Ethics (III) The Attached Ethics-III Download

Ethics (III) The attached Ethics-III.pdf Download Ethics-III.pdf continues the discussion on what other ethical obligations software engineers are under. Then proceed to answer the questions inside the reading: Questions 5.1 - 5.12 Because for many ethics questions there is no absolutely right or wrong answers as such, your responses will be graded based on completeness and thoughtfulness as opposed to rote or perfunctory ones. There are three grade levels for this assignment based on your responses to all the questions: 20 (no reasoning in responses), 35 (minimal to little reasoning), and 50 (sufficient reasoning and consideration). Write your answers in a Word file using Times New Roman font (no smaller than 10 pt but no bigger than 12 pt), single spacing, 1" margins on all sides. AT LEAST 3 PAGES. Question 5.1: How would a conscious habit of thinking about how to be a better human being contribute to a person’s character, especially over time? Question 5:2: Do you know what specific aspects of your character you would need to work on/improve in order to become a better person? (Yes or No) Question 5:3: Do you think most people make enough of a regular effort to work on their character or amend their shortcomings? Do you think we are morally obligated to make the effort to become better people? Why or why not? Question 5:4: Who do you consider a model of moral excellence that you see as an example of how to live, and whose qualities of character you would like to cultivate? Who would you want your children (or future children) to see as examples of such human (and especially moral) excellence? Question 5:5: What would be the hardest part of living by the utilitarian principle of the ‘greatest good’? What would be the most rewarding part? Question 5:6: What different kinds of pleasure/happiness are there? Are some pleasures more or less valuable or of higher or lower quality than others? Why or why not? Explain your intuitions about this: Question 5:7: Utilitarians think that pleasure and the absence of pain are the highest goods that we can seek in life, and that we should always be seeking to produce these goods for others (and for ourselves). They claim that every other good thing in life is valued simply because it produces pleasure or reduces pain. Do you agree? Why or why not? Question 5:8: A utilitarian might say that to measure a ‘good life,’ you should ask: ‘how much overall happiness did this life bring into the world?’ Do you agree that this is the correct measure of a good life, or not? Briefly explain. Question 5:9: How often, when making decisions, do you consider whether you would willingly permit everyone else to act in the same way that you are choosing to act? Question 5:10: What are TWO other examples you can think of, beyond those given in the text above, in which someone is treated as a ‘mere means to an end’? Question 5:11: Do you agree that human lives are of the highest possible value and beyond any fixed ‘price’? In your opinion, how well does our society today reflect this view on morality and justice? Should it reflect this view? Question 5:12: While each of the 3 distinct types of ethical frameworks/theories reviewed in this section is subject to certain limitations or criticisms, what aspects of the good life/ethics do you think each one captures best? iSwoon Design Answer the following two questions based on what you have learned from "Head First" book Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. lecture notes AT LEAST 2 PAGES. Q1 . Describe the usage of the Burn Down chart in the Head First book Chapter 4. Explain how to calculate the value and update it on the chart for any particular day? (20 points) Q2 . Suppose that you are asked to add a new event to the iSwoon system: The event is "Party at a friend's place" and it is only allowed to occur on the 4th date or later. Describe what you would have to do to add this Event to the original iSwoon design(Ch 4) AND the "fixed" iSwoon design (Ch 5) respectively.(10 points) Give your own evaluation of the latter "fixed" design; does it address the problems of the original design? What problems might the original design have and how might you fix them? (20 points) Instead of a midterm test, you are going to complete a midterm paper and it's based on the movie "Office Space". You choose the way to watch the movie in a comfortable setting, just remember that the midterm paper is due by 11:59pm on Sunday, October 25 (CST). MIDTERM PAPER Write your review in a Word file using Times New Roman font (no smaller than 10 pt but no bigger than 12 pt), single spacing, 1" margins on all sides, and the paper's length is at least 1 page but no more than 2 pages. Any direct quotes from the movie do not count into the length of the paper. 1 TO 2 PAGES. In the midterm paper, you need to identify at least three problems (problems identified must be from the software engineering perspective, not from the general ethics perspective) that could have been avoided if a good software development method is applied in "Office Space". Identify the problems related to software engineering and describe what the consequences of these problems are respectively; (15 points) Explain what actions you, as a member working on a software project, would have taken in order to avoid those problem respectively; (30 points) Describe if your actions (described above) are related to any knowledge that you learned from the first 5 modules of this semester. (5 points)

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment encompasses two main tasks. The first involves answering a series of ethical questions based on the reading “Ethics III,” along with additional coursework from "Head First" chapters and lecture notes. The second task requires analyzing issues related to the movie “Office Space” from a software engineering perspective, including identifying problems, proposing solutions, and reflecting on learned concepts from the course modules. This paper will explore the impact of ethical habits on character development, human value in morality, utilitarian principles, and the importance of structured project management tools such as Burn Down charts. Additionally, it will examine how methodical approaches in software engineering can prevent common issues depicted in the film and how applying these practices aligns with academic knowledge.

Introduction

Developing ethical consciousness and applying sound software engineering practices are vital in shaping both personal character and technological projects. The integration of moral philosophy with practical engineering methods informs responsible decision-making, emphasizing the importance of reflective habits, societal considerations, and systematic approaches to project management. This paper addresses these interconnected themes, relating ethical perspectives to application in real-world software development and analyzing their implications through the lens of the movie “Office Space.”

Part I: Ethical Reflection and Moral Philosophy

The questions posed in "Ethics III" compel individuals to contemplate their moral duties, character improvements, and societal obligations. A conscious habit of striving for personal betterment fosters a resilient character, as sustained reflection encourages ethical consistency and integrity over time. Regular self-assessment helps individuals recognize areas needing development and reinforces virtues such as honesty, humility, and responsibility (Kant, 1785). Furthermore, moral models exemplify ideals worth emulating, shaping aspirations and behavioral standards (Aristotle, 350 BCE). The utilitarian framework emphasizes maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering, underscoring the moral significance of actions that produce the greatest good (Mill, 1863). However, this principle also raises dilemmas about the distribution of happiness and the quality of pleasures, which necessitate nuanced judgment (Singer, 2011). These ethical considerations highlight the importance of reflective decision-making aligned with societal and individual wellbeing.

Part II: The Good Life and Moral Obligation

Questions regarding the valuation of human life and the nature of a good life underscore societal priorities. Many argue that every human life possesses intrinsic worth, and society should reflect this moral stance through policies that protect individual dignity (Nussbaum, 2000). However, modern economic and political systems often treat human lives instrumentally, valuing productivity over inherent worth, which points to a disconnect in societal morality. Each ethical framework—utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics—captures different facets of a meaningful life. Utilitarianism emphasizes happiness, deontology prioritizes duty and rights, and virtue ethics focuses on moral character (Hursthouse, 1999). Integrating these perspectives fosters a holistic understanding of the good life, balancing happiness, moral duties, and character development.

Part III: Software Engineering Perspectives from "Office Space"

The analysis of the film “Office Space” reveals common software engineering pitfalls that could have been mitigated with methodical practices. Identifying three key problems—poor requirement analysis leading to dysfunctional automation, inadequate testing causing system failures, and lack of version control resulting in inconsistent updates—aligns with established best practices. The consequences include project delays, increased costs, and stakeholder dissatisfaction (Pressman, 2014). Implementing agile methodologies, rigorous testing protocols, and robust version control systems could have prevented these issues. As a software team member, proactively engaging in requirements gathering, continuous testing, and disciplined configuration management would have been pivotal (Schwaber & Sutherland, 2017). These actions derive directly from knowledge gained in early course modules, emphasizing iterative development, quality assurance, and teamwork—core principles in effective software engineering (Boehm, 1988). Such practices not only improve project outcomes but also foster ethical responsibility towards clients and users by delivering reliable, maintainable solutions.

Conclusion

Balancing ethical reflection with disciplined engineering methods is essential for responsible personal conduct and successful software projects. Cultivating moral virtues promotes character growth, while structured project management ensures technical integrity. Together, these frameworks underscore the importance of intentionality, systematic effort, and ethical commitment in both individual development and technological innovation. Profound insights from philosophical inquiry and practical methodologies serve as guiding principles towards creating a better society and more effective software solutions.

References

• Aristotle. (350 BCE). Nicomachean Ethics.
• Boehm, B. (1988). A spiral model of software development and enhancement. Computer, 21(5), 61-72.
• Hursthouse, R. (1999). On virtue ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.
• Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism.
• Nussbaum, M. (2000). Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach. Cambridge University Press.
• Pressman, R. S. (2014). Software Engineering: A Practitioner's Approach. McGraw-Hill.
• Singer, P. (2011). Practical Ethics. Cambridge University Press.
• Schwaber, K., & Sutherland, J. (2017). The Scrum Guide. Scrum.org.
• Additional course materials and lecture notes provided during the semester.