Module 3 and 4: Preliminary and Finalist Theories

 

1. Try to look at your parents or your guardians. When can you say they are being egoistic? Altruistic. Give one scenario for each.

 Answer: 

             As a human being, parents even though they are already mature and grown up has this egoistic and altruistic nature hidden within them. As a person who has a guardian or parent it is naturally to consider that all they are doing is for the child's own sake. This we can say that they are being an altruist. However considering the kind of event or situation they are in may also affect they're nature. For example we can say in an egoistic point of view that a parent reason of scolding a child is that the child may have done some menace and because of this the parents great reputation are affected. This kind of thinking is true not maybe to all but to some parents whose status in life are in a high level. This kind of parents are too engulfed with their undisputed and untarnished reputation they build for many years that they could not afford to lose it just by a child.

2. If you are to assess yourself, what kind of a person are you? Are you an egoist, or an altruist? Discuss in relevance to your own experiences in computing.

Answer:

            It is hard for a person to immediately assess his own identity especially when that person is still learning the journey of life and is growing by it. I myself is still on the process of knowing who really am I. However for the sake of this module question, I will share one of my current findings on my research about who really am I. This one thing that I discovered is that when people tried to ask for my help or assistance I had this sensation or desire to immediately ease their pain or suffering free of charge not asking for anything in return as long as it is within my power. My intent in doing this kind of charity is the feeling of being a great help to someone. It gives me great joy and accomplishment seeing someone relieved from their dilemma. It's like a large pin was pluck out in my heart. What is it's relevance on my study on computing? Well helping others boost my self-confidence not only on learning and solving computing problems but also on reaching-out those people whom I am not yet familiar with. I don't know if this altruistic nature of mine is just masking my inner egoistic nature but one thing is true. I love helping others.

3. As Aristotle says, “for as it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy.” … Discuss in relevance to your own experiences in computing

Answer:

             In life, happiness is the attainment of something satisfying. It is the greatest accomplishment anyone can gain. This then made every person to set their goals in life to attain this wonderful feeling. However, to attain such feeling means going through lots and lots of ups and downs, success and failure for a very long period of time. Well it is the part of the race and journey to one's goal. The only ways to attain it is to move forward. Keep on running until you reach the finish line. A single success in one day does not makes someone happy but it is the attainment of the goal he had worked so hard for years. One can be truly blessed and happy when he/she had done his very best up until the end of the race. This phrase of aristotle made me realized to continue every work I had started. It may took a long time but one's you are finished, you were surely feel satisfied. The main point of Aristotle is to not to GIVE UP cause someday somehow all your work will bear fruit.

Module: Ethics and Law 

Q1.  This is about the student handbook on computing for the students of Virginia University (Please surf for it). Read and understand their handbook .

       

        If you are to become a part of the VSU team who will formulate a handbook like that of Virginia University, give at least 2 policies that you want to be implemented in VSU or even just for CS students like you, regarding computing . Also include sanction or sort of punishment to those who will violate the said policy.

Answer:

I.                    Usage of Computing Laboratory Equipments in DCST

Computers are a very important tool in DCST which were used for laboratory activities and exercises. It is also the basic equipment for the enhancement of the student’s knowledge and experience. It is then to be properly used and maintained in regular basis for it to last long and used for the next generation of students.

The following are the rules to be followed in using the computer:

a.       Computers should only be used during a laboratory and computing-related activity led by an instructor/mentor unless given permission by the department head and computer maintenance operator.

b.      Computers after being used must be shutdown to conserve energy and prevent hardware over-heating.

c.       Gaming, Video Streaming and Social Chatting is prohibited.

Sanction:

The following are the punishment (if caught) for each offence done. Each punishment depends on the number of offences committed by a student:

1.       First offence – Warning and write a letter of apology

2.       Second offence – Pay 2 hours of community service in DCST

3.       Next offence – Pay N + 2 hours of community service in DCST where N = no. of service hour of the previous offence.

In case of a computer being damaged, the student is obliged to pay or to repair the said equipment plus the above community service sanction.

II.                  Internet Access in DCST

Accessing the internet in DCST can be done by using the wireless connection (WIFI). There are three wireless connections available in DCST, the dcstwifi wherein computer science and permitted non-computer science students can connect, the CSwifi prior only for Computer Science student, and the CSWireless which only for fourth year computer science students. Students who connects to this wireless connections is obliged to follow certain rules pertaining the browsing of internet sites:

a.       Avoid accessing sites that are not recommended by an authorize computer maintenance operator or instructor since these sites may contain malicious information and virus that could destroy not only your computer but also the server of the department. These sites may also hack the computer system of the department and the entire school thus leads to the exposure of information to the hacker.

b.      If you have known the authentication password of each connection, you are then not allowed to reveal this password to other student unless you have the permission of the computer maintenance operator or an instructor.

Sanction:

        The computer maintenance operator will block the computer of the accused student and terminates his right to connect to DCST’s wireless connections. He/she also must pay a 1 hour community service in DCST.

Q2. According to the definition of ethics, it can be connected to the norms or custom of the society. What could be ethical to one could be unethical to another. If this is the case, in which ethics seem to be subjective in nature, why is there a need to study computer ethics at all? Support your opinion with
facts.

Answer:

                All the norms and customs of a society are based on an ethical standard that is followed. This then defines the kind of society present on a given community. However there are cases that a rule, norm and custom could be ethical to a group or person but unethical to the other. For example, a computer specialist is assigned by the government to hack an enemy’s computer system to protect their country. If we analyze it, it is ethical in a way that the computer specialist must hack the system in order to protect his/her beloved country but unethical in a way that hacking according to ethics is not allowed and prohibited. This leads to debate and discussion whether which of this ethical standard is subjective in nature.  This then presents the need to study ethics especially computer ethics since it shows the responsibility, duty and obligation of a computer professionals to society. The other big thing in computer ethics is that it tries to clarify and provide solutions to the issues that are raised by computers in areas such as privacy, personal property, damage to others' property, safety, and so forth. Computer ethics falls in the area of normative ethics that is the quest for the practical truth of how one's choices and actions will be good and worthwhile.

(reference: http://ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/basics/principles/study.php).

According to recently released statistics, almost 30 million Filipinos used the internet on a regular basis in the past year. An estimated two-thirds of the online population or nearly 20 million Filipinos use Facebook and other forms of social media. “Filipinos will always strive to keep in touch with the people they care about—and with the advent of the internet, it has become so much easier to contact them through Facebook and other online media. However, this has the unfortunate effect of attracting the criminals who want to take advantage,” explained Angara. To remedy the situation, Angara authored Senate Bill No. 52, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Bill. It seeks to effectively prevent and punish online offenses such as hacking, fraud, cybersex and child pornography through prison time or a hefty fine of at least Php200,000.

(reference: http://websafety.com.ph/2011/01/03/cyber-crime-prevention-bill/).    

If these cyber criminals only try to study ethics as a national standard and be responsibly disciplined, then there is no need for this law to be implemented and our internet community would be safer and societal friendly.

Q3. There are 4 types of non-jural law. Divine, natural, moral and physical. If
you are to practice just one type of the non-jural law for the entire existence
of your life, what would it be and why?

Answer:

                If I were to choose one of the 4 non-jural law to practice in my entire existence then it would be the Divine Law because in my own opinion all other laws are just a subset of the divine law. This opinion is base from the definition of the Divine Law which states that all other laws would fall under the divine law as it encompasses and governs not only human action but the whole universe as well. It is like the law of law since from the definition above it encompasses the other laws. So why do I need to study other laws if there is one absolute law for all the laws that I could follow and practice?

Ambition in Life as a Computer Science Student

1. What would you like to be 5 yrs from now? (hopes, aspirations, wishes)
 Answer: 
             There are lots of thing I wanted to achieve. It is then our nature to have a desire and ambition on things that gives as comfort, wealth, power and glory. Speaking of ambition, in the future I hope to see myself working on a theory that will give a positive impact not only in the scientific community but also to society. I would also like to build and make my own company.

2. If you are to develop a program to promote moral values, what program would you do? and why?
Answer: 
            I will probably develop an educational game software that would teach and impart knowledge onto students about the proper ethics and the consequences of committing a crime. It will also provide programming and technological stimulation's giving the student incites and experiences on the world of technology and in the scientific community.

3. If you are a machine, what would you be and why?
 Answer: 
            The invention of computer marks the era of the new age. It became the foundation of the current technological breakthroughs. It became one of the important factor on the improvement of economic condition of a country and offered comfort to people. Like computer, I wanted to become a tool that would be beneficial to human world . I also wanted to offer comfort to those who needs me and make their task easier. 

Unknown Hole Within

Since my childhood I've been trying to find who truly am I. I cannot see my own identity within me. I keep on searching of the things that would uncover my uniqueness and my own signature from others. As I walk through every single day, my confusion grew. There are times that I would even picture myself as an imperfect man without a dream. I cannot see the path to life. Up until now I am confused. Frustrated by the pain brought by once love. I became a loner. Unable to connect to people's heart. I became afraid. And still I am afraid......