INQ-120 | Ethics in the Virtual Environment

Full Title: Ethics in the Virtual Environment

Topic Description:

How do ethics and morality apply to the virtual world? To what degree should they apply? What constitutes morally reprehensible game content? Why are some video games selectively prohibited based on content, while others are not? Students will examine multiple sources to evaluate both classical and contemporary ethical theories to answer these questions. This course will focus on prohibited offline actions (such as murder, physical assault, and sexual assault) and the corresponding prohibited actions within the gaming environment. Students will evaluate how these actions are similar and different while answering questions about the morality and psychology of those actions. Students will attempt to reconcile their ability to live a good life while living in both physical and virtual environments.

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: November 2014