Ethics Carbon Tax
INTRODUCTION
Ethics is a set of beliefs about right and wrong behaviour within a society. Ethical behaviour conforms to generally accepted norms, many of which are almost universal.
The growth of the internet, the ability to capture and store vast amounts of personal data, and greater reliance on information systems in all aspects of life have increased the risk that information technology will be used unethically.
At the centre of the government’s policy on climate change is pricing carbon. Many commenters and politicians have referred to this as a “carbon tax”. The idea is that polluters will pay per tonne of carbon they release into the atmosphere. This cost will initially be set at $23, and increase gradually until 2015.
This is widely thought of as the most effective and least costly mechanism to reduce carbon output and reduce the level of climate change that is occurring.
UNDERSTANDING & EXPLANATION OF THE ETHICAL CONCEPT
DUTY-BASED ETHICAL THEORIES
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) argued that morality must ultimately be grounded in the concept of duty or obligations that humans have to one another and never in the consequences of humans actions. As such, morality has nothing to do with the promotion of happiness or the achievement of desirable consequences.
Thus Kant rejects utilitarianism in particular and all consequentialist ethical theories in general. He points out that in some instances, performing our duties may result in our being unhappy and may not necessarily lead to consequences that are considered desirable. Theories in which the notion of duty, or obligation, serves as the foundation for morality are called deontological theories.
Kant believed that our system should be based on two essential principles: universality and impartiality. In such as system, every individual would be treated fairly because the same rules would apply universally to all persons. And in terms of impartiality, it
Ethics is a set of beliefs about right and wrong behaviour within a society. Ethical behaviour conforms to generally accepted norms, many of which are almost universal.
The growth of the internet, the ability to capture and store vast amounts of personal data, and greater reliance on information systems in all aspects of life have increased the risk that information technology will be used unethically.
At the centre of the government’s policy on climate change is pricing carbon. Many commenters and politicians have referred to this as a “carbon tax”. The idea is that polluters will pay per tonne of carbon they release into the atmosphere. This cost will initially be set at $23, and increase gradually until 2015.
This is widely thought of as the most effective and least costly mechanism to reduce carbon output and reduce the level of climate change that is occurring.
UNDERSTANDING & EXPLANATION OF THE ETHICAL CONCEPT
DUTY-BASED ETHICAL THEORIES
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) argued that morality must ultimately be grounded in the concept of duty or obligations that humans have to one another and never in the consequences of humans actions. As such, morality has nothing to do with the promotion of happiness or the achievement of desirable consequences.
Thus Kant rejects utilitarianism in particular and all consequentialist ethical theories in general. He points out that in some instances, performing our duties may result in our being unhappy and may not necessarily lead to consequences that are considered desirable. Theories in which the notion of duty, or obligation, serves as the foundation for morality are called deontological theories.
Kant believed that our system should be based on two essential principles: universality and impartiality. In such as system, every individual would be treated fairly because the same rules would apply universally to all persons. And in terms of impartiality, it
References: IBM, 30 Jun (2011). Supercomputer is the Most Energy Efficient in the World, Retrieved August 28, 2011, from http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/34948.wss Reliableplant. Energy initiatives to save Dell around $5.8M per year, Retrieved August 28, 2011, from http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/19618/energy-initiatives-to-save-dell-around-$58m-per-year McDermid, D. (Ed.). (2008). Ethics in ICT: an Australian perspective. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Education. Reynolds, G. (2010). Ethics in information technology (3rd ed.). Canada: Thompson Learning. Tavani, H. T. (2011). Ethics and Technology: Ethical Issues in an Age of Information and Communication Technology (3rd edn.). John Wiley.