CIS 12 | Scott Dexter

CIS 12/Phil 14.4 Computer Ethics
Professor Scott Dexter
Spring 2008

Writing Tutor: The philosophy department has a writing tutor available to help students in all philosophy classes (which includes this one!). Here is an information sheet about how to find him, what to bring, etc.

May 1 Your final paper assignment: Paper 3.

Apr 8 Pertaining to yesterday's discussion, you might want to check out Google's privacy channel on YouTube. Also, an interesting news item about StreetView privacy a couple days ago on Slashdot.
Mar 31 And your next paper assignment, due April 14.
Mar 26 Here are some interesting resources relevant to topics we've been discussing. First, David Wheeler has a couple noteworthy online articles: The Most Important Software Innovations, which is an actual list of innovations Wheeler compiled (according to criteria he describes in the article). Some interesting remarks about patents at the end of the article. And a compilation of quantitative data about free/open-source software -- not really making a case one way or the other, but some sometimes-surprising numbers. Also, an interesting look at software patents.
Mar 10 Note to self (and everyone else): for each of the remaining two papers in this course, you will be required to write a paragraph on the subject "Why This Paper Deserves an A." You might want to write a draft of this paragraph even before you start writing, to help yourself keep in mind what you want your paper to be like. Papers without this paragraph will obviously not receive As.
Next week's reading are quite varied, but center on the notion of software patents. For your reading journal, write on either Stallman or Graham (you'll notice that their positions are somewhat opposed).
Mar 6 For reasons I cannot begin to fathom, something's screwed up with the paper assignment below. Try this instead.
Mar 3 Here is the paper that's due next week.

Feb 18 For next week, you can do the reading journal on any one of the four assigned readings (and, of course, you can feel free to mention the other readings in the 'integration' section of your journal).
And, by the way, a more print-friendly version of the "Benefits and Risks..." paper is here

Feb 10 If you're interested in the public ICANN discussion that led up to the rejection of the application for the .xxx top-level domain, there's a transcript (it's not especially short!).

Feb 5 I suggest you do the readings this week in the order they're listed in the syllabus. Do your reading journal on either of the pieces written by the "Internet Governance Project" (I suspect the last reading will be best-suited for responding to, but I'll leave that up to you.)
You might also be interested in this short Wikipedia entry on a "good worm".
Feb 3 So, the class has been split. Those students going into the new section should have received email from the CIS department chair; if you have not received such an email, you are very likely still in this section (unless, of course, the college doesn't have a current/correct email address for you).
Jan 30 I mentioned in class that our section may be split into two; this process appears to be under way. As far as I know, the last 12 people to register for CIS 12 will be transferred to a newly created section that will meet at exactly the same time, but in a different room and with a different instructor. I'll post something here when I know for sure that this is happening. Let me know if you have any questions (but I'm not sure I'll have any answers yet...)

Jan 29 For next week, do a "three-part" (summary, integration, and reaction) reading journal on the "Crossing the Line" reading.

Jan 28 Welcome to CIS 12/Phil 14.4. Please read the syllabus. In addition, here is information about what I expect of your weekly reading journals.
In addition to posting information on this website, I will occasionally send email to the class, so please make sure you've given a functioning email address to Brooklyn College; that will make it easier for me to get urgent announcements, etc., to the entire class.

May 1	Your final paper assignment: Paper 3.
Apr 8	Pertaining to yesterday's discussion, you might want to check out Google's privacy channel on YouTube. Also, an interesting news item about StreetView privacy a couple days ago on Slashdot.
Mar 31	And your next paper assignment, due April 14.
Mar 26	Here are some interesting resources relevant to topics we've been discussing. First, David Wheeler has a couple noteworthy online articles: The Most Important Software Innovations, which is an actual list of innovations Wheeler compiled (according to criteria he describes in the article). Some interesting remarks about patents at the end of the article. And a compilation of quantitative data about free/open-source software -- not really making a case one way or the other, but some sometimes-surprising numbers. Also, an interesting look at software patents.
Mar 10	Note to self (and everyone else): for each of the remaining two papers in this course, you will be required to write a paragraph on the subject "Why This Paper Deserves an A." You might want to write a draft of this paragraph even before you start writing, to help yourself keep in mind what you want your paper to be like. Papers without this paragraph will obviously not receive As. Next week's reading are quite varied, but center on the notion of software patents. For your reading journal, write on either Stallman or Graham (you'll notice that their positions are somewhat opposed).
Mar 6	For reasons I cannot begin to fathom, something's screwed up with the paper assignment below. Try this instead.
Mar 3	Here is the paper that's due next week.
Feb 18	For next week, you can do the reading journal on any one of the four assigned readings (and, of course, you can feel free to mention the other readings in the 'integration' section of your journal). And, by the way, a more print-friendly version of the "Benefits and Risks..." paper is here
Feb 10	If you're interested in the public ICANN discussion that led up to the rejection of the application for the .xxx top-level domain, there's a transcript (it's not especially short!).
Feb 5	I suggest you do the readings this week in the order they're listed in the syllabus. Do your reading journal on either of the pieces written by the "Internet Governance Project" (I suspect the last reading will be best-suited for responding to, but I'll leave that up to you.) You might also be interested in this short Wikipedia entry on a "good worm".
Feb 3	So, the class has been split. Those students going into the new section should have received email from the CIS department chair; if you have not received such an email, you are very likely still in this section (unless, of course, the college doesn't have a current/correct email address for you).
Jan 30	I mentioned in class that our section may be split into two; this process appears to be under way. As far as I know, the last 12 people to register for CIS 12 will be transferred to a newly created section that will meet at exactly the same time, but in a different room and with a different instructor. I'll post something here when I know for sure that this is happening. Let me know if you have any questions (but I'm not sure I'll have any answers yet...)
Jan 29	For next week, do a "three-part" (summary, integration, and reaction) reading journal on the "Crossing the Line" reading.
Jan 28	Welcome to CIS 12/Phil 14.4. Please read the syllabus. In addition, here is information about what I expect of your weekly reading journals. In addition to posting information on this website, I will occasionally send email to the class, so please make sure you've given a functioning email address to Brooklyn College; that will make it easier for me to get urgent announcements, etc., to the entire class.