Question 1

According to Deborah G. Johnson in "Privacy and Internet Ethics" one of the central moral objections to the infringement on privacy committed by the increasing use of technology is:

Accepted Answer

According to Johnson, one of the central moral objections to the infringement on privacy is that we need privacy and the capacity to control the information we provide in relationships in order to operate as autonomous beings. Without privacy, we are at risk of losing our autonomy and being subject to manipulation or control by others.

Question 2

A primary concern in "Intellectual Property and Pharmaceutical Drugs: An Ethical Analysis", is that profits should never trump the right to basic health care and access to medicine.

Accepted Answer

The article argues that access to medicine and basic health care is a fundamental right that should not be sacrificed for the sake of profits in the pharmaceutical industry.

Question 3

Werhane and Gorman do not argue the notion that, in the short-run, the elimination of patent laws would benefit consumers by way of lower drug costs but that long-term effects may not be as favorable.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately summarizes the argument of Werhane and Gorman regarding the potential impact of eliminating patent laws on drug costs in the short-term versus the long-term.

Question 4

According to "Internet Content Providers and Complicity in Human Rights Abuse," Jeffery D. Smith sees which of these actions as a potential violation of human rights

Accepted Answer

Jeffery D. Smith considers all of the listed actions as potential violations of human rights, as filtering information restricts access to information and freedom of expression, turning over personal information for prosecution eliminates privacy rights and poses a risk of torture or other cruel punishments, and gathering information about individuals' internet activities violates their right to privacy.

Question 5

According to "Internet Content Providers and Complicity in Human Rights Abuse," Jeffery D. Smith would likely contend that direct violations are the most morally problematic form of complicity in human rights violations

Accepted Answer

According to the title, "Internet Content Providers and Complicity in Human Rights Abuse," it can be inferred that Jeffery D. Smith would focus on the role of internet content providers in contributing to human rights violations. Therefore, he would likely argue that direct violations, which involve actively participating in the abuse, are the most morally problematic form of complicity.

Question 6

Jeffrey Smith cites regulatory efforts to block access to Web sites, filter information, shut down information portals, and gather information off the Internet on activities of individuals as a violation of basic human rights.

Accepted Answer

Jeffrey Smith believes that these regulatory efforts are a violation of basic human rights.

Question 7

the panoptic gaze is highlighted as a metaphor in "Privacy and Internet Ethics" to demonstrate notions of power and control by organizations and institutions.

Accepted Answer

The panoptic gaze is indeed highlighted as a metaphor in "Privacy and Internet Ethics" to illustrate how organizations and institutions exert power and control through surveillance and monitoring.

Question 8

De George explains that the Orphan Drug Act encourages and provides incentives for pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs to treat small markets unlikely to allow for profit.

Accepted Answer

De George clearly states that the Orphan Drug Act incentivizes pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for small markets that would not likely yield profit, indicating that the statement is true.

Question 9

Deborah Johnson, in line with her essay, "Privacy and Internet Ethics", would determine that facts in the case "Privacy at MyFriends.com" call for immediate discontinuation of the social networks' use of the developers sharing personal information.

Accepted Answer

Deborah Johnson's essay "Privacy and Internet Ethics" does not specifically address the case "Privacy at MyFriends.com," so it cannot be definitively stated that she would call for the discontinuation of the social network's practices based on that essay alone.

Question 10

Werhane and Gorman would argue that in the case "Patents and the African AIDS Epidemic", pharmaceutical companies are obliged to creatively seek out ways to provide easier and more affordable AIDS treatment to developing nations.

Accepted Answer

Werhane and Gorman argue that pharmaceutical companies have a moral obligation to address the AIDS epidemic in developing nations by finding innovative ways to provide affordable treatment.

Question 11

In "Internet Content Providers and Complicity in Human Rights Abuse," Jeffery D. Smith argues that ICPs operating in China:

Accepted Answer

Smith argues that Internet Content Providers should passively resist laws leading to human rights violations by adhering only to explicit demands, rather than proactively seeking ways to comply or ceasing operations altogether.

Question 12

"Social media and the Modern Worker" highlights several examples of employees being fired over content on their Facebook pages but only for specifically disparaging their employer.

Accepted Answer

The article "Social Media and the Modern Worker" discusses various instances where employees were terminated for content on their Facebook pages, which includes a range of reasons beyond just disparaging their employer, such as posting inappropriate content or violating company policies.

Question 13

In "Privacy and Internet Ethics", Deborah Johnson's main argument for the continued use of technology to mine greater amounts of personal data is that if people are doing nothing wrong, there is really no need to worry.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not accurate to Johnson's argument in "Privacy and Internet Ethics." Johnson argues for finding a balance between the benefits of collecting personal data and respecting individuals' privacy rights. She also emphasizes that the collection of personal data must be done with transparency and accountability to avoid potential abuses. She does not suggest that personal data collection should continue without consideration for ethical concerns.

Question 14

In "Intellectual Property Rights, Moral Imagination, and Access to Life-Enhancing Drugs" the central thesis that Patricia H. Werhane and Michael E. Gorman argue for is:

Accepted Answer

Werhane and Gorman argue for the development of a new mental model that involves collaboration among various stakeholders to address public health crises, such as the AIDS epidemic, emphasizing the need for collective action towards a shared objective.

Question 15

In "Intellectual Property and Pharmaceutical Drugs: An Ethical Analysis", De George might summarize the standard argument for intellectual property rights as one of justice and utilitarian concerns.

Accepted Answer

De George argues that the standard argument for intellectual property rights is based on considerations of justice and utilitarian concerns, as it is seen as a way to incentivize innovation and ensure fair compensation for creators of intellectual property.

Question 16

De George laments that the U.S Government does nothing to encourage the development of drugs to treat those living in tropical, developing countries and assumes the governments in such countries are responsible for research and development regarding treatment of their citizens.

Accepted Answer

De George argues that both the U.S government and the governments of tropical, developing countries are not doing enough to encourage the development of drugs to treat their citizens. He says that private corporations are not incentivized to invest in such research and development because there is not enough of a profit motive.

Question 17

Advances in technology, as highlighted by Johnson in "Privacy and Internet Ethics", have allowed us to all but erase the effect of erroneous information on individuals' lives.

Accepted Answer

Johnson actually argues the opposite, stating that technology has made it easier for erroneous information to spread and have a significant impact on individuals' lives.

Question 18

Copyright and patent laws, as pointed out by Werhane and Gorman, are unique to the U.S. and aren't found elsewhere in the world.

Accepted Answer

Copyright and patent laws exist in various forms in many countries around the world, not just in the U.S. However, the specifics of these laws, as well as their enforcement, can vary greatly from country to country.

Question 19

Taking away intellectual property protection, as suggested in "Intellectual Property Rights, Moral Imagination, and Access to Life-Enhancing Drugs", may serve to actually increase health disparities between developed and developing nations.

Accepted Answer

Intellectual property protection provides an incentive for companies to invest in research and development of life-enhancing drugs. Without this protection, companies may not have the same financial motivation to invest in these drugs, which could decrease accessibility and increase health disparities between developed and developing nations.

Question 20

According to Richard T. De George in "Intellectual Property and Pharmaceutical Drugs: An Ethical Analysis" pharmaceutical companies justify their high profits by arguing that:

Accepted Answer

De George argues that pharmaceutical companies justify their high profits by claiming that they need those profits to support continued research and development, which is a risky and expensive endeavor. This argument suggests that without the promise of high profits, there would be less investment in new drug development, and therefore fewer new drugs available to improve public health. While there may be other factors influencing drug prices and profits, this argument is one of the key justifications offered by the pharmaceutical industry.

Quiz 7: Ethical Issues Regarding Emerging Technologies