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.

Reflective Writing Assignment

In this class, PHIL 355E, I have learned from three major topics, namely utilitarianism, the ethics of care, and deontological reasoning. A number of detailed ethical frameworks have profoundly reshaped my view and understanding of morality. Each of the three topics has provided a unique perspective through which it is possible to evaluate moral choices in life.

First, utilitarianism has impressed me as a simple yet pragmatic approach to achieving positive outcomes. I came to appreciate how utilitarianism demands deep impartiality. According to Chappell et al. (2024), utilitarianism involves promoting everyone’s well-being. This aspect of this ethical perspective is both its most considerable strength and most demanding feature. This topic’s emphasis on total happiness has helped me consider the implications of individual actions on society and the public. My key takeaway on what my future self should remember is that people must be cautious of reducing morality in terms of numbers, along with maximizing good, which is equally important. Real lives and real relationships are more than just data.

Second, the ethics of care as another key topic has manifested a contrast with other theories. While utilitarianism emphasizes impartiality and the consideration of the public at large, care ethics is limited to relationships. The theory insists on the moral value of partiality to people close to us. Mussell (2025) notes that caring relationships frequently require people to show preferential treatment to their closest individuals. As the class topic has demonstrated, caring is a moral framework grounded in interdependence, not just an emotional response. This perspective helps me better appreciate the moral importance of empathy and emotional bonds. The ethics of care is not a rejection of justice or fairness but a recognition that moral life includes responsibilities to specific people in our lives. As a takeaway from this topic, I want to live guided by the understanding that morality is not just about abstract rules. Instead, it encompasses nurturing and honoring our close relationships.

Third, deontological reasoning, particularly Kant’s theory, has challenged my long-held ideas of the differences between the right and wrong. I was initially skeptical of a rigid moral system where lying was always wrong. I used to believe that a person should be truthful in all situations without any exceptions. However, the discussions around this topic and Kant’s concept of the “categorical imperative” have helped me to grasp the power of morality grounded in duty and respect. Kant’s idea of ethics is that people must treat others as ends in themselves and not just as means (Udayakumar et al., 2021). My takeaway from the topic to take into my future life is to let respect for others guide me in life choices. A principled life is worth striving for, even if it is not always easy or pleasant.

In conclusion, the three topics discussed in class have been significantly impactful both on my perspectives towards life and my moral compass. The knowledge of utilitarianism inspires me to focus on reducing morality both in terms of statistics and maximizing good. The topic of the ethics of care has offered an insightful view of on my relationships with friends. Deontological reasoning inspires me to be more respectful of other people.

References

Chappell, R. Y., Meissner, D., & MacAskill, W. (2024). An introduction to utilitarianism: From theory to practice. Hackett Publishing Company.

Mussell, H. J. (2025). Ethics of care/care ethics/relational ethics. In J. Helms, K. S. Williams, & R. Bendi (Eds.), Encylopaedia of gender and management (pp. 139–140). Edward Elgar Publishing.https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803922065.ch40

Udayakumar, L., Sunder, V. V., & Babu, S. (2021). Immanuel Kant’s deontology theory. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews, 8(2), 235–243. https://www.ijrar.org/papers/21B2505_252105.pdf