Ethics for Nerds

In the project, you will simulate the work of an Ethics Review Board (ERB). An ERB is a body that evaluates projects for potential ethical implications. Such boards are common in areas like research, medicine, and increasingly in technology. Their task is not simply to approve or reject proposals, but to assess risks, identify ethical concerns, and require justification for decisions. In many cases, they also specify conditions under which a project may proceed.

The Scenario

A fictional company, called ACE, has developed a product idea: a smartphone called ELSIE. Your role is to evaluate this product as if you were members of an ERB. The project culminates in a written ethics report. In this report, you assess whether, and under which conditions, the product should be developed. Over the course of the project, you will engage with the scenario from different angles. This includes, for example:

• analysing the product and its potential impacts, 
• applying a professional code of ethics, 
• identifying and discussing ethically relevant issues, 
• and gradually developing a reasoned overall assessment. 

These steps are distributed across several phases and build on each other. There are seven project phases: the first and last one are done individually. Phases 2-6 are done as a group.

Forming Groups

To complete the project, you have to work as a group. It is not allowed to do the project alone. Groups should have 4–5 members. Groups of six are allowed as well, though they are discouraged, because finding appointments with six members is really hard. But if your group of friends happens to have six members, then feel free to form a group of six.

If you do not yet know enough people who are taking the course, then you can find other group members in the classroom sessions or in the forum. Once your group is complete, you have to register it in the dcms: one group members creates a new group on their personal status page, and all other group members join via the given group code.

General Expectations

The project approximates a simplified review process. Two points follow:

• You are expected to engage seriously with the scenario, even though it is fictional. 
• Your work should aim at clarity, structure, and intelligibility, so that others can understand and assess your reasoning. 

Disagreement is acceptable. What matters is not convergence, but the quality of the reasoning.

Project Materials

All materials concerning the project will be uploaded in the Materials section of the dcms. This will be the Product Information document by ACE, as well as descriptions of your tasks for each phase.

You should treat the Product Information document as though it was a real document: 

• You can trust it in the sense that it is not deliberately deceptive. The authors have done their best to give you comprehensive, accurate, up-to-date information and they did not lie. 
• You cannot trust the document in the sense that the author’s idea of what is potentially morally problematic matches your idea of what is potentially morally problematic.
• You should keep in mind that ACE wants to show itself in a favourable light (even though they do not lie or try to deceive you).
• You should keep in mind that mistakes can happen, even in such documents.

Passing the project

You will be admitted to the exam if and only if you pass the project. You pass the project if and only if you pass every project phase. So, you need to pass every project phase.

If you fail, you can revise and resubmit up to two project phases from phase 2–5. So, you could, for example, revise and resubmit phases 3 and 5, or phases 3 and 4. But you cannot revise and resubmit phases 3, 4, and 5. Also, you cannot revise a project phase twice. So, if you failed it, you will have to pass it on the first resubmission. Phases 4 and 5 are most difficult, so you should be conservative with your two revise and resubmit chances. But don't worry! There are plenty of possibilities to get help from the team. We want everybody to succeed in the project and nobody will be left without support. 

You cannot revise and resubmit Project Phases 1, 6, or 7. If you fail any of these project phases, you failed the project. Project Phases 1 and 7 are very easy and if you put any reasonable effort into them, you will not fail. Phase 6 will be the final report, which is more tricky. So, if in doubt, seek the advice of tutors before handing in.

What to do in case of problems

I know that things don't always go as planned and that you have a life outside of class. If you have any problems, be that personal or organizational, that make it difficult for you to hand in a project phase in time, please get in touch with Sarah as early as possible. We will often be able to find a solution if you contact me early enough. If you contact me shortly before a deadline or even afterwards, there often is little that I can do. 

If you get ill during a project phase, the standard procedure applies.