Abstract
Unlike most computer-ethics discussions on issues like hacking, software piracy, or “big” ethical issues, we want to discuss the routine work of IT-specialists and the context in which it is situated. The work of creating and facilitating use of IT-systems offers many routine opportunities to “do the right thing” and many contextual factors hindering this. Thus our analysis starts looking at everyday practice, and re-constructing “responsibility”. With this approach we hope to expose new ethical issues. Using the rich structure and history of the term “responsibility” as a resource, we learn to use essential notions like intention, voluntariness, autonomy, obligation, possibility of foresight, causal influence, (care) responsibility, and attribution and discuss how these relate to the practice of IT practitioners. This discussion aims to give some structure to the messy entanglement of practice, pointing to general problems and issues like: workplace and computing culture, the ability for ethical judgement, showing how global and local actions, collective and individual choices supplement each other.
The updated original online version for this book can be found at DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-35609-9_29
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Key words
References
Bayertz, K. (1995), Eine kurze Geschichte der Herkunft der Verantwortung, in K. Bayertz, ed., ‘Verantwortung: Prinzip oder Problem?’, WBG, Darmstadt, pp. 3–71.
Boedicker, D. & Biskup, H. (2000), ‘Grau ist alle Theorie’, FIJF-Kommunikation 2000 (1), 22–25.
Burke, J. (1975), Kesselexplosionen und bundesstaatliche Gewalt in den USA, in K. Hausen & R. Rürup, eds., ‘Moderne Technikgeschichte’, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Köln, pp. 314–336.
Constantine, L.L. (2001), ‘Back to the Future’, CACM44(3), 126–129.
Doubler, W. (2000), ‘Wann darf ein Arbeitnehmer ’Nein’ sagen?’, FIfF-Kommunikation 2000 (4), 29–31.
Forester, J.F. (1999), The Deliberative Practitioner. Encouraging Participatory Planning Processes. MIT Press, Cambridge/London.
Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI) (1994), Ethische Leitlinien ( Ethical Guidelines ), Bonn.
Gotterbam, D., Miller, K. & Rogerson, S. (1999), ‘Software Engineering Code of Ethics is Approved’, CACM42(10), 102–107.
Hornecker, E. & Bittner, P. (2000), ‘Vom kritischen Verhältnis zur Berufspraxis in der Informatik — Ergebnisse einer Befragung’, FIfF-Kommunikation 2000 (1), 33–39.
Kappelman, L. & Cappel, J.J. (1999), ‘The Year 2000 Problem: Ethical Implications’, Information Systems Frontiers 1 (2), 127–139.
Kelsen, H. (1941), Vergeltung und Kausalität — Eine soziologische Untersuchung, W.P. Van Stockum & Zoon, The Hague.
Kern, R. (1990), Mißbrauchsschutz für Software unter Beachtung rechtlicher, technischer und organisatorischer Aspekte, diploma thesis, FB Informatik, TH Darmstadt.
Kling. R (1996), Beyond Outlaws, Hackers and Pirates, in R. Kling, ed., Computerization and Controversy, 2“ ed., Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 848–869.
Lenk, H. & Maring, M. (1993), Verantwortung — Normatives Interpretationskonstrukt und empirische Beschreibung, in L. Eckensberger & U. Gähde, eds., ‘Ethische Norm und empirische Hypothese’, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main, pp. 222–243.
Lévy-Bruhl, L. (1884), L ‘Idée de Responsabilité, Hachette, Paris.
Lutterbeck, B. & Stransfeld, R. (1992), Ethik in der Informatik — Vom Appell zum Handeln, in W. Coy & al, eds. (1992), ‘Sichtweisen der Informatik’. Vieweg, Braunschweig/ Wiesbaden, pp. 367–378.
Lynch, W. T. & Kline, R. (2000), ‘Engineering Practice and Engineering Ethics’, Science, Technology and Human Values 25 (2), 195–225.
Nietzsche, F. (1887), Zur Genealogie der Moral, Verlag von C.G. Naumann, Leipzig.
Norman, D. (1988), The psychology of everyday things, Basic Books, New York.
Nussbaum, M. (1990), Love’s Knowledge, Oxford University Press, New York.
Picht, G. (1969), Der Begriff der Verantwortung, in G. Picht, ed., ‘Wahrheit, Vernunft, Verantwortung — Philosophische Studien’, Klett-Verlag, Stuttgart, pp. 318–342.
Reason, J. (1990), Human Error, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA.
Twisselmann, U. (2000), ‘Informatik und Arbeitsumgebungen’, FIfF-Kommunikation 2000(1), 28–31.
Weber, K. (2002), ‘Grenzen von Ethikcodizes’. Kriterion 2002 (15), 3–12.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bittner, P., Hornecker, E. (2002). Responsibility and the Work of IT-Professionals. In: Brunnstein, K., Berleur, J. (eds) Human Choice and Computers. IFIP — The International Federation for Information Processing, vol 98. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35609-9_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35609-9_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-5429-2
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-35609-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive