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
Content
Introduction
Foundational Issues
Current Research Areas
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
Introduction
Information ethics evolved out of
computer science but has also roots in the library and information science
field.
Introduction
In the last ten years or so a plethora of international conferences have taken place and the number of scientific
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
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)
Introduction
UNESCO conferences on social, ethical and legal aspects of the Information Society since 1998.
World Summit on the Information Society
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 Foundational Debate
Charles Ess:
avoiding imperialistic homogenization
while preserving the irreducible
differences between cultures and people
Western Ethics and Confucian thought:
„resonance“ and „harmony“
„pros hen“ robust pluralism Between irreducibility and
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
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
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
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
Current Research Areas
Responsibility Issues and Risk
Assessment
Responsibilities for Information on the
Internet
Virtual Reality and Computer Simulation
Genetic Information
Current Research Areas
Regulatory Isues and Challenges
Internet Governance
Information Overload
Email Spam
Plagiarims
Current Research Areas
Access and Equity Issues
Censorship
Gender Agenda
Digital Divide
Conclusion
Forthcoming topics:
Surveillance society
Convergent Technologies (Nano, Bio, Info,
Cogno)
Robotics
Ubiquitous Computing
E-Waste
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.
