Integrating Computer Ethics into the Computer Science Curriculum**

Keith Miller

• Introduction
• Can Computer Ethics Be Taught in the Computer Science Curriculum?
• Technical Concerns, Ethical Questions
  • CS 1: Computer Programming I
  • CS 2: Computer Programming II
  • CS 3: Introduction to Computer Systems
  • CS 4: Introduction to Computer Organizations
  • CS 5: Introduction to File Processing
  • CS 6: Operating Systems and Computer Architecture I
  • CS 7: Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis
  • CS 8: Organization of Programming Languages
• Sources of Information
  • Books
  • Collections of Articles
  • Periodicals
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgments
• References

CS 7: Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis

• Technical concept: The analysis of an algorithm requires complexity information and realistic upper bounds on the amount of data to be processed.

Students in CS 7 are encouraged to look more precisely at algorithms and data, and to make judgments about the practical application of these concepts to large scale projects. The course stresses the importance of quantitative methods in designing software.

• Example case: Star Wars debate

Ever since President Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative, computer scientists have been engaged in a lively debate on the merits of various proposals. All the current SDI proposals include a large computing system, and computer science students learning about complexity analysis are in a good position to intelligently examine arguments about SDI. Many different articles present technical opinions on the computational challenges inherent in SDI, including Parnas, 1985; Lin, 1985; Moore, 1985; Ornstein, 1986; New York Times Service, 1987.

• Ethical question: How do we distinguish between technical judgments and moral choices?

What are the technical merits of the arguments for continuing SDI research? What are the technical merits of the arguments against continuing SDI research? What are the technical merits for and against early development of an SDI system? What are the obstacles for an accurate estimate of the eventual complexity of an SDI system? In the article read, can you discern any political bias in the technical analysis presented? Assume that you believe that SDI as it is currently proposed is fatally flawed; could you take a job in SDI research because you believe that SDI research will have positive results that are not now predictable? Assume that you believe that SDI as currently proposed is realistic; would you give expert congressional testimony which deliberately oversimplified the situation so that the public would understand the concepts, even though they wouldn’t get a true picture of the complexity?

Go to: CS 8: Organization of Programming Languages

Home > Teaching Resources > Teaching Computer Ethics > Integrating Computer Ethics into the Computer Science Curriculum

Back to the Main Site

HOME | IN THE NEWS | RESEARCH RESOURCES
TEACHING RESOURCES | STUDENT RESOURCES | LINKS

The Research Center on Computing & Society
at Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street | New Haven, CT 06515
Director: (203) 392-6790 | e-mail: webmaster@computerethics.org

© 2000 – 2004 – Research Center on Computing & Society