Ethics and Technology Ethical Theory Classified and Discussed What is the right thing and how do we know

if such act and circumstance can be considered as correct and in the most philosophical sense, ethical? Such questions are always encountered by us in the everyday setting. In the workplace, at home; or even in the most basic activities that we do in life, we are bound to answer these questions as we acknowledge the fact that we are truly facing the kind of life by which we are to be guided according to which action is right and which is considered as wrong. The ethical theories bring us the different ideas and concepts as to how one should view which one is considered good or bad. There is not one ethical theory as theories are presented and developed accordingly. Brown classifies two types of ethical theories ethics of conduct and ethics of character. From these two types of theories come other classifications of ethical theories which include that of the consequentialism and deontology in the ethics of conduct and Aristotleanism that belongs to the ethics of character. Consequentialism or the theories in which the views of ethical egoism and that of Jeremy Benthams Utilitarianism, is considered to be enacted by the agents who wishes to promote any acts of good. Consequentialism is the view that whatever values an individual or institutional agent adopts, the proper response to those values is to promote them (Darwall, 97). For most consequentialists, the good is for the maximum happiness or something similar (Brown) and it is only right thing to do is for the good is to be maximized. The same is true as this apply to the utilitarianism theory. Accordingly, the utilitarian theory would suggest that there is the formation and the practice of good so long as this applies to everybody else. Utilitarianism accepts the consequentialist prescription to maximize the good and to minimize the evil (Bykvist, 23).

The opposite to that of the consequentialist and the utilitarian can be evident to that of views of Emmanuel Kant and his views referred to as Kantianism, which belongs to that of the views of deontology. Deontology is defined by its emphasis on moral rules, most articulated in terms of rights and duties (Nadelhoffer, 360). Kantianism, which is a form of deontology, can be best referred to as the fulfillment of the categorical imperative and best focused on the essence of duties rather than the emotions and goals. Will and reason are both considered to be the most essential parts as to the fulfillment of an action. The right thing is actually performed for the sake of what is required and needed to be done. The Aristotelianism view, on the other hand, would contend to that of ethics related to character. It has the basic central question of what's the best sort of person to be? (Brown). While the rest of the other ethical theories concern themselves in the acts and conduct that people do as the basis of doing what is ethical, Aristotelianism would have to be based on the character a person should have. Why Ethical Theory? Ethical theories are wide and large interests that would have to really create a sense of knowing what is good and how such act or character is considered good. Ethics is one plain disciple that is needed to be well enhanced and considered especially in this age of information and technology. Ethical theory is basically selected for discussion herein for reasons that there is a wide sense of importance as to knowing what can be the relationships that underlie with these theories and to that of todays society. Ethical theories can simply explain and provide the essentiality of doing what is good and right as the context of todays society is faced with ethical dilemmas related to the application of the twenty-first century technology.

Ethical theory and the 21st Century technology Todays modern society is basically faced with one very common instance: the innovation of technology. We are so much attuned to the life that is dictated and built to us by technology that can even be considered as larger than life. There have been the greatest innovations that are even considered unimaginable in the past. But along with these innovations also entail ethical questioning and perspectives. The innovations of technologies are actually faced with basic arguments related to ethical theories. For instance, in the cases of todays issues on privacy and intellectual property, the role of the ethical theories herein plays to be very essential especially that there are questioning to the rightfulness of the acts such as hacking and piracy. The kind of information age that todays society has become is even more faced with dilemmas related to the application of the ethical theory. While hacking is considered to be morally correct by hackers and that piracy is even considered to be the right that is acquired from the basis of utilitarianism view of making information available to everyone as it contends to the greater good for the most number of people, the society is always faced with the morality that lies behind each action related to technology. Moral discourses are always open in todays development of technology, especially to that of the widespread of information that are essentially applied in the everyday lives of the people all around the globe.

References Brown, Curtis. Ethical Theories Compared. April 16, 2001. Web, 8 June 2011 from http://www.trinity.edu/cbrown/intro/ethical_theories.html Darwall, Stephen L. Consequentialism. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2003 Bykvist, Krister. Utilitarianism: A Guide for the Perplexed. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2010. Nadelhoffer, Thomas. Moral Psychology: Historical and Contemporary Readings. Malden, MA: John Wiley and Sons, 2010. van de Poel, Ibo amd Lambr Royakkers. Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction. Malden, MA: John Wiley and Sons, 2011 Mendina, Tom and Johannes J. Britz. Information ethics in the electronic age: current issues in Africa and the world. Ed. Ill. McFarland, 2004.