THREE PRECEPTS ON COMPUTER USE
Pick three of the precepts of computer use discussed above and briefly explain each precept in terms of the theory of ethics and the ethical concepts that underpin it.
  • Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.
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    This commandment pertains to software piracy and is compliant to Moral Law. To be morally ethical, one must respect the rights of the owners of intellectual property.
    Aside from Moral Law, this commandment also adheres to natural law. Man is a rational being, this rationality makes man realized the common good of every person. If man adhere to natural law he is not only righteous, he is also just, equal and fair. If he possessed these virtues then man would think that patronizing software piracy is not being righteous to the law which is against it. Not being just, equal and fair to the person who developed the software who spent a lot to develop such software.
    Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperatives also discusses about being rational of men. Being rational of human being makes him act in accordance with the set of norms or principles laid down in the forms of law. Although man is still free to choose what is right and wrong for him, his being rational makes him decide whether to obey the law.
    In Ethical Relativism, software piracy is considered morally bad under certain circumstances and exceptional in some cases. There is not so high income in the Philippines that many Filipinos, despite the campaign of law against software piracy, still patronizing unlicensed software. In the concept of ethical relativism, their act can be justified.
  • Thou shalt not use a computer to steal
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    Stealing in whatever form violates not only the moral law, natural law but also the divine law. I do not think there are persons who like stealing other than those committing it.
  • Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write.
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    This commandment also adheres to moral law because moral law concerns with the precepts of good behavior and virtuous conduct. If we are compliant with moral law, coupled with integrity, we should always think of the moral as well as social consequences of the program we develop.
    In the context of ethical absolutism, people creating destructive programs should be condemned in any angle.
    In my own opinion ethical egoism is what justifies computer crime such as virus and the like. What move people from creating destructive programs is the satisfaction and pleasure they get from it. Here the context of ethical egoism is the promotion of one's interest and thus complies to ethical egoism.
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