Association for Information Systems AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) International Conference on Electronic Business ICEB 2006 Proceedings (ICEB) Fall 11-28-2006 Defining Cyberethics Olli Mäkinen PhD Jyri Naarmala Follow this and additional works at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/iceb2006 This material is brought to you by the International Conference on Electronic Business (ICEB) at AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). It has been accepted for inclusion in ICEB 2006 Proceedings by an authorized administrator of AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). For more information, please contact [email protected]. FRONTIERS OF E-BUSINESS RESEARCH 2006 Defining Cyberethics Olli Mäkinen1; Jyri Naarmala2 1 PhD, The Tritonia Academic Library, Vaasa, [email protected] 2 M.Sc. (Admin.), University of Vaasa, [email protected] Abstract — Focus of this paper is on ethical issues related to is surprisingly fast [10]. Pragmatism is also based on the era of Internet, e.g. cyberethics. Approach used in this scientific optimism [11], where it can be said that pragmatic paper is phenomenology, whereas definitions of cyberethics ethics reflects advances in IT. are discussed from the viewpoint of pragmatic ethics, while There is a common principle that applies on both Internet questioning existing basic values in society and proportion and information technology in general. As soon as a new these into pragmatic, de facto ideology. Resulting comparison technology is being introduced, everyone is eager to utilize provides conceptual analysis on cyberethics as well as provides new perspectives on research on cyberethics. This it as soon as possible. There are no significant attempts in paper demonstrates, that there exists a conflict between creating standards to follow, but instead solutions created pragmatic and general moral law, which is foundational one. by one vendor will quite soon become “de facto standards”. Application is being accepted by general public without Keywords — Cyberethics, Virtuality, eSociety, Self being defined and accepted officially, because this would regulation, De facto ethics. take too much time. Similar de facto –practice appears to exist in moral issues I. INTRODUCTION related to Internet. Moral codes are being molded and This paper focuses on ethical issues closely related to the introduced taking only pragmatic issues into account. era of Internet, e.g. cyberethics. In this paper the authors a) Actors are everything but professionals. A new moral is provide a definition of cyberethics from the viewpoint of being created in Internet all the time; new virtual pragmatic ethics, and b) discuss certain basic values communities are being born all the time, and these form (democracy, freedom of speech, equity) and proportion rules and practices, which depart greatly from commonly these into pragmatic, de facto ideology. Resulting accepted ethical codes in society. From ethical viewpoint comparison will provide following contributions; a) this phenomenon is interesting – it appears that everything conceptual analysis on cyberethics and b) new perspectives is happening faster in Internet [12]. Pragmatism is suitable on cyberethics research. way for describing the development of Internet, all de facto Methodologically this study is phenomenological one. practices, which are being measured based on their According to Gilles Deleuze, philosophy is needed suitability alone. Likewise, the concept of self regulation is especially in situations, where new phenomena already more than applicable with pragmatic ethics. exist, and both concepts and words are swaming in space. It Self regulation creates ethical codes while at the same is philosophy’s duty to clarify situation [1]. This study time influences existing regulations, norms taking shape. accepts the challenge proposed by Deleuze (as well as Félix This type of action is very Hobbesian by nature. There Guattari) – after all, virtual reality is one metaphor for exists pragmatic de facto ideology behind self regulation. A dimension like space. Phenomenological bracketing was justified question stated is: what basic values self regulation chosen as a research method particularly because of “being takes into account and which it chooses to ignore? One behindhand” [2]. In phenomenology central concepts or could argue that binding moral values into consequences of phenomena are taken into consideration from different actions is basically simplifying ethics. Ethics, which studies perspectives. It is quite obvious that for example concept consequences (pragmatism, de facto), aims to be able to “digital divide” has a number of meanings depending on estimate and evaluate consequences of actions. Thus chosen discipline, or viewpoint. In phenomenological everything is measured in money (or by effectiviness). reduction attempt to define significance and discipline When considering possible consequences of action and becomes a systematic attempt on controlling chaos [3]. compatibility with existing moral law, for example violence Defining the cyberethics is a cross-disciplinary project. provided by Internet does not gain amnesty – even in cases Topic is related to such concepts as internet ethics, self where a proof about caused damages can not be given [13]. regulation, game theory, plagiarism, trust and privacy, In this study authors analyze chosen basic values digital divide, professional ethics, surveillance and (democracy, freedom of speech, equity) and proportion regulations related to freedom of speech, to name a few. these to pragmatic de facto ideology. As a result, this study These are very common topics in publications concentrated provides a comparison which illuminates a) basic concepts on internet ethics [4]-[8]. in detail, and b) opens new perspectives for research in According to pragmatism, values are being tested all the cyberethics. Authors will demonstrate that there exists a time with reality [9]. This is to say that pragmatism does conflict between pragmatic and general moral law, which is not accept any permanent values, and therefore it is suitable foundational one. Explanatory power of pragmatism is for describing virtual ethics and reality. Usually greater though. development in value hierarchies is slow, but sometimes it FRONTIERS OF E-BUSINESS RESEARCH 2006 II. METHOD III. THE ETERNAL RETURN IN CYBERETHICS – Phenomenology can be called eidetics, which means that FREEDOM OF SPEECH it is possible with the assistance of the eidetic reduction to The history of mankind is filled with myths of eternal reach the essence of the things and phenomena [14]. In his return (Spengler, Nietzsche, Antics, Christianity etc.). But earlier studies Edmund Husserl (The Idea of it is not only in mythology and fairy tales that this theme is Phenomenology) [15] claims that the universal is seen in constantly repeated. It is possible to find the same model in the individual. The move from the individual intuition to science, too. In his book The Structure of Scientific the grasp of the universal is a move to grasp the essence. Revolutions (1962) Thomas Kuhn presents the idea that Husserl calls this “method” eidetic intuition. Husserl science does not progress via a linear accumulation of new believed that it was possible to have an insight into the knowledge, but instead undergoes periodic revolutions essential nature of things. He argued that these essences which he calls "paradigm shifts", in which the nature of could be seen in a manner analogous to perceptual seeing scientific inquiry within a particular field is abruptly of a physical object [16]. This eidetic seeing is what transformed [21]. The paradigmatic shifts are preceded by Husserl calls seeing essence or essential seeing. periods of stagnation. The progress of science, as Kuhn The traditional phenomenological method turns describes it, can be seen in a circular way, the scientific problematic when cyberethics is defined. In our opinion revolution always returns, it had to take place. cyberethics is not a concept or an idea but an ongoing The same phenomenon can be seen in the products of all dynamic process that is almost impossible to grasp by creative activities. The creative periods are always followed means of a model, for instance. Things that are changing by stagnation and institutionalization. The corresponding irregularly all the time can be handled in the same way as development is to be discerned in all social, cultural and Zeno tried to deny the motion. In his aporia or paradox technical phenomena – and in the arts [22]. Many of the about the arrow that never gets to the target Zeno claimed cultural structures and phenomena can be seen and that at any point in time a moving object must be at rest described with the help of the eternal return (repetition) [17]. That’s how the models are constructed, they require [23]. an infinite amount of “rest positions”, whereas we suppose The same concerns the Internet. Upon the introduction of that cyberethics is an entity that is changing all the time. Internet, many pioneers of the information age had high How is it possible then to define such a phenomenon? We hopes for it. Maybe the Internet didn’t fulfil those need to take an ontological standpoint. We don’t ask what expectations. People were talking about increased cyberethics is but how it is. The crucial question is how democracy and freedom, better possibilities in all social cyberethics exists? participation and communication and so forth, basically When defining cyberethics we are not trying to gain the about about the