robots came alive, would we be justified in killing them?' is one that might come up if nothing more relevant were suggested. (OK, it might not be that bad, but you get the idea. He was using Netscape 4.76 on system 9 until last week.) So, what are the most relevant ethical dilemmas brought up by technology? Note that I am looking for ethical dilemmas, e.g. 'Is Activity X moral?' rather than legal dilemmas like 'Is the DMCA constitutional?' Now is your chance to guide the young minds of the future toward stuff that matters."

4 of 704 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Responsibility by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    You bastard, how dare you imply that Truman did wrong by bombing the Japanese. It is unusual that I will call a person a name . . . but you are a spoiled and arrogant.

    You are spoiled to a world where nations fight wars and do not kill civilians. You are spoiled to a world that has had no large conflict in your lifetime. You are spoiled to a world where you are not hungry and people are not killing others for food. You are spoiled to a world where morality is controled by television and all problems can be solved with pretty words and a flesh wound.

    You are arrogant because you can not see that things were different during WWII. You are arrogant because you do not see any world other than your own.

  2. Re:Responsibility by kleinux · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    And just who is trying to conquer the world with military might? I really hope you are not trying to imply that the USA is. Because that would just show how little you know of what is going on in Iraq.

  3. Killing robots ? why not! by indiancowboy · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    If robots came alive, would we be justified in killing them?'

    Well Why the hell not?! Killing those Iraqi civilians has been justified, has'nt it !

  4. Re:Responsibility by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    And after all that, it still took upwards of a month of haggling to get them to sign the surrender treaty. What should we have done, held hands around a campfire and sing songs?

    No, you should have marched in parades with rainbow-colored flags. That's always effective.