Cybersecurity Ethics
This course examines ethical issues relevant to ethics for cybersecurity professionals, including privacy, professional code of conduct, practical conflicts between engineering ethics and business practices, individual and corporate social responsibility, ethical hacking, information warfare, and cyberwarfare. Students will gain a broad understanding of central issues in cyberethics and the ways that fundamental ethical theories relate to these core issues.
Course Material
Reflection of Moral Philosophies: Ethics of Care, Ruism, and Utilitarianism.
In reviewing this course, I have changed my understanding of care, decision-making, and one’s moral responsibilities. My understanding has changed by learning about different ethical frameworks. The perspectives from each of the philosophies helped my views of what it means to live ethically while challenging and deepening my thoughts of behavior within the world. Through this reflection I will discuss how my understanding has increased based on these ethical frameworks and how I have new takeaways that help with making future ethical decisions.
1. Ethics of Care Framework
Ethics of Care discussed how important relationships are, using empathy, and the morality of caring for others. The Ethics of Care framework indicates ethics must be capable of vulnerable relationships. It teaches that care is central to personal, societal, and political relationships.
Before learning about this philosophy, I thought care was simply a personal act, like helping a friend, supporting family members, or helping when someone is in need. I thought it was an act of compassion. This course helped me realize that care is more than acts of kindness, it is a moral responsibility. The Ethics of Care taught me care extends beyond one-on-one relationships to issues like inequality, injustice, and imbalance to the accessibility of resources for society.
My thinking has changed. Care is complex and plays a large role in creating environments where people’s needs are met. Care is not about being shown to individuals but also includes issues that cause harm and suffering, like fighting for equal access to healthcare, and are essential to caring for society as a whole.
Takeaway: Care is not only personal relationships but a moral obligation to have social systems provide well-being for everyone as true care requires action toward both justice and equality.
2. Ruism Framework
The Ruism framework teaches ethical behavior lives in the character social peace. Moral responsibilities are relative, especially within the family, where morals like kindness (ren), care for elders (xiao), and respect are accomplished. This philosophy believes that care
starts internally, with the family, and proceeds outward. Ruism’s main goal is for a balanced society.
At first, I believed that care was an emotion or a response to the needs of others. During my study of Ruism, I have learned that care is not only a response, but a moral obligation in oneself towards others. Within Ruism, the family center provides guidance and nurture, where parents take care of, and instill these actions in, their children. In turn, the children care for parents through honor and respect. They learn how to provide care for others within the community and beyond. Through these values, moral relationships and the foundations for ethics in society are formed.
One of the insights I gained from learning the Ruism framework is that care is about moral development. Rather than caring for the immediate needs of others, there is an emphasis on true care and how that care is developed through both individual and societal morality. This thinking has been important for me, as I had thought care was more of a reaction, it is a long-term commitment. It is a development of one’s individual character within families and communities. It is about having mutual respect within the family and the community, while working toward the growth of one’s character.
Takeaway: Care is not about responding to one’s immediate needs, it is about growing one’s morals. It is about contributing to long-term internal peace and integrity and allows us to shape individuals and society.
3. Utilitarianism Philosophy
Learning that utilitarianism focuses on consequences and the outcome, helps me understand the ethical theory behind it. The basic principle is that the right action emphasizes one’s overall happiness. This theory discusses ethical decision-making and how it is seen through the question, “What will produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people?”
Before understanding Utilitarianism, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, it pointed to a way of handling hard situations through trade-offs. On the other hand, I felt that it could be very impersonal, where no consideration for individual rights or personal relationships existed.
However, through a study of Utilitarianism I have a better understanding of it. I see it is not about dismissing individuals or relationships; it is about the broader impact of our actions on others and recognizing how they feel. It pushes us to think about our actions but also
the consequences for society. It asks us to balance individual well-being against the greater good.
I appreciate how it has a framework for making difficult choices in situations when resources are limited, or when the situation mingles the interests of different people. It makes me think beyond the now and to think about the broader impact of my actions on society. This brings out issues about public health and the environment, where the well-being of society is prioritized over the needs of the few.
Takeaway: Utilitarianism teaches that one should use care when making decisions that affect society and points to the decision that will be the greatest good for the greatest number. It requires a balance of individual needs but forces us to think about the consequences of our actions.
Conclusion
Reflecting on the Ethics of Care, Ruism, and Utilitarianism has deepened my understanding of my own moral responsibility and care. Initially, I viewed care primarily as a personal duty within intimate relationships. However, I realized that care is a collective one that must be within society, family, and even globally.
From the Ethics of Care, I learned that care must be extended beyond personal relationships to society. From Ruism, I gained insight into the importance of morality in relationships and how care should live in peace. Finally, Utilitarianism taught me ethical decisions require consideration of long-term consequences and balance individual needs with the greater good.
I want to remember that care is not a personal or emotional response; it is a practice of moral development, and consideration of the greater good. Ethical care requires I act for the benefit of those I love and the collective well-being of society as a whole.
Final Takeaway: Care requires immediate action and long-term vision and involves ethical relationships, promoting moral growth, and making decisions that balance personal well-being with the collective good.