IMT 550 Module 3
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School
University of Washington *
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Course
550
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by DeanSharkPerson1030
Part 1
Lecture
Deontological
: duty based approach, not exceptions to rules i.e. stealing is wrong even if it's for someone's survival o
Rule based: For an ectopic pregnancy, there would be no exceptions for abortion
o
One sentence, short, lack of reasoning for justification
Consequentialism
: i.e. based on reasoning, needs to be justified and can be argued
o
Longer, has more clauses
o
Can be right or wrong according to analyses
Reading: Why Software Should Be Free (Stallman)
Introduction
Questions if making software proprietary
is equitable, against the typical priority of profit
Thesis: "I and other programmers have the duty to encourage others to share, redistribute, study, and improve the software we write: in other words, to write free software. (The word "free" here refers to freedom, not to price.)" (1)
What Is "Software Productivity"?
Software Productivity would allow for fewer programmers to satisfy the demand, as increased productivity would allow for: o
wider program use
o
adaptations of existing programs
o
better education
o
Removal of duplicated efforts
It means for increased software development and individual projects, and software freedom would eliminate those obstacles (8)
Is Competition Inevitable?
Competition is not harmful, but combat is i.e. hacker competitions causing faster programming
o
Competition becomes combat when people try to impede each other rather than advance each other o
Competing businesses are not combat, as it does not face an ethical commitment (8)
"Why Don't You Move To Russia?"
Stallman advocates for a free system where people can decide their own actions, decentralized from illegality rather than a form of Communism (9)
Conclusion
When we reward obstructionism or software hoarding, we are sending the message/culture that helping our peers is not valued (9)
3.4 Stallman’s Argument
Link
Video: Stallman - What is free software? (1995)
Argues for four essential freedoms for software, in order to respect the users:
1.
Run the program however you wish
2.
Ability to study and change the source code of the program
3.
Freedom to distribute copies when you wish, including republication
4.
Freedom to distribute the modified copies, including republication
States otherwise, software is proprietary
, keeping the users divided and gives the developer more power over its users Stallman's Case for Software Ownership
"He also claims the fencing (ownership) of software has led to many harms, which include the restricted use of programs, the inability to adapt or fix programs, the loss of educational benefits for programmers, and what he calls 'psychosocial' harm. The latter kind of harm refers to the loss of social cohesion and altruistic spirit"
Stallman's Attack on the Emotional and the Economic Argument
Emotional Argument: while some may argue that they are attached to their programs and they therefore should be owned, that justification is removed when a company chooses to pay for that content o
Also, attachment is not needed for intellectual works, as many codes are shared anonymously
Economic Argument: also known as utilitarian argument
posits that we ought to do/act a policy that maximizes overall net utility for everyone affected
o
Argument:
We should adopt policies that have best long-term benefits for everyone
Not giving software creators rights to what they produce will be bad because rights are a necessary incentive
We should grant programmers rights to ensure they will keep producing
o
Stallman states that the need for incentives is false
The Harm Done by Obstructing Software
He is utilitarian but is only rejecting the second premise
o
We should adopt policies that have best long-term benefits for everyone
o
Allowing programmers and software producers ownership rights over software is bad
o
We should greatly limit/eliminate software ownership
In support of his second premise he states the following bad consequences:
o
Fewer People Use the Program:
Fewer people have access to use a program if companies that maximize profits make it unaffordable to many
Distribution would be as cheap as the price of a computer disk, or free if downloaded via the net
More people can use the software to better their lives, are therefore would be less of a rivalry
With someone using one piece of code/software, it doesn't take it away from another person, meaning it's a not-zero sum
o
Damaging Social Cohesion: He states that this lack of cohesion can cause social harm by creating restrictions
o
Obstruction of Custom Adaptation: there is no legal way to customize a program to become
more efficient
Makes users helpless in the program's use
4.
Obstruction to Further Advances: advances in the programming technology and education is restricted Part 2
Lecture
Ethical vs Cultural Relativism:
o
Ethical Relativism: moral principles are chosen by groups/cultures -- all moral standards are relative to history, cultures, people, etc. o
Cultural Relativism: descriptive of human behavior, not an action or prescription (not a cause, a description)
Different societies have different mores, customs, etc. o
Ethical relativism goes beyond cultural relativism and claims that each different moral principles/codes are equally correct in morality
Diplomatic Immunity Laws
are based on this reasoning
Argument against: an argument for Nazi moral codes are within their culture would therefore not be immoral
Problem: morality becomes a useless concept as criticism is not possible, i.e. Hitler and Gandhi are just as moral within their own principles
A rebuttal is that morality is unclear and varies, so the overall society could not necessary support it, we all view the world differently so it may be difficult to pass judgment on what's correct
Ethics that are still frequently used globally:
o
Deontological Ethics (Rules-Based): the means/actions are considered, not the consequences o
Asks what our obligations are in specific circumstances, i.e. you should not lie to not be a liar, not because of the circumstance/reasoning
o
If it's wrong, it's wrong
Teleological Ethics (Consequentialism)
Utilitarianism: asks which action or rule will create the greatest good over evil
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o
Divine Command Theory:
morality via God
Deontology vs Natural Law
o
Deontology: the duty based on the right intentions and nothing else, judged if it can be a maxim (or universal law) that would be healthy for all -- now called an act or rule o
Utilitarianism: depends on the consequences, maximizing happiness--happiness does not mean that something is just
i.e. making medications free could limit the amount of medications made in the future
i.e. another example is that if we denied everyone over 75 healthcare, we could eliminate world hunger, and deontologists would therefore state that this is bad