BKETHICS.RVW   980131

"Computers, Ethics and Society", M. David Ermann/Mary B.
Williams/Michele S. Shauf, 1997, 0-19-510756-X, C$29.95
%A   M. David Ermann
%A   Mary B. Williams
%A   Michele S. Shauf
%C   70 Wynford Drive, Don Mills, Ontario   M3C 1J9
%D   1997
%G   0-19-510756-X
%I   Oxford University Press
%O   C$29.95 800-451-7556 fax: 919-677-1303 cjp@oup-usa.org
%P   340 p.
%T   "Computers, Ethics and Society, Second Edition"

Ethics.  Don't talk to me about ethics.

Computer industry the size of a planet, security specialists sleeping
under every bush, a zillion philosophy students and what do we do?  We
write a textbook.

It's so depressing.

It has been seven years since the first edition of this book was
published, and five years since I reviewed that first edition.  I was
rather looking forward to it at the time, it being the only title I
had found to address this all important issue.  I was a bit chagrined
to find that it was, a) a series of articles, rather than a book; and,
b) a textbook.  Well, courses on computer ethics are important, and in
the interim there have been both other textbooks and serious
examinations of the topic for the working professional.  I've gotten
over my disappointment that the book was a textbook, but still find it
to be flawed *as* a textbook.  As with other, similar, works, some of
the disappointment arises from the fact that, so far, this is close to
the best we can do.

The apparent organization of the material is good.  The first section
of papers deals with general ethical theory.  Unfortunately, the
background is somewhat limited, dealing only with utilitarianism,
generally simplified to "the greatest good for the greatest number",
and some minor variations.  (Kant's "Categorical Imperative" is
covered, but it can easily be seen as a special case of utilitarianism
where "badness" is exponential.)  The first paper, "Ethical Issues in
Computing," stands as an overview of topics to be covered in the book. 
As such, the piece can't be faulted for a lack of depth.  However,
what analysis there is in the essay betrays a reliance on facile
reasoning and presumptions based on strictly anecdotal evidence, or no
evidence at all.  In this regard, it foreshadows too much of the
material in the book overall.  The second and third papers,
"Information Technologies Could Threaten Privacy, Freedom, and
Democracy," and "Technology is a Tool of the Powerful," demonstrates
another shortcoming of the book: an emphasis on theoretical societal,
rather than practical personal, responsibilities and issues.  As the
material begins to examine generic ethical principles in light of
specific problems, the treatment becomes uneven, although by and large
it offers little except further problems in defining moral action.  (I
was sad to see that a first rate treatise on privacy as it relates to
monitoring of criminal offenders; lucid, readable and almost poetic
while casting an insightful new light on the subject; has been
removed.)

In light of my comments about a social bias to the book, it may seem
strange that part two is entitled "Computers and Personal Life." 
However, personal action and responsibility is in the minority.  Four
papers deal with privacy, commerce, and employment, again pitting the
individual against the mass, if not the state.  The excerpt from
Gates' "The Road Ahead" (an unremarkedly ironic inclusion given the
current debate and legal battles over "ownership" of the desktop) is
nothing more than a bit of blue sky pronouncing.  The articles by
Postman, Gergen, and Broadhurst are better informed, but no closer to
ethics.  Eugene Spafford seems to be the only contender in the
personal activity arena.

"Computers and the Just Society" is definitely back with the person
against the principality, paying particular attention to employment
(in the aggregate) and privacy (as being eroded by legislation against
encryption).  There is a nod to cyberspace and the law on the way
through, but it isn't much improvement over the first edition. 
(Aristotle and Augustine didn't even make the cut this time out.)

Part four, on "Computing Professionals and Their Ethical
Responsibilities" shows titular promise, but is back on the individual
against society once more.  Indeed, there is little that is specific
to the computing professional.  A paper on "whistle-blowing' is clear
as to the issues, but finally ambiguous as to any answers.  Steven
Levy's piece on Lotus Marketplace is a bit depressing when you realize
the final outcome: Lotus never did release marketplace, but a number
of recent "products" are much greater invasions of privacy.

Given the almost absolute emphasis on society, I was rather surprised
to see only one paper, and that tangentially, related to the rise of
the Internet.  The net has become a major force in society, both in
spreading hate literature and other disinformation, and in promoting
democracy and discourse.  The second edition does not appear to have
taken the opportunity to come up to date in this regard.

Much of the material collated here is interesting, and worthwhile
background for a course in computer ethics, but it doesn't go
anywhere.  The quality is very uneven and, ultimately, much of the
writing is disappointing.  The section and subsection headings often
bear only the most tenuous connection to the contents, although
related articles to tend to have some commonality.  As course reading
material, this book could be very useful in the hands of a good
instructor.  As a resource for those working in the lines...well, I
suppose we keep looking and hoping.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993, 1998   BKETHICS.RVW   980131