NPS CISR Ethics 1

Ethics

William Hugh Murray

October 10, 2001

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“Wisdom:

The ability to recognize the right in novel circumstances.”

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Ethical:

2. being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, esp. the standards of a profession;

Example: It was not considered ethical for physicians to advertise.

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Rules and Standards of Right Conduct

• Tradition• Culture• Manners• Codes, e.g., the Decalog, the Hippocratic Oath• Precedent• Regulations• Laws

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Ethical:

2. being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice; orderly or well-behaved

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The Ethical Dilemma

• A choice of action

• Not a choice between right and wrong or good and evil

• Not obvious or of uncertain outcome

• Greater of goods

• Lesser of evils

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Dilemma Paradigms

• Truth versus loyalty

• Individual versus community

• Short-term versus long-term

• Justice versus mercy

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Ethical Frameworks

• Utilitarianism (John Suart Mill)– Happiness; greatest good for the greatest number.

• Contractarianism (Locke, Rousseau)– Rights of citizenship

• Natural Rights– “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

• Pluralism (Moral Duty) (Emmanuel Kant)– Categorical Imperative

• Reciprocity – The Golden Rule

• Principalism (Beuachamp, Childress)– Autonomy

– Nonmaleficence

– Beneficence

– Justice

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“Western civilization grounds itself in certain principles, all of them imperfectly applied:

• democracy• free speech • an independent judiciary • secular government• private property • and equality before the law.

We not only believe these ideals are crucial to us; we also imagine that in local adaptations they can be of use to all of humanity.” -- Robert Fulford

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Ethical Agent:

• Individual• Official of an Institution• Decision Maker• Authority• Policy Maker

with some freedom or choice of action and a duty to decide and act.

Contrast to stakeholder or constituent.

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Working Group Asserts New Values for Computer Security

At the National Conference on Computing and Values the Security Working Group suggested a new set of values for computer security. These values are intended to serve as the ethical foundation and guidance for computer security. The working group proposed four primary values:

• Computer security should preserve of public confidence and trust in computers;

• It should enforce fair information practices;

• It should resist fraud, waste and abuse.

• Preserve the legitimate interests of the constituents of the system.

The working group considered and rejected the inclusion of "national security" and "preservation of public order". Rather it argued that these should be subsumed under the protection of the legitimate interests of the constituents of the system.