BKCMPETH.RVW  940322
 
Prentice Hall
113 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, NJ   07632
(515) 284-6751
FAX (515) 284-2607
phyllis@prenhall.com 
70621.2737@CompuServe.COM Alan Apt
Beth Mullen-Hespe beth_hespe@prenhall.com
"Computer Ethics", Johnson, 1994, 0-13-290339-3
 
Unlike the famous quote about life in the state of nature being nasty, dull,
brutish and short, Johnson's examination of the state of ethics in computing is
readable, interesting, discerning--and short.
 
Unlike the usual treatment of ethics as proof by exhaustion, Johnson does a
complete and reasonable job.  Without recourse to mounds of collected work (of
dubious merit), the major points of professionalism, property rights, privacy,
crime, and responsibility are addressed.  Even in this brief space, ethics are
studied more rigorously than in more weighty tomes.  Not content with the usual
reliance on relativism and utilitarianism, Johnson points out the flaws in
each.
 
"Complete" is, I suppose, an overstatement.  Although it is difficult to
imagine a scenario that the book does not touch upon at some point, ultimately
this book is a good primer and discussion starter.  Although possibly the
definitive work in the field to date, it does not, in the final analysis, get
us much closer to a computer ethic.
 
Recommended.  Should be required reading for all computer science students. 
Exposure wouldn't hurt any number of professionals and executives, either.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994   BKCMPETH.RVW  940322

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DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters
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