Module 2: Ethics, AI Ethics, and Geoethics Frameworks
Ethical Frameworks
Ethical Frameworks
Ethical questions and frameworks to understand, predict, and guide behavior have been around for a long time. While we will focus on the science and technology applications of these frameworks, it is good to get a basic understanding of where they come from before diving into more specific applications. Some of the most influential frameworks are known as consequentialism, virtue ethics, and deontology.
Assignment 1
Before class, I want you to watch the quick video below.
This is a good and fast reading summarizing many of the main ethical frameworks/viewpoints.
And in case you think this does not apply for Earth Sciences, I found this paper on Ethics for Climate Change Communicators. The paper is behind a paywall but the point comes across in the abstract so just read the abstract for now!
I found an interesting book that we will read a few chapters from this semester called the Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics. For this assigned reading, please read Chapter 1, which is the History of Digital Ethics. The PDF is available for free on canvas for OU students (if the URL doesn’t work for some reason, go to Files on canvas and read the one labeled Müller_2021_History_DigitalEthics.pdf).
Case studies and Ethical Principles
Throughout the class, we will study a wide variety of case studies. We will analyze and discuss each one and discuss how one could create a code of conduct, value, or ethics system that would help to address it. The first few case studies we will examine come from Ethics unwrapped, which is a great set of online short videos and explanations about ethical principles and real-life case studies from the University of Texas business school. We will discuss their case study on Cyberbullying this week. Note, while this isn’t AI, there is plenty of potential for AI in this situation. AI could be used to detect cyber harassment or even to perpetuate it (if you don’t believe this, read about Tay). Your assignment for this is just to come prepared to discuss!
Optional readings
The following readings are optional. If you want to learn a LOT more about each of the types of ethics discussed above, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a full writeup of each of the types of ethics.