ethics as viewd from computer games 1201167584767775 3

7/25/2019 Ethics as Viewd From Computer Games 1201167584767775 3

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A presentation on Ethicsas seen from Computer Games

Per A. Godejord

Associate professorDepartment of Computer ScienceNesna University College


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!o perspectivesChild

Perspective

Adult

Perspective

Egocentrical perspectiveCritical perspective


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Ethical theories and value

systemsUtilitarian point of view" # !ill not $pirate%

soft!are& 'ecause it might put programmersout of !or(

Kantian point of view" # !ill not $pirate%

soft!are& 'ecause that is stealing& andstealing is !rong


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he (illing )elds of computer

games$*illing games%

+air games Unfair games

Ghost ,econ Postal

,ule of Engagement-No rules Code of conduct

SA /0anhunt


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And the verdict is1Utilitarian" #ts !rong to (ill people

*antian" #ts illegal to (ill people

2oth $fair% and $unfair%

games are e3ually unethical

if we base our verdict on the fact that we have to kill in order to

achieve the games objectives


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And ar Games4#n !ar it is allo!ed to (ill people 5 that is6

soldiers. Non7com'atants is o8 limits& as oftensho!n in military shooters li(e Ghost ,econ 9:Civilian casualty ends the game;

So that ma(es it


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Some more theoriesNormative ethics"

7 =irtue theories

7 Duty theories

7 Conse3uentialist theories


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=irtue theoriesGood ha'its of character"

* Virtues" !isdom& courage& temperance&justice& fortitude& generosity& self7respect&good temper& sincerity

* Vices" co!ardice& insensi'ility& injustice&vanity


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Duty theories0orality is 'ased on principles of o'ligation

Some a'solute duties"7 Avoid !ronging others

7 reat people as e3uals7 Promote the good of other

,ight theory"

>ther persons right not to 'e harmed 'y you

*ant?s categorical imperative"reat people as an end& and never as a means to an end


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Conse3uentialist theoriesAn action is morally right if the conse3uences

of that action are more favora'le thanunfavora'le

So if the good conse3uences are greater& thenthe action is considered morally proper. #f the

'ad conse3uences are greater& then theaction is morally improper


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So !hat4@et us have a 3uic( loo( at t!o games6 one

$unfair% and one $fair%"

GA

Ghost ,econ


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GA he Boo(er Cheat

he action" Pic( up a prostitute& have se to gain etra

health& then (ill her !hen you are )nished and stealher money& so as not to have )nancial loss.

Let us have a look on the theories again


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he Boo(er Cheat as our point ofevaluation

=irtue"

#t is dicult to argue that there are any goodvirtues in this speci)c 'ehaviour

he 'ehaviour might 'e vie!ed as 'othco!ardice& unjust and insensi'le

In the game it is a logical thing to do if you wantto win, and you may do it as often as you want to


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he Boo(er Cheat as our point of

evaluation& continuedConse3uence"he conse3uences of the action is favora'le to

you& 'ut very unfavora'le to the prostitute

Let`s pause here for a moment


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Conse3uentialismrevisitedhree !ays of loo(ing at this

Ethical Egoism" #t is morally right if theconse3uences of that action are more favora'lethan unfavora'le only to you.

Ethical Altruism" #t is morally right if theconse3uences of that action are more favora'le

than unfavora'le to everyone ecept you.Utilitarianism" #t is morally right if the

conse3uences of that action are more favora'lethan unfavora'le to everyone.


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he Boo(er Cheat as our point of

evaluation& continuedEgoistically spea(ing the action involved in

the Boo(er Cheat is o( :it ena'les you to !inthe game;& 'ut naturally not if vie!ed in thelight of altruism or utilitarianism

So& !hat do >U thin(4


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Ghost ,econ#n this game there is no speci)c $cheat% as in GA .

#n the Ghost ,econ 9 series civilians !here millinga'out& and any (illing of them ended the game

#n the later series& li(e Ghost ,econ Advancedar)ghter F :G,;& there are no civilians at all

Let`s have a look at that


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he lac( of civiliansGhost ,econ !as claimed& at least originally& to 'e

aiming to!ards training soldiers

#n G, you are involved in ur'an !arfare& something

that means that you& in ,@& are $surrounded% 'y civiliansSo is it ethical to portray this sort of !arfare as free of

civilians and all that it pertains as for decision ma(ingand 3uic( reactions4

Think about it!


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*illing the enemy 5 a

simple vie!=irtue"

our actions in the game might 'oth 'ecourageous :attac(ing an e3ual strong enemyin frontal assault; or co!ardice :sniping themfrom 'ehind and from distance;

hey might also 'e a sign of insensi'ility :no

feelings for your opponent;


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*illing the enemy 5 a simple

vie!& continuedDuty"

our action is !ronging your opponents

No promotion of their good

ou treat them as a means to an end6 i.e. to !inthe game


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*illing the enemy 5 a simple

vie!& continuedConse3uence"

he conse3uences of the action is favora'le toyou& 'ut very unfavora'le to your opponents

o back to onse"uentialism


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*illing the enemy 5 a slightly

more complicated vie!he ethics of !ar"

us ad 'ellum 5 hen it?s justi)ed to go to !ar

us in 'ello 5 Accepta'le conduct in !arust post 'ellum 5 Actions !ithin the termination of !ar

Let`s keep our focus on the actions, i#e whatyou do in the game


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us in 'ellomou may attac( any military o'jective

he action must have the defeat of the enemy asthe intention

ou are to have your !eapons visi'le

ou have some limitation as to !hat !eapons areallo!ed against personnel

$ha! %eapons!


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us in 'ellom& continued

#n 'oth G,9 and G, you have the possi'ility ofusing the .HI cal. Sniper riJe.

he #nternational ,ed Cross !ant to have the use

of this riJe against personnel 'anned& 'ecause ofits po!er and the $eplosiveness% of the projectile

he Nor!egian Government have instructed thatthe use of the riJe shall 'e strictly anti7material

capacity onlyhe US Government vie! the riJe as usa'le

against all targets


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us 'ellom& continuedNo chance of surviving a hit 'y a HI cal#s it fair to (ill your opponent from 9HII to FIII

meters4

To use this gun against persons is ok from the &'point of view, not ok from other points of view#

In the game, it`s ()&* choice


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Another vie! on the(illing#s military )rst person shooters training our

(ids to (ill4

And if so& is that ethical4

What do YOU think?


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A conclusion4

All actions that involve (illing and maimingothers are unethical

So computer games that include such actions&might 'e said to 'e unethical

he spreading of such games to (ids might 'eunethical6 i.e. it might desensitise them& ma(e

them more aggressive and violent& and so on.


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4

hat do >U thin(4


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A tas( for youPlay Ghost ,econ& +ull Spectrum arrior& Counter7Stri(e orsome other similar tactical shooter game.

,ead the Geneva Conventionsand have a loo( atDoD Directive HHII.K& LStandards of ConductL:pdf;& or the'oo( L0ilitary EthicsL :#n Nor!egian;.

rite a short essay discussing if any of the values and rulesthat you read in the Geneva Conventions& in the DoDDirective and in the 'oo( are implemented in the tacticalshooter games you have tried. #s it possi'le to play thesegames eciently& and !in& and at the same time follo!ethical rules4
http://www.genevaconventions.org/http://it-mo.hinesna.no/~pag/pag/550007p.pdfhttp://butikk.tapirforlag.no/?q=no/node/921http://butikk.tapirforlag.no/?q=no/node/921http://it-mo.hinesna.no/~pag/pag/550007p.pdfhttp://www.genevaconventions.org/


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here are no facts&

only interpretations7 +riedrich NietMsche

ethics as viewd from computer games 1201167584767775 3

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