Category: Volume 5 Issue 3

Volume 5 Issue 3 Winter 2022

Nature is Not a Means to an End: Applying Environmental Ethics to Desalination

Audrey Kono February 17, 2022

Global water demand is rising, but our water supplies are decreasing. Desalination offers an unconventional source of fresh water to meet the needs of the world’s growing population. However, the process harms marine organisms and their natural environments, and exacerbates the threat of climate change. Examination of environmental ethics suggests that prioritizing concerns about environmental and community health is vital to the successful establishment and operation of desalination plants.

View More Nature is Not a Means to an End: Applying Environmental Ethics to Desalination
Volume 5 Issue 3 Winter 2022

The Ethical Implications of Climate Change and Future Inequality We Can’t Ignore

Amber Chow February 17, 2022

The impacts of climate change will disproportionately impact disadvantaged groups on regional, national, and international scales. The skewed vulnerabilities that arise from exposure to natural disasters, susceptibility to damage, and community ability to recover fuel the need to examine the ethical implications of producing greenhouse gas emissions in bulk for luxury purposes. As engineers are the creators of industrial processes, the responsibility an engineer holds towards themselves, the community they serve, and the future must be displayed through accountability for the cumulative impacts of each action.

View More The Ethical Implications of Climate Change and Future Inequality We Can’t Ignore
Volume 5 Issue 3 Winter 2022

Cyberwarfare Conundrum: An Ethical Analysis

Bram Lim February 17, 2022

Traditional armed conflict is subject to conventions that govern the way wars are fought and protect those who are not involved. However, thus far, there are no equivalents to the Hague and Geneva Conventions of war for the cyber world, where artillery and explosives are replaced by viruses and malware. Therefore, this paper argues that it is imperative to establish international regulations to keep cyberwarfare ethical, based on the foundations provided by existing warfare conventions.

View More Cyberwarfare Conundrum: An Ethical Analysis
Volume 5 Issue 3 Winter 2022

Pitfalls of Predictive Policing: An Ethical Analysis

Jonathan Li February 17, 2022

Predictive policing is a police tactic that uses computer algorithms to predict where crime is likely to occur. This tactic, which has been used in cities like Los Angeles, allows the police to deploy more officers to “high-risk locations.” However, predictive policing violates the ethics of consequentialism and the ethical frameworks of justice and fairness by disproportionately targeting low-income neighborhoods and high-minority areas with increased police activity. Although boosting police patrols can deter crime in some cases, they also make people feel wary and frightened. Predictive policing is an unethical police tactic and should be further regulated or used in other manners. Crime should not be prevented by police-generated fear.

View More Pitfalls of Predictive Policing: An Ethical Analysis
Volume 5 Issue 3 Winter 2022

Now That We Have Your Attention

Noah Samuels February 17, 2022

In a traditional business model, companies provide a product or service to their customers. However, in today’s digital marketplace, users of a company’s app, website, or game are not the true customers. While users are able to access these apps for free, companies can then sell those users data and attention to advertisers and other interested parties. But in a world now dominated by surveillance capitalism, is the use of user data exploitation, or just good business? Tech companies must increase transparency of how they plan to collect and use data, and developers should refuse to use manipulative or addictive methods in order to capitalize on users.

View More Now That We Have Your Attention