Fortner provides an engaging survey of applied ethics, presenting 16 case studies for classroom discussion that explore individual culpability for the consequences of "mindless" use of digital technology. Novel situations raised by accelerated workplace automation, harm caused by the digital spread of disinformation, and weakened trust in regulating big tech illustrate the need to distill several ethical systems into a workable foundation for logical decision-making. Against this challenge, Fortner offers six diagnostic questions: Does the difference between right and wrong matter in this case? Are people being treated as agents in their own right? Do those who are worst off gain anything from the decision? Are people taking responsibility for each other’s welfare? Do those benefiting in number and degree outweigh those who aren't? Is the decision made likely to lead to human flourishing? As Fortner argues, centralized media hegemony, maintained in prior eras by unknown gatekeepers and officials, has atomized; more authority today rests with listeners, viewers, and users, each bearing ethical responsibility for maintaining a humane society by "policing" their own and others' digital behavior. Overall, this important text, including steps to limit online privacy invasion, provides a practical framework that deserves a place in courses emphasizing ethical decision-making for a better world. Essential.
— Choice Reviews
Fortner provides an engaging survey of applied ethics, presenting 16 case studies for classroom discussion that explore individual culpability for the consequences of "mindless" use of digital technology.... Overall, this important text, including steps to limit online privacy invasion, provides a practical framework that deserves a place in courses emphasizing ethical decision-making for a better world. Essential.
— Choice Reviews
For a long time, I have believed we need ethics taught across the curriculum of the liberal arts and professional programs. This book is excellent for that purpose. It presents the important issues chapter by chapter, and includes many pedagogical strategies for helping students come to competent decisions about them.
— Clifford G. Christians, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign