10. The Boundaries of Cybersecurity: Ethics, Rights, and Laws 257 example, the argument, “The Bible says it is wrong so it is wrong,” assumes the Bible is the mutually understood final authority. If that is not the case, this statement moves the discussion away from the topic at hand to other debates such as evidence for the existence of God and divine revelation. Appealing to a religious text can have a meaningful place in a debate. Therefore, “the Bible says it is wrong” can be an appropriate point to make in support of an ethical argument, but it is not always persuasive as a stand alone argument. Throughout history, philosophers have sought to develop objective standards based on reason by which the morality of actions can be meaningfully explored. Table 10.1 lists four such approaches that have carried weight in societies across time: utilitarianism, social contract theory, Kantian ethics, and virtue ethics. Each takes for granted the goals of human and societal flourishing and subjugates individual choices to these higher ends, and each emphasizes different approaches to realizing these goals. All of the approaches are based on reason and each method has pros and cons. Therefore, a practical approach to evaluating an ethical grey area is to consider each philosophical perspective and see how the arguments stack up overall. They may not all agree on the conclusion, but each will help to shed light on the many different dynamics at play in any given situation. Table 10.1 Criteria for evaluating right and wrong actions. This section will provide a brief overview of each philosophy and then apply them to the following fictional ethical dilemma to help illustrate their unique contributions. Bob’s Ethical Dilemma Bob has been enjoying his cyber classes at the University. After learning so much about hacking he decided to start a penetration testing business so that he could legally exercise his newfound skills. In a recent client engagement for a non-profit, he encountered an ethical dilemma, and he needs some help resolving it.
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