Information Ethics Current and Future Research Areas Rafael Capurro Steinbeis-Transfer-Institute...

Information EthicsCurrent and Future Research Areas

Rafael CapurroSteinbeis-Transfer-Institute Information Ethics (STI-IE)http://sti-ie.de Lecture at the Division of Information and Library StudiesFaculty of Arts, Masaryk UniversityBrno, Czech RepublicJune 2, 2009

R. Capurro, Brno 2009 2

Content

Introduction Foundational Issues Current Research Areas Conclusion: Forthcoming Topics Bibliography


Introduction

The concept of ethics as reflection on morality is widely accepted among philosophers going back to Aristotle as the founder of ethics (or ethiké belonging to philosophia praktiké) as an academic discipline. Constructivists such as Niklas Luhmann underline the critical function of ethical theory with regard to morality (or ethos).


Introduction

Information ethics evolved out of computer science but has also roots in the library and information science field.

The University of Pittsburgh and Kent State University are among the US pioneers (Froehlich 2004).


Introduction

In the last ten years or so a plethora of international conferences have taken place and the number of scientific publications has dramatically increased.


Introduction

Specialized journals:Journal of Information EthicsThe ETHICOMP JournalEthics and Information TechnologyJournal of Information, Communication and Ethics in

SocietyInternational Review of Information EthicsInternational Journal of Internet Research EthicsInternational Journal of Technology and Human

InteractionJournal of Computer Mediated Communication


Introduction

Professional societies such as INSEIT (International Society for Ethics and

Information Technology) ICIE (International Center for Information Ethics) Center of Excellence for Ethics and Technology (The

Netherlands)as well as IE networks in Africa, Asia and Latin

America have contributed to the development of information ethics as a professional research field together with courses in universities world-wide.


Introduction

UNESCO conferences on social, ethical and legal aspects of the Information Society since 1998.

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2003 and 2005.


Introduction

CATaC Conferences organized by Charles Ess and Fay Sudweeks since 1998.

ETHICOMP Conferences organized by Simon Rogerson since 1995.

CEPE conferences (since 1997). ICIE Conference 2004: the first international

conference addressing explicitly information ethics from an intercultural perspective.

The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics: international conference 2005 (forth.2010).


The Foundational Debate

Charles Ess: avoiding imperialistic homogenization

while preserving the irreducible differences between cultures and people

Western Ethics and Confucian thought: „resonance“ and „harmony“

„pros hen“ robust pluralism Between irreducibility and

complementarity


The Foundational Debate Toru Nishigaki:

The Western idea of a „coherent self“ and the Buddhist questionning of this idea.

The Western search for universal values and the „doing away of conventional or universal interpretations of the meanings of words“ in ZEN.

Cognition as representation vs. „enactment“ of the history of actions of a subject in the world

Ethics as observer-dependent reflection on moral norms („fundamental informatics“).



Terrell Ward Bynum: „flourishing ethics“ Basic principles: freedom, equality and

benevolence, minimum infringement of freedom.

Maximize the opportunities of all humans to exercise their autonomy.

Different cultures „can provide a conductive context for human flourishing.“



Luciano Floridi: the quest for an ethics of/for the

„infosphere“ Different clases of information entities „onto-centric“ ethics Various degrees of „intrinsic value“ Various leels of moral respect (from a

customer profile through netiquette and human dignity)


Current Research Areas

(See: Himma/Tavani 2008) Theoretical Issues of Property,

Privacy, Anonymity, and Security Professional Issues:

Library Profession Free and Open Source Internet Research Ethics Health Information Technology Information and Business Ethics



Responsibility Issues and Risk Assessment Responsibilities for Information on the

Internet Virtual Reality and Computer Simulation Genetic Information The Ethics of Cyber Conflict



Regulatory Isues and Challenges Internet Governance Information Overload Email Spam Plagiarims Intellectual Property



Access and Equity Issues Censorship Gender Agenda Digital Divide Intercultural Information Ethics


Conclusion

Forthcoming topics: Surveillance society Convergent Technologies (Nano, Bio, Info,

Cogno) Robotics Ubiquitous Computing E-Waste ICT-Implants and Enhancements


Bibliography

Capurro, R. (2008): On Floridi‘s Metaphysical Foundation of Information Ecology. Ethics and Information Technology, Vol. 10, No. 2-3, 167-173. http://www.capurro.de/floridi.html

Capurro, R. (2008): Intercultural Information Ethics. Foundations and applications. Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society, Vol. 6, No. 2, 116-126. http://www.capurro.de/iiebangkok.html

Capurro, R., Frühbauer, J., Hausmanninger, Th. (Eds.) (2007), Localizing the Internet: ethical aspects in intercultural perspective. Munich: Fink

Capurro, R. (2007): Intercultural Information Ethics. In: Rafael Capurro, Johannes Frühbauer, Thomas Hausmanninger (Eds.): Localizing the Internet. Ethical Aspects in Intercultural Perspective. ICIE Series, Munich: Fink, pp. 21-38. http://www.capurro.de/iie.html

Froehlich, Thomas J. (2004): A brief history of information ethics. Textos universitaris de bibliioteconomia i documentació, 3. http://www.ub.es/bid/13froel2.htm

Himma, K.E. and Tavani, H.T. (Eds.) (2008): The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley & Sons.

Hongladarom, S. and Ess, Ch. (Eds.) (2007) Information Technology Ethics: Cultural Perspectives. Hershey PA and London: Idea Group Reference.

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