Skip to main content
Log in

Discourses on information ethics: The claim to universality

  • Published:
Ethics and Information Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An important question one can ask of ethical theories is whether and how they aim to raise claims to universality. This refers to the subject area that they intend to describe or govern and also to the question whether they claim to be binding for all (moral) agents. This paper discusses the question of universality of Luciano Floridi’s information ethics (IE). This is done by introducing the theory and discussing its conceptual foundations and applications. The emphasis will be placed on the ontological grounding of IE. IE’s claims to universality will be contrasted with those raised by discourse ethics. This comparison of two pertinent ethical theories allows for a critical discussion of areas where IE currently has room for elaboration and development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alison Adam. Computer Ethics in a Different Voice. Information and Organization, 11(4): 235–261, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alison Adam. Cyberstalking and Internet Pornography: Gender and the Gaze. Ethics and Information Technology, 4(2): 133–142, 2002.

  • Alison Adam. Gender, Ethics and Information Technology. Palgrave McMillan, Basingstoke, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karl-Otto Apel. The a Priori of the Communication Community and the Foundations of Ethics: The Problem of a Rational Foundation of Ethics in the Scientific Age. In Karl-Otto Apel, editor, Towards a Transformation of Philosophy, pages 225–300. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London et al., 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karl-Otto Apel. Diskurs und Verantwortung: das Problem des Übergangs zur postkonventionellen Moral, 3rd ed. 1997. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt a. M., 1988.

  • Ulrich Beck. Wie wird Demokratie im Zeitalter der Globalisierung möglich-eine Einleitung. In U. Beck, editor, Politik der Globalisierung. Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt a. M., 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frans A. J. Birrer. Applying Ethical and Moral Concepts and Theories to IT Contexts: Some Key Problems and Challenges. In Richard A. Spinello and Herman T. Tavani, editors, Readings in Cyberethics, pages 91–97. Jones and Bartlett, Sudbury, Massachusetts et al., 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terrel Ward Bynum. Ethics and the Information Revolution. In Göran Collste, editor, Ethics in the Age of Information Technology, pages 32–55. Centre for Applied Ethics, Linköping, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terrel Ward Bynum. Flourishing Ethics. Ethics and Information Technology, 8(4): 157–173, 2006.

  • Rafael Capurro. Towards an Ontological Foundation of Information Ethics. Ethics and Information Technology, 8(4): 175–186, 2006.

  • Göran Collste. Political Philosophy in the Global Era – Is There a Need for Revision. In Carl-Henric Grenholm and Gert Helgesson, editors, Efficiency, Justice, and Stability-Ethical Perspectives in Economic Analysis and Practice, pages 71–90. University of Uppsala, Uppsala, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charles Ess. Ethical Pluralism and Global Information Ethics. Ethics and Information Technology, 8(4): 215–226, 2006.

  • Charles Ess. Universal Information Ethics? Ethical Pluralism and Social Justice. In Emma Rooksby and John Weckert, editors, Information Technology and Social Justice, pages 69–92. InfoSci, Hershey, PA, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luciano Floridi. Information Ethics: On the Philosophical Foundation of Computer Ethics. Ethics and Information Technology, 1(1): 37–56, 1999a.

  • Luciano Floridi. Philosophy and Computing: An Introduction. Routledge, London, 1999b.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Luciano Floridi. What is the Philosophy of Information? Metaphilosophy (33:1/2), 2002a. Special Issue: Cyberphilosophy: The Intersection of Philosophy and Computing. edited by J.H. Moor and T.W. Bynum, pp. 123–145.

  • Luciano Floridi. On the Intrinsic Value of Information Objects and the Infosphere. Ethics and Information Technology, 4(4): 287–304, 2002b.

  • Luciano Floridi. Information Ethics, its Nature and Scope. SIGCAS Computers and Society, 36(3): 21–36, 2006a.

  • Luciano Floridi. Information Technologies and the Tragedy of the Good Will. Ethics and Information Technology, 8(4): 253–262, 2006b.

  • Luciano Floridi. Four Challenges for a Theory of Informational Privacy. Ethics and Information Technology, 8(3): 109–119, 2006c.

  • Luciano Floridi. Global Information Ethics: The Importance of Being Environmentally Earnest. International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, 3(3): 1–12, 2007.

  • Luciano Floridi and J.W. Sanders. Mapping the Foundationalist Debate in Computer Ethics. Ethics and Information Technology, 4(1): 1–9, 2002.

  • Luciano Floridi and J.W. Sanders. On the Morality of Artificial Agents. Minds and Machines, 14(3): 349–379, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren French, Christian Häßlein and Robert van Es. Constructivist Negotiation Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 39: 83–90, 2002.

  • Jürgen Habermas. Theorie des kommunikativen Handelns–volume I/II, 1981.

  • Jürgen Habermas. Moralbewußtsein und kommunikatives Handeln. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt a. M., 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jürgen Habermas. Erläuterungen zur Diskursethik. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt a. M., 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jürgen Habermas. Die Einbeziehung des Anderen-Studien zur politischen Theorie. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt a. M., 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jürgen Habermas. Faktizität und Geltung: Beiträge zur Diskurstheorie des Rechts und des demokratischen Rechtsstaats. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt a. M., 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiner Hastedt. Aufklärung und Technik. Grundprobleme einer Ethik der Technik. Suhrkamp Taschenbuch Wissenschaft, Frankfurt a. M., 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin Heidegger. Sein und Zeit, 17th ed. Max Niemeyer Verlag, Tübingen, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michael. S. H. Heng and Aldo de Moor. From Habermas’s Communicative Theory to Practice on the Internet. Information Systems Journal, 13: 331–352, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otfried Höffe. Moral als Preis der Moderne: ein Versuch über Wissenschaft, Technik und Umwelt, 3rd ed. Frankfurt a. M., Suhrkamp, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otfried Höffe. Immanuel Kant, 4th ed. Becksche Reihe Denker, München, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Axel Honneth. Verdinglichung. Frankfurt a. M., Suhrkamp, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Debra Howcroft and Eileen M. Trauth, editors. Handbook of Critical Information Systems Research: Theory and Application. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Immanuel Kant. Kritik der praktischen Vernunft, Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten. Suhrkamp Taschenbuch Wissenschaft, Frankfurt a. M., [1788] 1995.

  • Lawrence Kohlberg. The Philosophy of Moral Development – Moral Stages and the Idea of Justice. Harper & Row, Publishers, San Francisco et al., 1981.

  • Kay Mathiesen. What is Information Ethics? SIGCAS Computers and Society, 34(1): 6–15, 2004.

  • James H. Moor. Just Consequentialism and Computing. In Richard A. Spinello and Herman T. Tavani, editors, Readings in Cyberethics, pages 98–104. Jones and Bartlett, Sudbury, Massachusetts et al., 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • James H. Moor. Reason, Relativity, and Responsibility in Computer Ethics. In Terrel W. Bynum and Simon Rogerson, editors, Computer Ethics and Professional Responsibility, pages 21–38. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford et al., 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mark Poster. What’s the Matter with the Internet. University of Minnesota Press, Minnesota, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul Ricoeur. Ethique et morale. In Paul Ricoeur, editor, Lectures 1-Autour du politique, pages 256–269. Seuil, Paris, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikko Siponen. A Pragmatic Evaluation of the Theory of Information Ethcis. Ethics and Information Technology, 6(4): 279–290, 2004.

  • Richard Spinello. Cyberethics: Morality and Law in Cyberspace. Jones and Bartlett, London, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernd Carsten Stahl. Responsible Management of Information Systems. Idea Group Publishing, Hershey, PA, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernd Carsten Stahl. Responsible Computers? A Case for Ascribing Quasi-Responsibility to Computers Independent of Personhood or Agency. Ethics and Information Technology 8(4), 2006a. Special Issue on “Information Ethics: Agents, Artifacts and New Cultural Perspectives”, edited by Luciano Floridi and Julian Savulescu, pp. 205–213.

  • Bernd Carsten Stahl. On the Difference or Equality of Information, Misinformation, and Disinformation: A Critical Perspective. Informing Science Journal 9: 83–96, 2006b (Available at http://inform.nu/Articles/Vol9/v9p083-096Stahl65.pdf).

  • Bernd Carsten Stahl. Information Systems: Critical Perspectives. Routledge, London, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tadashi Takenouchi. Capurro’s Hermeneutic Approach to Information Ethics: Ethos in the Information Society and the Development of “angeletics”. International Journal of Information Ethics, 2004 (http://ijie.zkm.de/: 1–8 Accessed July 23, 2004).

  • Herman Tavani. Ethics & Technology: Ethical Issues in an Age of Information and Communication Technology. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peter Ulrich. Integrative Wirtschaftsethik-Grundlagen einer lebensdienlichen Ökonomie. Haupt, Bern, Stuttgart, Wien, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Éric Weil. Philosophie morale. Librairie Philosophique J. Vrin, cinquième Édition Paris, 1960.

  • Albrecht Wellmer. Ethik und Dialog Elemente des moralischen Urteils bei Kant und in der Diskursethik. Frankfurt a. M., Suhrkamp, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patricia Werhane. Persons, Rights, and Corporations. Prentice-Hall Inc, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahri Yetim. Acting with Genres: Discursive-Ethical Concepts for Reflecting on and Legitimating Genres. European Journal of Information Systems, 15(1): 54–69, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernd Carsten Stahl.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stahl, B.C. Discourses on information ethics: The claim to universality. Ethics Inf Technol 10, 97–108 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-008-9171-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-008-9171-9

Key words

Navigation