Choose a topic of professional interest that includes a non-trivial ethical issue from ACM TechNews archives. Prepare a 2 pages paper in which (1) you summarize the topic (appropriate references should be in paper), (2) you apply the 8-step Ethical Decision Making Process by Robert Barger to the ethical dilemma, and (3) you apply the ACM Code to it ( https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics ). You also need reference(s), including at least the ACM TechWeek entry that you used.

8 Steps in the Ethical Decision-Making Process

Step 1. Briefly describe the ethical issues in this case.

Step 2. Identify the stakeholders in this case and tell what you think each of them would like to see as an outcome.

Step 3. A) Propose three possible solutions to the case (two extremes and a compromise). Mark them a), b), and c). B) Give a best-case and worst-case outcome for each solution and, for each solution, indicate whether you could tolerate the worst-case outcome. C) Which of the three solutions would you choose?

 

Step 4. A) Would you be willing for everyone to be permitted to use the solution you chose? Explain. B) Does this solution treat people as ends rather than as means only? Explain.

 

Step 5. A) Is this solution in accord with what is natural (e.g., in accord with human nature, the environment, or the inherent purpose of anything else involved in the case)? Explain. B) Is this solution balanced between an approach that might be excessive on the one hand and deficient on the other? Explain.

Step 5 tests for a Realist grounding to the solution. It is meant to explore whether the solution is a balanced, “real world” solution as opposed to a utopian, idealistic one.

Step 6. A) Would there be majority agreement that this solution is the most efficient means to the end? Explain. B) Will it produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people? Explain.

Step 7. A) Is this solution the one you feel most committed to in your own conscience, regardless of whether or not it benefits you personally? Explain. B) Do you choose this solution in an autonomous manner, as the final arbiter of the good, free from the influence of others? Explain.

Step 8. Which philosophy do you feel was most influential in your solution to this case? Why?