Privacy and Personal Autonomy - Ethical, Moral, and Political Issues
Many worry about the extent of their privacy and the limits of their personal autonomy. Both the government and large corporations show signs about wanting to restrict both - either for our own good or for their good. These are political as well as ethical issues because they involve serious social consequences, raise questions about the nature of our duty to one another, and impact social relationships generally.
Privacy vs. Secrecy: Should We be More Open, Not Less?
Most people are afraid of having very personal information being released to the government - they want private data about things like what they buy and read to remain private. Instead of stricter privacy standards, though, should we perhaps have looser ones? Should people just be more open and honest about what they do rather than secretive?
Most people are afraid of having very personal information being released to the government - they want private data about things like what they buy and read to remain private. Instead of stricter privacy standards, though, should we perhaps have looser ones? Should people just be more open and honest about what they do rather than secretive?
Slavery & Happiness: Can a person be a slave if it makes them happy?
By and large, most people will agree that they are opposed to slavery - they find slavery to be immoral, inhumane, and perhaps even one of the most evil institutions ever devised by human beings. Because of this, it is rare to find anyone defending slavery on any level or in any form - it's almost one of those taboo topics that no one really wants to discuss.
By and large, most people will agree that they are opposed to slavery - they find slavery to be immoral, inhumane, and perhaps even one of the most evil institutions ever devised by human beings. Because of this, it is rare to find anyone defending slavery on any level or in any form - it's almost one of those taboo topics that no one really wants to discuss.
RFID Tags: Universal Tracking | Privacy and Tracking Technology
You walk into a local store and within seconds they know your pants size (and how much it fluctuates), that you buy a new tube of hemorrhoid cream every three months, which stores you shop in, your credit rating, and the number of miles on all four of your tires - and that's just for starters. Science fiction? No, science fact. The technology is already here. It's just a matter of deploying it.
You walk into a local store and within seconds they know your pants size (and how much it fluctuates), that you buy a new tube of hemorrhoid cream every three months, which stores you shop in, your credit rating, and the number of miles on all four of your tires - and that's just for starters. Science fiction? No, science fact. The technology is already here. It's just a matter of deploying it.
Sexual Autonomy & Prostition: Sex Sells, but Should Sex be Sold?
Prostitution has long been called the oldest profession in the world - it seems likely that humans have always traded whatever they had in exchange for something they needed, and the one thing that a human always has is his or her own body. Everyone trades something about their body for the necessities of living, so why not sexual activity as well?
Prostitution has long been called the oldest profession in the world - it seems likely that humans have always traded whatever they had in exchange for something they needed, and the one thing that a human always has is his or her own body. Everyone trades something about their body for the necessities of living, so why not sexual activity as well?
Pregnancy & Privacy: Is a Woman's Pregnancy the Government's Business?
People believe that their medical issues are and should remain private. The status of your health is not something that should be made public record or revealed to anyone not involved in your health care. But does pregnancy qualify as a health matter that should be kept private? Perhaps it should, but there are many who have argued that it does not.
People believe that their medical issues are and should remain private. The status of your health is not something that should be made public record or revealed to anyone not involved in your health care. But does pregnancy qualify as a health matter that should be kept private? Perhaps it should, but there are many who have argued that it does not.
Brain Privacy: Are Your Thoughts Safe?
Our privacy seems to be under siege on all fronts: the government, corporations, our employers, and of course even our neighbors seek to obtain more and more information about our lives, our preferences, our habits, and so on. Sometimes it seems as though our last refuge of privacy and security may be our own minds - but maybe not for long.
Our privacy seems to be under siege on all fronts: the government, corporations, our employers, and of course even our neighbors seek to obtain more and more information about our lives, our preferences, our habits, and so on. Sometimes it seems as though our last refuge of privacy and security may be our own minds - but maybe not for long.
Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy
Index of Supreme Court cases either dealing directly with people's right to privacy, or indirectly relating to current debates about the nature of a right to privacy and whether or not such a right is provided for in the Constitution.
Index of Supreme Court cases either dealing directly with people's right to privacy, or indirectly relating to current debates about the nature of a right to privacy and whether or not such a right is provided for in the Constitution.