Computers, Ethics, and Society

Computers can have both a positive and negative impact on our lives. As they become increasingly important, these machines have the potential to deprive us of our privacy and even the jobs we need to support ourselves. On the other hand, they can enhance the quality of human life by producing unimagined freedom from drudgery and want. Ideal for students in sociology, philosophy, and computer science courses, Computers, Ethics, and Society serves as a reminder that although technology has the potential to improve or undermine our quality of life, it is society which has the power to ultimately decide how computers will affect our lives. Computers, Ethics, and Society, now in its second edition, provides a stimulating set of interdisciplinary readings specifically designed to understand these issues. The readings examine current computer problems, discussing them at a level that can explain future realities. Topics include the threat to privacy, computer wrong-doing and whistleblowing, and the questions of how to decide when and if a computer-related act is wrongful. In addition, the problems of unemployment and opportunities for international cooperation are considered in light of broader issues of justice and community. New chapters in the second edition deal with specific and timely issues such as the conflict over copyrights on the Internet; the influence and effect of computer technology on women, minorities, and third world societies; and the exploitations of Internet technology by right-wing militia groups and other underground organizations.