Method in Computer Ethics: Towards a Multi-Level Interdisciplinary Approach. Towards a multi-level interdisciplinary approach

This essay considers methodological aspects of computer ethics and argues for a multi-level interdisciplinary approach with a central role for what is called disclosive computer ethics. Disclosive computer ethics is concerned with the moral deciphering of embedded values and norms in computer systems, applications and practices. In the methodology for computer ethics research proposed in the essay, research takes place at three levels: the disclosure level, in which ideally philosophers, computer scientists and social scientists collaborate to disclose embedded normativity in computer systems and practices, the theoretical level, in which philosophers develop and modify moral theory, and the application level, that draws from research performed at the other two levels, and at which normative evaluations of computer systems and practices takes place.