Module 6

1. If you are to choose your top 3 difficult-to-follow computer ethics commandments, what are these? Explain why.

            For me, the top three difficult to follow computer ethics commandments is the commandments number 2, 6 and 7.

Commandment 2: Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work.

            Sometimes this commandment is difficult to follow in case of a group work or project and your group mate did something wrong about the project but he did not do it in purpose. When you caught something that is not right about the work it can’t be helped when but to interfere on his work and make some necessary corrections and then tell him later about the things modified on his work.

Commandment 6: Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.

            Difficult for me to follow this commandment because in times of when we are in need of software for our work, we didn’t notice that copying other people’s licensed software is defies this commandment.

Commandment 7: Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization.

            For me and maybe for some other people, this commandment is also hard to follow, for in case of your friend the owner of the computer is not around and you really need to use the documents or photos or even mp3s, we always tend to use it without the friend’s consent.

2. Suppose you are to add 2 more commandments to the existing 10 commandments of computer ethics, what are these? Are these 2 new commandments of equal importance to the existing ones? Discuss.

I will add:

Commandment 11: Thou shalt not lure people with less knowledge to computer to do unethical things in computer related cases.

            This commandment is equal importance to the existing commandments because it is important to orient people about computers do’s and don’ts. Help other people learn about computer ethics not to abuse them or grab a chance to use them.

Commandment 12: Thou shalt not deceive other people to falsely earn money through computer.

            This commandment is also of equal importance because people today are very eager to earn money through online jobs. All people with good experience in computer must not deceive people to earn false money.

3. What is ransomware? Which of the 10 computer ethics commandments is/are violated by ransomware?

            Ransomware is a malware that holds the computer or holds all the computers data as hostage and demands a ransom to the user for the data’s restoration. It violates commandments 1, 2, 4 and 10 for it harms other people, it is also a form of interference and stealing and most of all it disrespects the right of the user.                

Module 4

How often do you make an effort to practice your strengths and virtues? (A virtue is a trait you cultivate. Ex: patience, generosity kindness). Are these traits key to a happy life? Discuss.

            I often practice my strengths and virtues almost every day depending on the situation I am in. I am used to practice my virtues almost all the time like being more patient. And there are certain times that you don’t need to be more patient and kind, to avoid people from abusing you. It is good to practice your strengths and virtues but we also know that too much good things will yield bad results.

Other people can say that these traits are a key to happiness in life but I say that it can only make you happy for just a moment depending on the situation. For me these traits are only the key for happiness but not the happy life.

 

For some, happiness relies on money. In some cases, hacking means money. Would you do hacking it if its outcome is a sure happiness of your family? What particular Aristotle theory contradicts this concept? Discuss.

I won’t surely do hacking even if it means the happiness of my family for it is illegal and very unethical. True happiness cannot be achieved if someone is harmed for the sake of other person’s happiness. For me, being happy when someone is unhappy is kind of unrelieved situation. My conscience always haunts me for every unethical action that I’m doing.

          Aristotle’s theory of happiness contradicts this concept. Happiness depends on acquiring a moral character where one displays his virtues (generosity, friendship, justice, courage & citizenship). Hacking or stealing is not an action of one’s generosity, even if it means happiness of you’re family, someone is harmed. Happiness requires intellectual contemplation and one should consider the consequences of his actions.

Module 3

1.       "We are all here on earth to help others. What I can't figure out is what the others are here for." --W. H. Auden. Discuss.

Every person on earth helps one another even though they don’t know that everything that they do every day benefits another individual. For me the quote means that every person on earth has a purpose and we know that if we have a purpose, we are ought to do what is that we are here for, like helping each other for example. But not all people on earth are doing what they are ought to do so one can say or ask “What on earth are others here for?” Instead of doing what their purpose is, they are doing something that is useless or insensible. So it’s basically like a teacher lecturing while one student is sleeping.

2.  Ethical egoists think that people will be happiest if they look out for themselves and not concern themselves with others but are this where true human happiness lies? Discuss.

                We all know that before we can help another person or individual, we should also know how to help ourselves first. It’s not bad to put ourselves first before others but we also know that too much something is not good. We should not put too much attention on ourselves like for example when we eat our meal and there is an excess amount of food, we can at least give it to our hungry beggars but its best to buy them a whole meal to satisfy their hunger. One can feel the true happiness if one is helping another person even though he didn’t have any benefits at all than helping another person for the purpose that it benefits him. One of our reasons here on earth is to help one another; every person feels the real happiness when helping another person without expecting something in return.

3.    What are the roots of egoism? Where does it come from? What do egotistical people FEAR?????

                For me basically the root of egoism is selfishness or greediness and it comes from or starts from a greedy and selfish person. Egoistic person are like hiding their true purpose in helping another person. Even though both of them benefits but an egoistic person doesn’t help another person if he don’t get something in return. So an egoistic person fear about something that will lose on his or her possession without a replacement for that lost thing.