Best Philosophies of IT
The size of the technological change that IT has brought about in our workplaces, homes and relationships is historically unprecedented, and we are only at the beginning of the societal upheaval they will cause. As with any new technology, there will be whole industries spawned and thousands made obsolete. Is it the purpose of the Internet and associated technologies to improve life on the planet? It is certainly the duty of these pioneers to try.
Guiding Principles
The best philosophies are those that encourage growth and experimentation while protecting the security of person and property. The trouble with rules and philosophies of IT is that they are still in development. Attempts have already been made to provide ethical principles to guide professionals (see Codes of Ethics in Computing for a selection) as they investigate brand new territory. As James H. Moor notes, "Computers manipulate symbols but they don't care what the symbols represent" (read more of his fascinating discussion).
Logical Maleability
Computers can use logic for any purpose that can be reduced to inputs, processes and outputs; their application is limited only by human creativity. This logic is programmed in by humans in a way that is not necessarily transparent to other humans. Big Brother is real; it is the programming conventions that invisibly limit IT design, and more nefariously, the invisible and uncontrollable collection of our digital lives as a condition of participation. Philosophy in IT must inspire us all to respect this sacred trust.
