CISC 355: Computers, Ethics, and Society

Fall 2011
Instructor: Richard Gordon

Instructor:
Richard Gordon
Office: 227LL UDCC (192 S. Chapel St.)
Office Hours: Wed noon - 1pm, Perkins "Scrounge" & by appointment
Phone: (302) 831-1717

T.A./Grader:

Brad Fletcher
Office: 103 Smith Hall (TA Room)
Office Hours: 103 Smith Hall, Tu, Th 1-2pm

Meeting Information:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00 - 6:15 p.m.
220 Smith Hall

Required Texts:

Quinn, M. (2010) Ethics for the Information Age (4th edition). (Quinn)

Singh, S. (1999) The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography. (Singh)

An assortment of readings on the World-Wide Web.

Participation in the class online activities linked from http://sakai.udel.edu.

The syllabus will be updated throughout the semester. Check the on-line version of the syllabus (http://www.udel.edu/richard/cisc355/syl.html) for the most recent reading assignments. Check the Tests & Quizzes and the Assignments areas in Sakai for "deliverables" that you must complete (Quizzes, Projects, Tests, Etc.).
This Syllabus was last updated on 11/27/11.

Date Assignment

Th 9/1

Before coming to class, please complete this short survey.
Before coming to class, please read/review this material:

NYU Prof Vows Never to Probe Cheating Again--and Faces a Backlash (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 7/21/11)
An E-Mail Experiment Helps a Duke Economist Ponder His Students' Cheating Hearts (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8/10/11)
Plagiarism Line Blurs for students in Digital Age (NY Times 8/1/10)
Quinn's appenidix on Plagiarism: Quinn pp. 487-489.
How social media are amplifying customer outrage (CNN.com 7/22/11)
What Would God Say About File-Sharing? (torrentfreak.com 8/15/10)
What's Facebook's Effect on Kids? (MIT Technology Review 8/9/11)
Computers rule Wall Street (CNN Money 8/12/11)
This 1-panel cartoon (Katherine Selkesky 2009).
Fox Claims Wikipedia Whitewashes Obama's Past (Wired 3/9/09; updated 3/10/09)
Oh, what the heck. Review this xkcd cartoon, too.

There's even a minor quiz waiting for you in the Tests & Quizzes area of our class Sakai area.
Contact your instructor ahead of time if family obligations, Eid-al-Fitr, or other major issues will delay your return to campus.

Tu 9/6

Quick History Lesson (Part 1): Quinn pp. 1-32
Key Milestones in the development of Internet (alternate copy) (AP 8/30/09) and Hobbes' Internet Timeline v8.2 (Robert H'obbes' Zakon 2006)
Why Amish businesses don't fail (CNN Money 5/10/10)
Discussion of how we'll monitor current events
Discussion of Google Groups & other possible tools

Th 9/8

Quick History Lesson (Part 2): Quinn pp. 32-52
Continue discussion of Key Milestones in the development of Internet (alternate copy) (AP 8/30/09) and Hobbes' Internet Timeline v8.2 (Robert H'obbes' Zakon 2006)
Building smarter machines (NY Times 6/24/10)
Five billionth device about to plug into the Internet (Network World 8/16/10)
Why Your Battery Life is Terrible, in One Handy Chart (MIT Technology Review 8/11/11)

Tu 9/13

Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. xiii-xvii, 1-25
Introduction to Ethics: Quinn pp. 53-56.
What is Ethics? (Santa Clara University, 1987)

Th 9/15

Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. 26-44
Introduction to Ethics: Quinn pp. 56-60
Read the first two paragraphs of IEP's Ethics article. (Note the entire article is due 10/13.)

Tu 9/20

Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. 45-63
Introduction to Ethics: Relativism: Quinn pp. 60-66
Introduction to Ethics: With God on our Side: Quinn pp. 66-69
Mayor Bloomberg hosts annual Ramadan Iftar dinner at Gracie Mansion (8/24/10): YouTube version; Printed version

Th 9/22

Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh read pp. 63-82, skim pp. 82-100 (note first full paragraph on p. 95)
Introduction to Ethics: Egoism: Quinn pp. 69-71

Tu 9/27

Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. 101-142
Introduction to Ethics: Kant & the Categorical Imperative: Quinn pp. 71-76

Th 9/29

Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. 143-189
Introduction to Ethics: Utilitarianism: Quinn pp. 76-85

Contact your instructor ahead of time if you require an excused absence for Rosh Hashanah.

Tu 10/4

Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh p. 191 - end of 1st paragraph on p. 202
Introduction to Ethics: Social Contract Theory: Quinn pp. 85-93

Virtue Ethics: Quinn: pp. 411-414

Th 10/6

Ethics of Care (aka "feminist ethics"):
Robert Cavalier's Ethics of Care (Carnegie Mellon University 2002)
Feminist Ethics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [2009])

Walter Maner's Summary of Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

Tu 10/11

Another Perspective on Ethical Decision-Making: Chapter 1 from Rushworth Kidder's How Good People Make Tough Choices (Institute for Global Ethics 1995, revised 2005)

Th 10/13

The Ethical Toolkit: Quinn pp. 93-97

Summary, questions and Interview with James Moor: Quinn pp. 97-108
The Biology of Ethics (Christopher Shea, The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 12, 2011)
How to persuade (Lincoln Mullen, The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 18, 2011) Skim the comments, too--especially the one about "mythos."

Tu 10/18

Make sure you have read all of the IEP article about Ethics.
Review for midterm
Midterm released

Th 10/20

Network Issues (Part 1): Quinn pp. 109-125, 140-144

Sa 10/22

Midterm due by noon so I stand some chance of grading it by 10/25!

Tu 10/25

Discuss mid-term
If all decryption projects are in, discuss decryption project

Th 10/27

If we didn't talk about the decryption project on 10/24, we'll discuss it today
Network Issues (Part 2): Quinn pp. 122-156

Tu 11/1

Intellectual Property (Part 1): Quinn pp. 157-178

Th 11/3

Intellectual Property (Part 2): Quinn pp. 179-190
Intellectual Property (Part 3): Quinn pp. 191-218

Tu 11/8

Privacy (Part 1): Quinn pp. 219-240
Singh: start reading chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 243-316)

Th 11/10

Privacy (Part 2): Quinn pp. 240-273
Singh: keep reading chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 243-316)

Tu 11/15

Privacy & Encryption (Part 3): Quinn pp. 273-300
Singh: Chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 243-316) due

Th 11/17

Review for 2nd mid-term
Finish Privacy & Encryption
Computer & Network Security: Quinn pp. 301-328

Tu 11/22
Th 11/24

No class. Thanksgiving Break.
Second Midterm due any time before 6:01 pm on Monday, 11/28.

Tu 11/29

Computer & Network Security: review Quinn pp. 301-328 and read pp. 328-349.
No Quiz. Probable in class exercise.

Th 12/1

Computer Reliability (and Liability): Quinn pp. 351-396.

Tu 12/6

Professional Ethics: Quinn pp. 397-442.
On line course evaluation due by midnight Thu 12/8. (2 points daily work credit)

Fr 12/9
7-9pm

Final "Due" (Last possible date to turn it in: 6:01 pm M 12/12--no late penalty, but no wiggle room, either)
Work and Wealth: Quinn pp. 443-486.
Quantum Cryptography: Singh: pp. 317-350 and Is Quantum Computing real? (Julie Sartain, Network World, 9/26/11). You may also find this article helpful: Researchers take a step ahead in quantum computing (Agam Shah, IDG News Service, reprinted in NetworkWorld, 11/14/08).

Return to CISC355 Main Page

Date	Assignment
Th 9/1	Before coming to class, please complete this short survey. Before coming to class, please read/review this material: NYU Prof Vows Never to Probe Cheating Again--and Faces a Backlash (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 7/21/11) An E-Mail Experiment Helps a Duke Economist Ponder His Students' Cheating Hearts (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8/10/11) Plagiarism Line Blurs for students in Digital Age (NY Times 8/1/10) Quinn's appenidix on Plagiarism: Quinn pp. 487-489. How social media are amplifying customer outrage (CNN.com 7/22/11) What Would God Say About File-Sharing? (torrentfreak.com 8/15/10) What's Facebook's Effect on Kids? (MIT Technology Review 8/9/11) Computers rule Wall Street (CNN Money 8/12/11) This 1-panel cartoon (Katherine Selkesky 2009). Fox Claims Wikipedia Whitewashes Obama's Past (Wired 3/9/09; updated 3/10/09) Oh, what the heck. Review this xkcd cartoon, too. There's even a minor quiz waiting for you in the Tests & Quizzes area of our class Sakai area. Contact your instructor ahead of time if family obligations, Eid-al-Fitr, or other major issues will delay your return to campus.
Tu 9/6	Quick History Lesson (Part 1): Quinn pp. 1-32 Key Milestones in the development of Internet (alternate copy) (AP 8/30/09) and Hobbes' Internet Timeline v8.2 (Robert H'obbes' Zakon 2006) Why Amish businesses don't fail (CNN Money 5/10/10) Discussion of how we'll monitor current events Discussion of Google Groups & other possible tools
Th 9/8	Quick History Lesson (Part 2): Quinn pp. 32-52 Continue discussion of Key Milestones in the development of Internet (alternate copy) (AP 8/30/09) and Hobbes' Internet Timeline v8.2 (Robert H'obbes' Zakon 2006) Building smarter machines (NY Times 6/24/10) Five billionth device about to plug into the Internet (Network World 8/16/10) Why Your Battery Life is Terrible, in One Handy Chart (MIT Technology Review 8/11/11)
Tu 9/13	Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. xiii-xvii, 1-25 Introduction to Ethics: Quinn pp. 53-56. What is Ethics? (Santa Clara University, 1987)
Th 9/15	Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. 26-44 Introduction to Ethics: Quinn pp. 56-60 Read the first two paragraphs of IEP's Ethics article. (Note the entire article is due 10/13.)
Tu 9/20	Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. 45-63 Introduction to Ethics: Relativism: Quinn pp. 60-66 Introduction to Ethics: With God on our Side: Quinn pp. 66-69 Mayor Bloomberg hosts annual Ramadan Iftar dinner at Gracie Mansion (8/24/10): YouTube version; Printed version
Th 9/22	Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh read pp. 63-82, skim pp. 82-100 (note first full paragraph on p. 95) Introduction to Ethics: Egoism: Quinn pp. 69-71
Tu 9/27	Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. 101-142 Introduction to Ethics: Kant & the Categorical Imperative: Quinn pp. 71-76
Th 9/29	Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh pp. 143-189 Introduction to Ethics: Utilitarianism: Quinn pp. 76-85 Contact your instructor ahead of time if you require an excused absence for Rosh Hashanah.
Tu 10/4	Case Study: History of Encryption: Singh p. 191 - end of 1st paragraph on p. 202 Introduction to Ethics: Social Contract Theory: Quinn pp. 85-93 Virtue Ethics: Quinn: pp. 411-414
Th 10/6	Ethics of Care (aka "feminist ethics"): Robert Cavalier's Ethics of Care (Carnegie Mellon University 2002) Feminist Ethics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [2009]) Walter Maner's Summary of Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
Tu 10/11	Another Perspective on Ethical Decision-Making: Chapter 1 from Rushworth Kidder's How Good People Make Tough Choices (Institute for Global Ethics 1995, revised 2005)
Th 10/13	The Ethical Toolkit: Quinn pp. 93-97 Summary, questions and Interview with James Moor: Quinn pp. 97-108 The Biology of Ethics (Christopher Shea, The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 12, 2011) How to persuade (Lincoln Mullen, The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 18, 2011) Skim the comments, too--especially the one about "mythos."
Tu 10/18	Make sure you have read all of the IEP article about Ethics. Review for midterm Midterm released
Th 10/20	Network Issues (Part 1): Quinn pp. 109-125, 140-144
Sa 10/22	Midterm due by noon so I stand some chance of grading it by 10/25!
Tu 10/25	Discuss mid-term If all decryption projects are in, discuss decryption project
Th 10/27	If we didn't talk about the decryption project on 10/24, we'll discuss it today Network Issues (Part 2): Quinn pp. 122-156
Tu 11/1	Intellectual Property (Part 1): Quinn pp. 157-178
Th 11/3	Intellectual Property (Part 2): Quinn pp. 179-190 Intellectual Property (Part 3): Quinn pp. 191-218
Tu 11/8	Privacy (Part 1): Quinn pp. 219-240 Singh: start reading chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 243-316)
Th 11/10	Privacy (Part 2): Quinn pp. 240-273 Singh: keep reading chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 243-316)
Tu 11/15	Privacy & Encryption (Part 3): Quinn pp. 273-300 Singh: Chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 243-316) due
Th 11/17	Review for 2nd mid-term Finish Privacy & Encryption Computer & Network Security: Quinn pp. 301-328
Tu 11/22 Th 11/24	No class. Thanksgiving Break. Second Midterm due any time before 6:01 pm on Monday, 11/28.
Tu 11/29	Computer & Network Security: review Quinn pp. 301-328 and read pp. 328-349. No Quiz. Probable in class exercise.
Th 12/1	Computer Reliability (and Liability): Quinn pp. 351-396.
Tu 12/6	Professional Ethics: Quinn pp. 397-442. On line course evaluation due by midnight Thu 12/8. (2 points daily work credit)
Fr 12/9 7-9pm	Final "Due" (Last possible date to turn it in: 6:01 pm M 12/12--no late penalty, but no wiggle room, either) Work and Wealth: Quinn pp. 443-486. Quantum Cryptography: Singh: pp. 317-350 and Is Quantum Computing real? (Julie Sartain, Network World, 9/26/11). You may also find this article helpful: Researchers take a step ahead in quantum computing (Agam Shah, IDG News Service, reprinted in NetworkWorld, 11/14/08).