12 ms·

How does college education have anything to do with living ethically?

RpFLCL 9y ago
College provides (and usually requires) courses specifically focused on topics like business ethics, philosophy of law, environmental philosophy, environmental ethics... How much any one person takes these courses to heart is up to them, but college provides an exposure that wouldn't otherwise be required. I'm not trying to say that everyone needs college, especially not with the costs it takes. I'm only trying to question what it is about our industry that seems to make unethical behavior so acceptable. I believe that almost anyone can learn to code if they're interested, but self-teaching doesn't necessarily show you why you shouldn't use that to overpowered others.
- EVdotIO 9y ago
  I know of ethics courses. Obviously there are moral implications for actions in many professions which aren't readily apparent. A few courses are not going to fix these problems by a long shot. Peter Thiel, went to Stanford and got not only his BA there, but also a JD. Alex Karp has a JD from Stanford. Harvard MBAs care about one thing (hint: it isn't you). Construction and large infrastructure projects are rife with corruption. Our political system is corrupt. Barack Obama didn't stand up to the status quo of institutional behavior. Doctors prescribe opioids to white trash and speed to kids. Prosecutors are "tough on crime" solely for their own career advancement. The Milgram and Stanford prison experiments... This isn't confined to tech, or people without higher education.
- the_jeremy 9y ago
  I heavily question the assumption that learning philosophy or ethics courses will make one more ethical. I think being required to do something makes it less likely to take it heart in my experience.
  - UrukParthian 9y ago
    It's like saying rapists will be deterred by a sexual harassment course. People are ruled by different passions and different ideals. College isn't going to change the person who is naturally indifferent, or even sadistic, and only plays along until the stupid class ends.

College provides (and usually requires) courses specifically focused on topics like business ethics, philosophy of law, environmental philosophy, environmental ethics... How much any one person takes these courses to heart is up to them, but college provides an exposure that wouldn't otherwise be required. I'm not trying to say that everyone needs college, especially not with the costs it takes. I'm only trying to question what it is about our industry that seems to make unethical behavior so acceptable. I believe that almost anyone can learn to code if they're interested, but self-teaching doesn't necessarily show you why you shouldn't use that to overpowered others.

EVdotIO 9y ago
I know of ethics courses. Obviously there are moral implications for actions in many professions which aren't readily apparent. A few courses are not going to fix these problems by a long shot. Peter Thiel, went to Stanford and got not only his BA there, but also a JD. Alex Karp has a JD from Stanford. Harvard MBAs care about one thing (hint: it isn't you). Construction and large infrastructure projects are rife with corruption. Our political system is corrupt. Barack Obama didn't stand up to the status quo of institutional behavior. Doctors prescribe opioids to white trash and speed to kids. Prosecutors are "tough on crime" solely for their own career advancement. The Milgram and Stanford prison experiments... This isn't confined to tech, or people without higher education.
the_jeremy 9y ago
I heavily question the assumption that learning philosophy or ethics courses will make one more ethical. I think being required to do something makes it less likely to take it heart in my experience.
- UrukParthian 9y ago
  It's like saying rapists will be deterred by a sexual harassment course. People are ruled by different passions and different ideals. College isn't going to change the person who is naturally indifferent, or even sadistic, and only plays along until the stupid class ends.