Series Under Threat

Lockdown has given us an occasion to discover new television series and to revisit others. TV series accompany us in our ordinary lives, but they can also be a resource or refuge in extraordinary situations. As the enduring success of Friends proves, they provide us with universes of comfort. TV series provide strong common cultural referents, which populate both ordinary conversations and political debates. TV series, by virtue of their aesthetic format (their duration, weekly and seasonal regularity, and the fact that they are, or were until recently, usually viewed in the context of the home), the attachment they inspire to their characters, the democratization and diversification of modes of viewing them (internet, streaming, discussion forums), make possible a specific form of education and constitution of a public. TV shows are hence a medium for political and ethical discussion. The article studies two series, Homeland and The Bureau, which are paradigmatic examples of a genre that has grown exponentially since the beginning of the century, and which we refer to as the “security series” genre. These series are great works of art and can also be seen as powerful tools for educating and informing the public.

Emotional AI, Ethics, and Japanese Spice: Contributing Community, Wholeness, Sincerity, and Heart

This paper assesses leading Japanese philosophical thought since the onset of Japan’s modernity: namely, from the Meiji Restoration (1868) onwards. It argues that there are lessons of global value for AI ethics to be found from examining leading Japanese philosophers of modernity and ethics (Yukichi Fukuzawa, Nishida Kitaro, Nishi Amane, and Watsuji Tetsurō), each of whom engaged closely with Western philosophical traditions. Turning to these philosophers allows us to advance from what are broadly individualistically and Western-oriented ethical debates regarding emergent technologies that function in relation to AI, by introducing notions of community, wholeness, sincerity, and heart. With reference to AI that pertains to profile, judge, learn, and interact with human emotion (emotional AI), this paper contends that (a) Japan itself may internally make better use of historic indigenous ethical thought, especially as it applies to question of data and relationships with technology; but also (b) that externally Western and global ethical discussion regarding emerging technologies will find valuable insights from Japan. The paper concludes by distilling from Japanese philosophers of modernity four ethical suggestions, or spices, in relation to emerging technological contexts for Japan’s national AI policies and international fora, such as standards development and global AI ethics policymaking.

Coding in School Libraries: Considering an Ethical Approach

This overview demonstrates the need for school librarians to consider supplementing coding instruction with ethical discussions. School librarians are increasingly incorporating coding into library instruction through play, tutorials, collaboration in content areas, and design thinking projects. To enhance students’ ethical decision making and empathy for others, school librarians can also incorporate ethical decision-making into coding activities. In this article, the authors explain why this is important, and present an ethical discussion model. These strategies may help school librarians work towards teaching social justice issues as part of coding programming.

Maintaining subjectivity under coercion: Former patients’ experiences of being transformed into an object in psychiatric care

Coercion in psychiatric care may cause long-term negative effects such as trauma, reluctance to seek later treatment, as well as erosion of self-confidence and trust in one’s own feelings and thoughts. Based on data from a previous study and the theoretical framework developed by Hans Skjervheim, this article discusses how experiences with coercion may appear as a result of how the patients are approached and defined when involuntarily admitted. If patients admitted to involuntary psychiatric care are treated as objects they might respond by objectifying the professionals back or succumbing to the descriptions of themselves as sick. The latter may ultimately cause them to question their own sanity. In light of this, this paper argues that there is a need for an ongoing ethical discussion on how to find common ground between patients and health care workers, where both are viewed as subjects with knowledge and opinions worthy of respect.

A tomada de decisão em tempos de pandemia a partir da perspectiva deontológica e teleológica | Decision-making in pandemic times from a deontological and teleological perspective

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a tomada de decisão em relação a problemas prático morais, em tempos de pandemia, a partir dos referenciais da teoria ética da convicção e da teoria ética da responsabilidade. A análise leva em conta as orientações relacionadas à pandemia provocada pelo vírus, SARS-CoV-2: isolamento social horizontal ou isolamento social vertical. O estudo adota a concepção da ética como ciência da moral. Assim, a ética procede de modo crítico e problematizador de toda e qualquer concepção moral. A tomada de decisão é avaliada a partir da interpretação e da diferenciação das duas concepções éticas. O problema principal do trabalho é tentar avaliar, a partir da perspectiva ética, a seguinte questão: qual a principal causa das divergências sobre como agir em tempos de pandemia? A hipótese é que não há consenso sobre a melhor forma de agir, pois as duas concepções partem de diferentes princípios norteadores, portanto de diferentes significados sobre o que é desejável no campo da conduta. O método usado para realizar este trabalho foi o hermenêutico. Este estudo é relevante, pois pode contribuir para argumentarmos com razoabilidade, sem violência, buscando entender as diferentes razões dos posicionamentos das pessoas. A partir desta compreensão, podemos promover um debate mais respeitoso, inclusivo, tolerante e fomentador de boas práticas. Portanto, em tempo de pandemia é extremamente relevante a contribuição da discussão ética sobre este problema que aflige toda a humanidade. AbstractThe purpose of this work is to analyze decision-making in relation to practical moral problems, in times of pandemic, based on references of the ethical theory of conviction and ethical theory of responsibility. The analysis considers the guidelines related to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, horizontal social isolation, or vertical social isolation. The study adopts the concept of ethics as science of morals. Thus, the ethics proceeds critically and problematizes any and all moral conceptions. The decision-making is assessed based on the interpretation and of differentiation of the two ethical concepts. The main problem of this work is to try to evaluate, from the ethical perspective, the following question: what is the main cause of divergences about how to act in times of pandemic? The hypothesis is that there is no consensus about the best way to act, because the two concepts start from different guiding principles, therefore, distinct meanings about what is desirable in the field of conduct. The method used to carry out this work was the hermeneutic. This study is relevant, as it can help us to reasonably argue, without violence, seeking to understand the different reasons for people’s positionings. From this understanding, we can promote a more respectful, inclusive, tolerant, and good practice-promoting debate. Therefore, in times of pandemic, the contribution of ethical discussion on this problem that affects all humanity is extremely relevant.AbstractThe purpose of this work is to analyze decision-making in relation to practical moral problems, in times of pandemic, based on references of the ethical theory of conviction and ethical theory of responsibility. The analysis considers the guidelines related to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, horizontal social isolation, or vertical social isolation. The study adopts the concept of ethics as science of morals. Thus, the ethics proceeds critically and problematizes any and all moral conceptions. The decision-making is assessed based on the interpretation and of differentiation of the two ethical concepts. The main problem of this work is to try to evaluate, from the ethical perspective, the following question: what is the main cause of divergences about how to act in times of pandemic? The hypothesis is that there is no consensus about the best way to act, because the two concepts start from different guiding principles, therefore, distinct meanings about what is desirable in the field of conduct. The method used to carry out this work was the hermeneutic. This study is relevant, as it can help us to reasonably argue, without violence, seeking to understand the different reasons for people’s positionings. From this understanding, we can promote a more respectful, inclusive, tolerant, and good practice-promoting debate. Therefore, in times of pandemic, the contribution of ethical discussion on this problem that affects all humanity is extremely relevant.

Online Proctoring: Adding Human Values to the Equation

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an accelerated implementation of digital solutions, such as online proctoring. In this paper we discuss how the use of an ethical matrix may influence the way in which digital solutions are applied. To initiate an ethical discussion, we conducted an online workshop with educators, examiners, controllers, and students to identify risks and opportunities of online proctoring for various stakeholders. We used the Ethical Matrix to structure the meeting. We compared the outcome of the workshop with the outcomes of a proctoring software pilot by examiners. We found that the two approaches led to complementary implementation criteria. The ethical session was less focused on making things work and more on transparency about conditions, processes, and rights. The ethical session also concentrated more on the values of all involved rather than on fraud detection effectiveness.