That’s the information in the syllabus : Case Studies. You will analyze nine case studies in the form of news commentaries, extra readings or current ethical issues. Your lowest single score will be dropped. I do not accept late assignments for any excuse, including computer problems. Case studies are posted on the course website each week on a Monday or a Wednesday and due one week later before class. Case studies are submitted online from any computer connected to the Internet.

Note that I am particularly picky in how you use sources for your answers to case studies. I want your words. You may quote to illustrate a point, but you must make that point in your own words. Any quotes must be marked. Comments and your grade will be attached to your online submission, and you can view it from the website if you are logged on. Only you can see the grade and the feedback.

Thats the Case study assignments down

Case Study 1: The Age of Moral Machines

resources.

Moral theory

robotic timeline

Hans Moravec’s homepage

THE THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. 1941-1950.ORIGINAL VERSION

1. A robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

SECOND VERSION

1. No robot may harm a human being.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

THIRD VERSION

1. No Machine may harm humanity; or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The “Three Laws of Robotics” is Asimov’s underlying moral system for the robots in his science fiction work I, Robot. Humans program the robots with three inviolate laws. Throughout the course of the book the Three Laws evolve from the original to the final (third) version. Humans make the first alteration. Robots make the final alteration. Notice that the only difference between the three versions is the First Law. Answer the following questions about Asimov’s moral system. Submit your answers online. You may cut and paste into the answer field.

1. Categorize the original version by one of the moral theories discussed in class (deontology, utilitarianism, rights theory, social contract theory, etc.). Justify your choice. 
2. Categorize the third version by one of the moral theories discussed in class. Justify your choice. 
3. Under which version could a robot directly harm one human to save another?
4. What would a robot do in a situation where two people are at risk and only one can be saved? State the version you are appealing to. 
5. Read “Robot Dreams” by Asimov. In this short story a rogue robot “dreams” a new moral system for robots. Which ethical theory best categorizes this new moral system?

Question 1. 1. According to Caroline Heldman, which of the following is a question that applies to her sexual object test? (Points : 1)Does the image show people having sex?Does the image show a person as something that can be bought or sold?Does the image display a full image of a woman?Does the image display violence against people in the image? Question 2. 2. What would best express Colonel Nicholson’s (Alec Guinness) view regarding what makes a soldier, as expressed in the The Bridge on the River Kwaiclip? (Points : 1)The virtues of a good soldier are consistent no matter the circumstance.A good solider only acts virtuously when it benefits himself and his country.The good soldier regards the enemy as having less intrinsic worth than one’s own people.All of the above. Question 3. 3. In 2003, how many people died in Canada, according to the video “Dying for Care: Quality Palliative and End of Life Care in Canada”? (Points : 1)350,0002.2 million750,000226,000 Question 4. 4. What is Tom Regan’s position about the use of animals in research and agriculture? (Points : 1)Animals should be used whenever it can be proven that the human benefits outweigh the harms caused to the animalsAnimals should never be used for medical research or commercial agricultureAnimals should only be used for medical research shown to be beneficial to humanity, never for agricultureAnimals should be used in both medical research and agriculture but should be treated as humanely as possible Question 5. 5. According to the video, “Religion, War, and Violence,” for a war to be considered just, it must (Points : 1)be aimed at repelling aggressionhave a strong probability of successmust be only used as a last resortall of the above Question 6. 6. In the Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals we find that to act on ‘duty’ is (Points : 1)to act from a self-seeking purposeto act because you want toto act out of respect for lawto act out of the fear of God Question 7. 7. The Ring of Gyges gave the shepherd who found it (Points : 1)IntelligenceInvincibilityInvisibilityWisdom  Question 8. 8. What is Tom Regan’s main criticism of the contractarian approach to ethical duties? (Points : 1)It works fine for humans without problems, but it has not yet been applied to animalsIt ignores the importance of pain and suffering when it comes to ethicsIt would allow all kinds of human injustice if a stronger group is able to oppress the members of a weaker group of peopleHe does not criticize it; he things that contractarianism, if properly understood, represents the most rational approach to ethical problems Question 9. 9. Tom Regan’s view of animals is that (Points : 1)They are important but not quite as important as human beingsThey have rights, which means that they should never be used for human purposesThey may be ethically used because they were bred and raised for that purposeThat they may be eaten because do not have souls like we do and are lower on the food chain Question 10. 10. Kant explains that respect for a person is: (Points : 1)the recognition of the worth of the person’s potential contribution to society.dependent upon whether the person respects others.both A and Bnone of the above. Question 11. 11. According to Kant, the moral worth of an action: (Points : 1)lies in its conformity to the moral law.lies in the value of the expected result.lies in its conformity to God’s commands.lies in its usefulness to society. Question 12. 12. According to Robinson, a person who has integrity is someone who: (Points : 1)Does what is right, only if it is approved of by othersDoes what is right, even when it is disapproved of by othersDoes what is right, only when commanded to do soDoes what is right, unless they are commanded to do otherwiseNone of the above Question 13. 13. Kenneth Anderson argues that the fact that drones make the resort to force easier (Points : 1)means that enemies will always be too afraid to attack usdoes not mean that drones make the resort to force too easymeans that we should instead favor cruise missilesall of the above Question 14. 14. Gilligan claims that females tend to see relationships as these (Points : 1)hierarchieswebsrulesduties Question 15. 15. The conventional doctrine is endorsed by: (Points : 1)Rachels.the American Medical Association.both a and b.neither a nor b. Question 16. 16. In the video “Drones Are Not Ethical and Effective,” Jeremy Waldron argues that drones are not ethical because their use involves (Points : 1)total transparency and accountabilitythe assurance that only combatants will be targetedthe maintenance of a secret death list by government authoritiesall of the above Question 17. 17. This product was pulled from Abercrombie and Fitch stores based on protests through a blog (Points : 1)lingeriedeep V-neck t-shirtspadded swimsuit tops for toddlersyoga pants Question 18. 18. Glaukon seems to think that people are (Points : 1)Naturally benevolentNaturally piousNaturally justNaturally egocentric Question 19. 19. According to John Stuart Mill, utilitarianism takes into account the happiness of: (Points : 1)only the agent. only the agent and those the agent cares about.everyone, but weights the happiness of the agent more heavily.everyone, and weights everyone’s happiness equally. Question 20. 20. Kant argues that when I find someone in need: (Points : 1)I should give whatever spare resources I have unless it makes me worse off than the person I’m trying to help.I should consider a world in which no one helped me when I was in need, recognize that I could never will such a world, and help them in the best way that I can.I should sympathize with them, but recognize that the world is better off overall if we each only look after our own interests.I should remember that as autonomous beings they are responsible for their own situation, and thus that I have no responsibility to help them out.