I don’t believe I use a specific framework when I determine if an action is right or wrong however, after reading the reading “A Framework for Making Ethical Decisions” I do seem to fit into a more egoistic approach of decision making. I do think I definitely use a consequentialist approach, looking at future impacts of my actions to produce the most good. I typically see actions as “right” based on my self-interests and ensure the most “pleasure” or a positive outcome for myself, my family, and my friends. I am more deliberate with the outcomes I desire and focus on the future effects of what I do.
When decisions are not specifically about my direct life I do attempt to benefit the greater good, and make a conscious effort to give back in ways that benefit a greater population than the one I just described. I think a balance between these two ways of acting, egoistic and based on the common good approach, is essential because I am the only person who will put myself first a majority of the time so I decide when my own life and happiness is more important to me than others’ and the greater good. Of course, I try to not only make these selfish decisions, otherwise I would be ostracized in most societies, so if I am willing to withstand the possible negative impact of some actions, right and wrong, then I will do those things. I do feel a responsibility to communities I am a part of to act in socially “right” ways but I will justify an action to be right if I believe it’s best for me.
I would like to choose a line of work that benefits the greater good in my work. I do think my personal “pleasure” would increase more from stopping or revealing unethical work at my job instead of not doing the ethical thing and potentially choosing to keep my job instead of the greater society impacted by my place of work. Therefore, I think I would ultimately choose actions in a greater good approach due to my priorities being egoistic in nature. I think that technology can benefit so many people and increase the common good so I think I need to make sure I am conscious of the ethical or moral impacts of my actions and the company I work for. I think acting at work in the same way I act in other communities will be a way for me to apply these frameworks to that part of my life.
I think creating a safe product requires more than just technical expertise and ability but also a moral and ethical responsibility to making decisions for the greater good of society. This applies specifically to self driving cars and our conversation about the decision to of an autonomous car to kill the driver or a group of people in the road, when forced to choose one. People designing such cars not only have to build a car capable of driving itself but also a car that makes ethical decisions. So, these people need a wider set of skills, something I think Notre Dame teaches along with the technical skill.
One of my talents would be everything I’ve learned in classes at Notre Dame, so the technical knowledge I have learned, specifically about computer science. I also have a talent in the person I have become since attending Notre Dame. I believe that Notre Dame educates the whole person, making us ethically and morally aware of how we can impact others/the world. Learning how I impact others and seeing the world from a consequentialist framework, is essential for a career in technology for the ethical and moral challenges that will arise in the near future. Many of these issues surrounding artificial intelligence and bias in machine learning will need to be solved by technology professionals.
I ultimately do try to be an ethically moral person but I strive for my own happiness first. I think to be ethically responsible is to recognize and try to act upon things that will have a positive change in the world. Being ethically responsible is fulfilling a civic duty to your greater community and the world so that your actions benefit the whole society. You must ensure your actions are ethical before acting.
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