UNIT 8 ETHICS IN THE DIGITAL AGE Student Shall Not Download. Yeah, Sure. Kite Zernike

UNIT 8

ETHICS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Student Shall Not Download. Yeah, Sure.

Kite Zernike

Summary:

This text is taken from a New York Time articles. It tries to give information to control the illegal downloading music from the internet without paying. It is related to the response given by Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) to the students who violate (don’t follow) copyright laws by downloading music without cost.

At Pennsylvania State University some more rules are made like “you should not smoke because it will kill you” “You should not use a false ID you will be kicked out from the university.” But student think that since it is easily available and not immoral, they can download music, movies, etc. Since it can be done freely, students don’t feel guilty in doing so. They think downloading music, films, etc. is like downloading academic materials and resources.

Looking this critical situation Peen State University reminded students not to do illegal work of copyright. The students are not given email password before agreement still there is no control in downloading muses. One student has downloaded 4000 music though she has listened twenty only. To stop this illegal work, it is very difficult to Penn State to punish 42,000 students studying there. Any types of moral quotations saying, accusation didn’t discourage the students from downloading music. Some careful students copy but don’t share and become safe because producer companies don’t check to down loaders but to music listeners.

Thus, the downloading music is totally unethical as well as illegal that is down without permission so that producers and directors don’t invest money on music. Originality and flourish meant of musical sector is affected badly by this work.

a. Is there a difference between an unethical act and an illegal one? What do you think about downloading movies and music without paying? In most cases that is illegal. But is it also unethical?

Or

What do you think about downloading music and movies from the Internet without paying?

There is vast difference between unethical act and illegal act. Ethics is related to these aspects of what are good and what are bad to do. The matter of wrong and right to do is the ethical subject. Ethics asks question don’t do others what will be bad if others do it to you. Ethics points out goodness of others. But illegal is the state of doing not following the rules and law. If something is done by breaking law it is illegal. In sum, we can generalize that “all the unethical acts are not illegal but all the illegal acts are unethical”.

Downloading movies and music without paying is fully illegal as well as unethical one. It is a type of stealing or robbery. Though ethical people are complaining saying. It is morally wrong but the downloading move is not stopped at all. Almost all people are involved in stealing music by downloading without paying. People follow the track of easiness. If they can download without cost, why do they bother to pay 200/300 Rs. For original CD? By such piracy huge amount of money is lost. Producers and directors are facing critical challenges along with actors”.

Downloading music and movies in short is both illegal and unethical. Illegal in the sense that it is done by not following (avoiding) laws and rules of copyright. On the other hand, it is unethical in the sense that there is encouragement to illegal downloads and discouragement to producers and directors of music movies production institutions. Yet artists will be badly affected from these downloading activities.

b. What is Immanuel Kant’s Theory of Ethics?

According to Immanuel Kant, one must ask the question: What if everyone acted this way? Before making any moral decision. Moreover, some saying (Maxims) and personal rules should be used white deciding something because if something is opposite to rules or maxims that is not good to be done. Kant doesn’t excuse to “sometimes”. Kant is absolute in principle who proposes not to lie ever. We must respect all other people and their freedom because we all have dignity. Lying is using people as a tool; that should not be done in any case and by any cost.

c. What is John Stuart Mill’s Theory of Ethics?

According to J/s Mill one should look at consequences/ results of some acts before doing them. One should use imagination while thinking about/ finding would be some works. If your action results happiness to large number of people along you are acting morally. If people will get problem or suffer from your action you should not do that action. Mill’s philosophy of ethics is utilitarianism. One should measure or weigh the morality of action with the measuring rod of utility or usefulness.

d. What is Aristotle’s Theory of Ethics?

The things which help us grow up and progress are good but which disturb your growth and progress are bad for Aristotle. This physical and social growth are necessary for human development. Physical things indicate good food, fresh air, water, etc. while social things refer education, friendship, supportive relationship in the society. To live and ethical life one should ask oneself what he/ she wants to be only then one must make moral choices according to action and it would be results.

e. What criteria or standards do you use when deciding if something is right or wrong? Give an example of a time when you had to choose between two alternatives and had a difficult time deciding what was right.

I use criteria of moral principles when deciding to find something wrong or right. Because I do have full trust upon these principles. If I feel bad doing something other I will also feel same if other does this for me. I feel happy others doing something good, I will also do other same to make him/ her happy. I don’t have any feeling to give tension to anyone because indirectly that tension will be same to me as well.

If cooperation, help, sharing, caring, understanding, frankness and friendliness are used, there is good friendship on the other hand friendship will be bad if we use the ways of jealousy, greediness, arrogance, proudness, evil plotting, etc. if we are very struck on our moral principle, it is sure and certain that there will be harmony, peace and happiness in our friendship as well as in our life.

Sometimes we do have some moral difficulty of right or wrong. We are in dilemma what to do and what not to do. Last week, I was riding a motorbike in Kathmandu. I didn’t care about traffic light so that I was in wrong position. Abruptly a traffic woman came and charged me Rs. 200. I requested her not to cut slip. She was angry. I again, requested her to provide Rs.100 secretly to let me go. At first she rejected but sooner she took it and let me go further. When I was caught by her I was in dilemma that if I paid 200, I didn’t have that money. If I give bribe, it was illegal or immoral. Without having any alternative, I had to follow immoral path in that difficult situation.

f. Do you think your ideas of what is right and wrong are different from those of people of your parent’s generation? Your grandparents’ generation? How are they different? How would you explain the change in people’s thinking?

Two persons, two societies and two generations have different ways of making codes of morality, utilization of moral principles and impact on people’s behaviors. We can’t stop the flow of change in every sector with the passage of time. From one generation to the next there is vast difference in morality and moral principles. It is obvious that our grandparents had higher degree of morality than our parents’ generation, and our generation is less moral than our parents’ generation. There were some common beliefs, codes of conduct and moral principles which have been changed due to different time, situation and generation of people.

On the other hand, the passage of time of passing generation has not only brought the loss and negative impacts on morality. It has brought some positive changes as well. There is more understanding and toleration among different religious groups, mixed marriage systems. End of colonialism, raise of democratic governance, freedoms human rights, etc. are other positive development of morality. Still people are worried about the condition of the earth environment, global problems, raise of fast communication, etc. can be positive aspects of morality or generation development. There is less color discriminations of races-classes castes etc. there is equal priority to female, positive out looks to handicapped people, inter-caste marriage allowed, individual and human rights are granted. So, with the danger of losing morality there are some improvements or developments in the quality of life. There is more position changes in people’s thinking than negative one.

g. Does your school or university have a policy on Cheating? What would you do if you saw someone violating it?

Every institution does have a specific rules and regulation. If these rules are violated, there is a system of punishment.  Our university also has system or policy for the treatment of cheating in the exams. There is no chance to bring any writes up, copy, notes and such material in the exam. Hall in the examination hall by exchanging, copying, side looking surpassing or by other ways cheating is taken place. Actually cheating is academic crime itself.

There is a provision of giving punishment to those cheaters. The invigilator and superintendents judge how serious cheating the student have committed. If it is forgivable, it is granted. If not but serious one, there is record and contact to controller of Examination. The superintendent may have right to expel or restrict him/ her. The controller of examination may proceed suspension or expulsion from the collage.

If cheating case happened to me, it would be problematic one. If I follow Kant’s ethics, I should inform about this violation but from Mill’s ethical point of view it is better not to inform about it. Mil says one should works to make others happy to. By cheating he/ she is very happy. Actually, such case should be punished. That can be indirect method by which I am safe one the one hand and cheater is punished on the other. For future cases of cheating, we can take help of technologies I.e. C.C. camera, etc. but for right time event I should proceed to punish him/her. Anyhow cheating should be discouraged will be my mission.

h. Write a five-paragraph argumentative essay about the ethics of down loading music from the interest without paying.

A Block Diagram of a Five-Paragraph Argumentative Essay:

Body part 1 Argument Apply ideas of appropriate philosopher as support

Introduction General statement and/or summary of issue Thesis Statement

Body part 2 Counterargument Apply ideas of appropriate philosopher as support

 

                             

Body part 3 Refutation of new argument Apply ideas of appropriate philosopher as support

Conclusion Restate thesis Summary of main points Concluding thoughts

 

The Ethics of Downloading Music

“If stealing a book from the library or a CD from the store ethical?” Of course it is an unethical work. It is like a theft invading in other’s field and stealing cucumber without any notice. In this sense, downloading music without paying is solely unethical there is no need to invest, do labor, consume time put dedication and use of skills to the down loaders. Almost everyone who has approach of Internet doesn’t bother to pay full cost rather pirate or steal from there without cost.

We can correlate this question of ethical or unethical of downloading with some philosopher. If we go with Kant with this question or issue, there will be negative answer. Kant says stealing is lying and lying is wrong. It is morally wrong to steal someone’s property without permission. The real investors producers, directors, actors are not and getting fruits but the real benefit goes elsewhere. Mill also does not let others to be suffered but mill puts argument that is good to do if someone is happy enough by doing so the down loader is obviously happy in doing so without pay. Aristotle also claims that downloading is against laws, against society and against real doers.

There can be view that downloading is not unethical at all. It is good to do because taking movies, music, etc. is like taking books from book case or listening to the radio without cost. Do they ever think that by that piracy the actors will not be paid on time and gets discouraged, producer will get discouraged to produce next album or music? If we go to Mill again, there is another argument that many more people can be happy by downloading than company selling them. For Aristotle also if down loaders don’t feel guilt in doing so he is good to do that work. Again downloading is ethical as well.

Can one farms and another cultivate be ethical? When there is full dedication from one and harvesting form second it will be unethical obviously. It is not ethical at all. We teach our brothers, sisters, children don’t do wrong but always do well. If we regard stealing a noble work: Will they go one right path? If all are just downloading without paying all music industries will be bankrupted and musical world will be dimmed. Still, people’s thirst for music will still be there.

It is undividable issue that downloading the music is ether ethical or unethical one. From utilitarian point of view downloaders are benefited whereas producers are suppressed. From good and bad morality point of view it is purely bad in stealing other’s property without paying or without taking permission.

i. Write five-paragraph argumentative essay on the ethics of refusing to provide life-saving medicines to anyone not able to pay full price.

Is money more valuable than life? Not. It is obvious that one of the basic requirement of life is money but money is not everything. Mill also says it is good when all are happy. To make all happy there must be respect to al beings and things nation has equal value.

Many people argue that poverty is a crime or being poor is a cures of previous life. It is 100% wrong. The lifesaving medicine was not made to save only fora few rich people. Poor people’s life is also life. If one is unable to pay for medicine and he is deprived of getting medicine is inhuman act. To respect equally to all in Kant’s philosophy or make all in Mill’s view or future results of action related to Aristotle this act of not providing, medicine to poor is unethical one.

Someone may raise points that there is the investment of money, labors, skills from the producers so, they can supply or sell according to their choice. They can account the cost and circulate in the market. If we follow Kant, all people must be respected so this medicine should be freely distributed. Aristotle’s view helps us to flourish to druggist or producers so it is good to them. But few are getting good while many are losing this flourish ment. If the producers adopt their monopoly, it is unethical to many publics who like to take this life-saving medicine but poverty controls from taking.

Moreover, there is no care to life of those who are unable to pay for medicine. If the needy people are not getting medicines, what is justification of producing them? There is no meaning to those who can’t pay that the medicine could give permanent life or way to heaven. This name of life saving becomes poisons to those poor. In the name of production producers they tag their wished price supply as they wish and do many unethical business. This is also unethical in this medicine case. Can’t one be legal candidate to get medicine by any cost with payment? If the life is not saved, why should we tell life-saving medicine? There is unethical treatment in the name of money.

j. Imagine you are a professor of media and communications at a reputable university. Write an essay in which you present the internet without paying for them from their different perspectives.

People in the recording and/ or film industry.

Providers of internet downloading services.

People who use internet downloading services.

Will you buy costly original CDS if you can easily download them from Internet without paying? Certainly not who will spend money for the things, which are freely available. But how such illegal downloading system will affect producer of CD or film industry, those who provide Internet downloading services and internet down loaders.

The first and foremost effect will be one the recording film industry or producers. People of recording centers have invested a huge amount of money, labors, skills, time, etc. they have hope to earn some money with their hard works. Isn’t it challenges some to make ready to play CD’s etc.? if downloading without paying is going on, all film industries and producers will face starvation and critical financial condition because nobody buy their productions at all.

Another part the Internet downloading service providers provide easy approach to internet. They also vive various techniques how to download easily and collect more musical matter. Either in storing data files or other piracy service providers are main agents of the promotion unpaid downloading system. There is less effect or hamper to them because most degree of effect falls upon film industries and producers. They play the mediator to spread the disease of downloading illegally.

The consumers of downloading are those people who use Internet downloading services. They don’t bother to buy original CDS rather without cost store large quantity of music films etc. the users are like thieves who don’t bother to buy anything. They think using downloading system is just like listening to music in the F.M. sets. The least amount of effects will be on them. They are benefited groups of people.  CDS are really expensive; market places cheat them. Who want to throw cash out of pocket if something is available without money?

There must be solution to be adopted t solve this illegal work. The ill-fated companies and producers should be cared. One solution can be that there is fragmented or part of music put in the Internet part of music may discourage down loaders. To listen or see complete version Music’s Films, etc. of original CDs must be parched. There must be strong check and balance system to down loaders and Internet service providers.

k. Imagine that there is a scientist who has proven that he can make a drug that would care all human diseases. The vital ingredient of the drug, however must be taken from a perfectly healthy child and this child would die as a result. Write an essay in which you argue for or against the production of this drug. Cite the philosophers from this unit in your argument.

Are we ready to sacrifice one family member (son/daughter) to save all the family? But I am not ready to do so by any cost. What is the essence of chopping down a healthy baby to make medicine? If all young healthy babies are sued for medicine who will this medicine for? Kant directly rejects this Aristotle and Mill evaluates advantage of doing so.

Can there be a medicine that can cure all the disease? Is this an elixir or a panacea? It is great wrong to baby who is used in making medicine so there is no respect as Kant opines. “What if everyone acted this way?” Kant’s question is there. Since Kant is absolutist, he never accepts sometimes or for exception. It is fully unethical killing a healthy baby for making medicine. Human life, fame, dignity are totally dismissed here.

Someone might say that if a baby is damage, thousand people will be healthy from its loss. My lives of people are sacrificed in various incidents. Accidents, etc. So, a baby is a minor thing. As Mill says, your action brings happiness to many people, your action is morally good. If so human activists will kick out mill and such doers saying that each and every one has equal right to lice free life. Why to make an innocent person a scapegoat? If human are used in making medicine, where is humanity? Why do doctors make medicine for? They are no doctor rather satans.

Will you live healthy life by killing your chubby child? If you can live for forever, will you sacrifice your young healthy who is child like a shoot of a bamboo? Certainly not. So this “might is right” system should be stopped right now. There should not be sacrifice of someone to cure others. Diseased are diseased let them die naturally but healthy can live healthy and prosperous life it is their right.

i. What should an employee do if he knows that his boss is doing something illegal? Should he “blow the whistle” on his boss and risk losing his job, or should he keep it to himself and endanger the company or the public? Write an essay that discusses the moral aspects of each decision.

Would you like to fire from the job or continue it?  It is not easy to get fired from the job because after this you are jobless. You have to spend many hours or days in searching for job. As your conscience requests you don’t tolerate the crime and don’t lie at all. You are in dilemma what to do and what not to do.

As an employee he has to even surrender pretending not seeing the crime. If he follows Kant’s maxims he shouldn’t tell a lie so, he has to pretend not seen. Again, if he follow Mill’s philosophy of happiness to others, there are two solutions. One he and all public will get benefited and be happy only single person will be sad if reality is exposed. Again, there is unhappiness with employee because he will soon get fired. Sometimes he thinks the job is more important than his moral work putting against his boss. If he is self-centered he might say. “Why should I do responsible to everything everybody?”

But, if he likes to prove himself a noble citizen of his nation and shows his responsibility, he should go against his boss. If he gets fired but a number of public and company itself will improve, there is more utility from Mill’s point of view. Many more will be benefited and happy so telling about his crime is good. We have to do in accordance to our conscience or mind. There can be another alternative that if he (employee) is dismissed from the company or punished for his but opening the secret crime, he will get next job many get satisfaction and benefitted. If he doesn’t fight against such illegal works, how can we make our society good?

I am young energetic and confident person. If me like persons surrender upon crime and become the followers of injustice when will our society be healthy and prosperous? How can we wipe/out injustices from the nook and corner of our society? So, boldly, I will make decision to flash his criminal act and go further action against him with other staffs of company. No doubt, I am fully confident that the ultimate loss to me will be my job only. I will be satisfied along with many public from my work.

Grammar Selection

A. Using Context Clues:

Match the words with their definitions, then read the sentences that follow and use the context to help you choose the best word to complete each sentence.

1.      Copy-right 2.      Monitor 3.      Grasping 4.      Pragmatic 5.      Urge 6.      Excessive

a.      An impulse toward, a desire b.      Too much, too great c.       Relating to practical affairs d.      The exclusive legal right to an artistic work e.      Fully understanding f.        Watch or check for a particular purpose.

        i.            Students at Penn state have been punished for …………downloading. Now they are allowed to download only a certain amount.

      ii.            University officials are not concerned with the ethics of downloading music without paying. They are concerned with…………. Issues, such as whether the university will be held responsible for the illegal activity.

    iii.            The record industry has taken over two hundred people to court for sharing music files in violation of ……………….laws.

     iv.            Despite the fact the some people have been fined and 12,000 dollars for sharing music files, students are having a hard time …………… the moral message that downloading is wrong.

       v.            For some students the fear of fines is enough. They have stopped downloading because they worry that record companies will back into their system and ……………..their activities online.

     vi.            For some, however, the ……………….to download their favorite music at no cost is too strong to resist. They will continue to download and hope not to get caught.

Answer: (A) Match (1)   d.     (2)   f.      (3)  e     (5)  a    (6) b (B) Fill in the gaps i. excessive       ii. Pragmatic.     iii. Copyright    iv. Grasping    v. monitor    vi. urge

B. Match the definition with the idioms in the following columns.

Definition	Idiom
1.      to stop an action	a.      at home
2.      adopted a strict policy	b.      going online
3.      connecting to Internet	c.       has taken a harder line
4.      rained very heavily	d.      it is raining cat and dog
5.      causing more confusion	e.      to draw the line
6.      be well familiar	f.        blurring the lines between right and wrong

Answer: (1) e    (2)    c     (3)   b         (4)    d           (5)   f      (6)   b

c. Unstated Conditionals:

In stated conditional sentence the if clause and main clauses are presented but in unstated conditional there is main clause of conditional when if cause is obvious or understood automatically eg. (i) “Mary, What would your parents say (main clause) if they knew you were cheating?” (Understood if clause)

Some

(ii) Hari what would your friend think about

You (main clause) if you don’t attend her birthday? (Understood clause)

D. Noun clauses:

Noun clause is a dependent object, or compliment in a sentence. There are three types of noun clauses:

1.      Wh-Noun clauses: Wh-Noun Clauses are sometimes called indirect question or embedded question. Wh words like-who, what, where, how, when, why or which are used to form the indirect question. Such questions are written in statement pattern so the auxiliary verb are not put before nouns

Eg. (i) What do students want? (Question)

What students want more than anything is sports facility? (Noun Clause)

i. who have you gone go mark with? (Question)

Can he find out who you’ve gone to market with? (Noun Clause)

ii. wheredo you live?  (Question)

Can you tell me where you live?(noun clause)

2.      If/whether Noun Clauses:

Sometime If/Where not noun clause are also called indirect question or embedded question. They are formed from yes/no question. They are introduced by whether (or not) or if …………..(or not) patterns.

Eg. Should I take part in game?

§  I can’t decide whether or not I should take part in game (noun clause)

§  I can’t decide whether I should take part in game (or not) (noun clause)

§  I can’t decide if I should take part in game (or not) (noun clause)

§  Whether (or not) you take part in game makes no difference to me (here uses as the subject of the sentence (noun clause)

3.      That Clauses:

When a statement is used as a noun clause in another sentence, it is often introduced with the words the face that or that.

§  The fact that government is careless to agriculture should not harm the farmers. (noun clause) Tribhuvan University.