Information Ethics Current and Future Research Areas Rafael Capurro Steinbeis-Transfer-Institute Information Ethics (STI-IE) http://sti-ie.de Lecture at the Division of Information and Library Studies Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic June 2, 2009

Content Introduction Foundational Issues Current Research Areas Conclusion: Forthcoming Topics Bibliography

Introduction

Foundational Issues

Current Research Areas

Conclusion: Forthcoming Topics

Bibliography

Introduction The concept of ethics as reflection on morality is widely accepted among philosophers going back to Aristotle as the founder of ethics (or ethiké belonging to philosophia praktiké ) as an academic discipline. Constructivists such as Niklas Luhmann underline the critical function of ethical theory with regard to morality (or ethos ) .

The concept of ethics as reflection on morality is widely accepted among philosophers going back to Aristotle as the founder of ethics (or ethiké belonging to philosophia praktiké ) as an academic discipline. Constructivists such as Niklas Luhmann underline the critical function of ethical theory with regard to morality (or ethos ) .

Introduction Information ethics evolved out of computer science but has also roots in the library and information science field. The University of Pittsburgh and Kent State University are among the US pioneers (Froehlich 2004).

Information ethics evolved out of computer science but has also roots in the library and information science field.

The University of Pittsburgh and Kent State University are among the US pioneers (Froehlich 2004).

Introduction In the last ten years or so a plethora of international conferences have taken place and the number of scientific publications has dramatically increased.

In the last ten years or so a plethora of international conferences have taken place and the number of scientific publications has dramatically increased.

Introduction Specialized journals: Journal of Information Ethics The ETHICOMP Journal Ethics and Information Technology Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society International Review of Information Ethics International Journal of Internet Research Ethics International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction Journal of Computer Mediated Communication

Specialized journals:

Journal of Information Ethics

The ETHICOMP Journal

Ethics and Information Technology

Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society

International Review of Information Ethics

International Journal of Internet Research Ethics

International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction

Journal of Computer Mediated Communication

Introduction Professional societies such as INSEIT (International Society for Ethics and Information Technology) ICIE (International Center for Information Ethics) Center of Excellence for Ethics and Technology (The Netherlands) as well as IE networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America have contributed to the development of information ethics as a professional research field together with courses in universities world-wide.

Professional societies such as

INSEIT (International Society for Ethics and Information Technology)

ICIE (International Center for Information Ethics)

Center of Excellence for Ethics and Technology (The Netherlands)

as well as IE networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America have contributed to the development of information ethics as a professional research field together with courses in universities world-wide.

Introduction UNESCO conferences on social, ethical and legal aspects of the Information Society since 1998. World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2003 and 2005.

UNESCO conferences on social, ethical and legal aspects of the Information Society since 1998.

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2003 and 2005.

Introduction CATaC Conferences organized by Charles Ess and Fay Sudweeks since 1998. ETHICOMP Conferences organized by Simon Rogerson since 1995. CEPE conferences (since 1997). ICIE Conference 2004: the first international conference addressing explicitly information ethics from an intercultural perspective. The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics: international conference 2005 (forth.2010).

CATaC Conferences organized by Charles Ess and Fay Sudweeks since 1998.

ETHICOMP Conferences organized by Simon Rogerson since 1995.

CEPE conferences (since 1997).

ICIE Conference 2004: the first international conference addressing explicitly information ethics from an intercultural perspective.

The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics: international conference 2005 (forth.2010).

The Foundational Debate Charles Ess: avoiding imperialistic homogenization which preserving the irreducible differences between cultures and people Western Ethics and Confucian thought: „resonance“ and „harmony“ „ pros hen “ robust pluralism Between irreducibility and complementarity

Charles Ess:

avoiding imperialistic homogenization which preserving the irreducible differences between cultures and people

Western Ethics and Confucian thought: „resonance“ and „harmony“

„ pros hen “ robust pluralism

Between irreducibility and complementarity

The Foundational Debate Toru Nishigaki: The Western idea of a „coherent self“ and the Buddhist questionning of this idea. The Western search for universal values and the „doing away of conventional or universal interpretations of the meanings of words“ in ZEN. Cognition as representation vs. „enactment“ of the history of actions of a subject in the world Ethics as observer-dependent reflection on moral norms („fundamental informatics“).

Toru Nishigaki:

The Western idea of a „coherent self“ and the Buddhist questionning of this idea.

The Western search for universal values and the „doing away of conventional or universal interpretations of the meanings of words“ in ZEN.

Cognition as representation vs. „enactment“ of the history of actions of a subject in the world

Ethics as observer-dependent reflection on moral norms („fundamental informatics“).

The Foundational Debate Terrell Ward Bynum: „ flourishing ethics“ Basic principles: freedom, equality and benevolence, minimum infringement of freedom. Maximize the opportunities of all humans to exercise their autonomy. Different cultures „can provide a conductive context for human flourishing.“

Terrell Ward Bynum:

„ flourishing ethics“

Basic principles: freedom, equality and benevolence, minimum infringement of freedom.

Maximize the opportunities of all humans to exercise their autonomy.

Different cultures „can provide a conductive context for human flourishing.“

The Foundational Debate Luciano Floridi: the quest for an ethics of/for the „infosphere“ Different clases of information entities „ onto-centric“ ethics Various degrees of „intrinsic value“ Various leels of moral respect (from a customer profile until human dignity)

Luciano Floridi:

the quest for an ethics of/for the „infosphere“

Different clases of information entities

„ onto-centric“ ethics

Various degrees of „intrinsic value“

Various leels of moral respect (from a customer profile until human dignity)

Current Research Areas (See: Himma/Tavani 2008) Theoretical Issues of Property, Privacy, Anonymity, and Security Professional Issues: Library Profession Free and Open Source Internet Research Ethics Health Information Technology Information and Business Ethics

(See: Himma/Tavani 2008)

Theoretical Issues of Property, Privacy, Anonymity, and Security

Professional Issues:

Library Profession

Free and Open Source

Internet Research Ethics

Health Information Technology

Information and Business Ethics

Current Research Areas Responsibility Issues and Risk Assessment Responsibilities for Information on the Internet Virtual Reaiity and Computer Simulation Genetic Information The Ethics of Cyber Conflict

Responsibility Issues and Risk Assessment

Responsibilities for Information on the Internet

Virtual Reaiity and Computer Simulation

Genetic Information

The Ethics of Cyber Conflict

Current Research Areas Regulatory Isues and Challenges Internet Governance Information Overload Email Spam Plagiarims Intellectual Property

Regulatory Isues and Challenges

Internet Governance

Information Overload

Email Spam

Plagiarims

Intellectual Property

Current Research Areas Access and Equity Issues Censorship Gender Agenda Digital Divide Intercultural Information Ethics

Access and Equity Issues

Censorship

Gender Agenda

Digital Divide

Intercultural Information Ethics

Conclusion Forthcoming topics: Surveillance society Convergent Technologies (Nano, Bio, Info, Cogno) Robotics Ubiquitous Computing E-Waste ICT-Implants and Enhancements

Forthcoming topics:

Surveillance society

Convergent Technologies (Nano, Bio, Info, Cogno)

Robotics

Ubiquitous Computing

E-Waste

ICT-Implants and Enhancements

Bibliography Capurro, R. (2008): On Floridi‘s Metaphysical Foundation of Information Ecology. Ethics and Information Technology , Vol. 10, No. 2-3, 167-173. http://www.capurro.de/floridi.html Capurro, R. (2008): Intercultural Information Ethics. Foundations and applications. Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society , Vol. 6, No. 2, 116-126. http://www.capurro.de/iiebangkok.html Capurro, R., Frühbauer, J., Hausmanninger, Th. (Eds.) (2007), Localizing the Internet: ethical aspects in intercultural perspective. Munich: Fink Capurro, R. (2007): Intercultural Information Ethics. In: Rafael Capurro, Johannes Frühbauer, Thomas Hausmanninger (Eds.): Localizing the Internet. Ethical Aspects in Intercultural Perspective. ICIE Series, Munich: Fink, pp. 21-38. http://www.capurro.de/iie.html Froehlich, Thomas J. (2004): A brief history of information ethics. Textos universitaris de bibliioteconomia i documentació , 3 . http://www.ub.es/bid/13froel2.htm Himma, K.E. and Tavani, H.T. (Eds.) (2008): The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley & Sons. Hongladarom, S. and Ess, Ch. (Eds.) (2007) Information Technology Ethics: Cultural Perspectives. Hershey PA and London: Idea Group Reference.

Capurro, R. (2008): On Floridi‘s Metaphysical Foundation of Information Ecology. Ethics and Information Technology , Vol. 10, No. 2-3, 167-173. http://www.capurro.de/floridi.html

Capurro, R. (2008): Intercultural Information Ethics. Foundations and applications. Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society , Vol. 6, No. 2, 116-126. http://www.capurro.de/iiebangkok.html

Capurro, R., Frühbauer, J., Hausmanninger, Th. (Eds.) (2007), Localizing the Internet: ethical aspects in intercultural perspective. Munich: Fink

Capurro, R. (2007): Intercultural Information Ethics. In: Rafael Capurro, Johannes Frühbauer, Thomas Hausmanninger (Eds.): Localizing the Internet. Ethical Aspects in Intercultural Perspective. ICIE Series, Munich: Fink, pp. 21-38. http://www.capurro.de/iie.html

Froehlich, Thomas J. (2004): A brief history of information ethics. Textos universitaris de bibliioteconomia i documentació , 3 . http://www.ub.es/bid/13froel2.htm

Himma, K.E. and Tavani, H.T. (Eds.) (2008): The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley & Sons.

Hongladarom, S. and Ess, Ch. (Eds.) (2007) Information Technology Ethics: Cultural Perspectives. Hershey PA and London: Idea Group Reference.