WGU D333 – Ethics in Technology Study Guide
(Utilitarianism, Deontology)|Rationales Verified and A+
Graded Latest Updated 2026
Normative statement
Expresses a value judgment about right or wrong.
Descriptive statement
Describe facts without making judgments.
Ethical framework
A set of principles guiding decisions on what is morally right or wrong.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Enhances the company's reputation, builds customer trust, and ensures long-term sustainability.
Dilemma of allocating scarce resources
A basic problem in ethics regarding the distribution of limited resources.
Challenge of choosing between multiple desirable outcomes
A basic problem in ethics where goals conflict with each other.
Differences in opinions about what is good
A basic problem in ethics regarding varying beliefs on morality and its achievement.
Invisibility factor of computing technologies
Describes issues stemming from the complexity, pervasiveness, and unpredictability of
technology.
Complexity of technology
Users not understanding how technology works.
Pervasiveness
Users are not aware of the embedded technology that comes with usage.
Difficulty anticipating consequences
It's hard to predict the impacts of new technologies.
,Moral imagination
Being aware of potential impacts when making decisions.
Professional societies
Create ethical codes to guide practitioners, offering principles and ensuring standards.
Hippocratic Oath
A pledge by medical professionals to practice medicine ethically, focusing on the wellness of the
patients.
Habitus
Ingrained habits and dispositions from life experiences.
Practical wisdom
The ability to make good decisions based on experience and context.
Heuristics of fear
Make short decisions based on the fear that affects a person.
Deontology
Focuses on adherence to moral duties and doing what is right.
Utilitarianism
Aims to maximize overall happiness.
Consequentialism
Evaluates decisions based on the outcomes.
Communitarianism
Emphasizes community goals and social bonds over individual autonomy.
Virtue Ethics
Focuses on the moral character of the decision-maker rather than the actions themselves or
their outcomes.
Principle of utility in utilitarianism
Seeks to maximize the overall happiness of the majority.
Happiness
,Subjective feeling that can justify harming minorities for the majority's benefit.
Communitarianism
Framework emphasizing the importance of community and social ties in shaping individuals'
identities and values.
Responsibility Ethics
Developed in response to traditional frameworks that overlook systemic issues, power
imbalances, and real-world complexities.
Capability Approach
Evaluates how well people's resources and opportunities enable them to achieve their desired
functions and well-being.
Emotional Labor
Managing and expressing emotions as part of one's job and life, including always smiling even if
sad.
Studying Multiple Ethical Frameworks
Provides a nuanced understanding of ethical issues by offering different perspectives and
criteria for evaluating decisions.
Profession
An occupation requiring specialized education, training, and expertise, often governed by a code
of ethics.
Conflict of Interest
Occurs when a professional's interests or relationships interfere with their ability to perform
their duties impartially.
Licensing
Granting individuals official permission to practice a profession.
Certification
A formal process by which a professional verifies that an individual has met specific
qualifications.
Core Characteristics of a Profession
, Includes specialized knowledge and skills, formal education and training, a code of ethics, self-
regulation, and commitment to public service.
Functions of Codes of Ethics
Inward-facing functions communicate expectations, outward-facing functions inform the public,
and decision-making aids help navigate ethical dilemmas.
Cost Benefit Analysis
Quantifies the costs and benefits of a decision for all affected parties.
Act-utilitarian Approach
Evaluates each possible action based on its consequences and chooses the one that maximizes
overall good.
Rule-utilitarian Approach
Develops rules that, if followed, will produce the most good for the most people.
Golden Rule Approach
Act in a way you would want others to act towards you.
Self-Defeating Approach
Considers if the action would be harmful if everyone acted the same way, thus defeating itself.
Rights Approach
To respect and uphold the rights of all individuals involved.
ACM Code of Ethics
Addresses privacy by emphasizing protecting personal data and confidentiality.
Preventive Ethics
Avoid misconduct with clear rules.
Aspirational Ethics
Promote high ethical standards when using technology.
Professional Societies Interaction with Laws
Includes regulatory compliance to align with legal standards.
IEEE Code of Ethics
(Utilitarianism, Deontology)|Rationales Verified and A+
Graded Latest Updated 2026
Normative statement
Expresses a value judgment about right or wrong.
Descriptive statement
Describe facts without making judgments.
Ethical framework
A set of principles guiding decisions on what is morally right or wrong.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Enhances the company's reputation, builds customer trust, and ensures long-term sustainability.
Dilemma of allocating scarce resources
A basic problem in ethics regarding the distribution of limited resources.
Challenge of choosing between multiple desirable outcomes
A basic problem in ethics where goals conflict with each other.
Differences in opinions about what is good
A basic problem in ethics regarding varying beliefs on morality and its achievement.
Invisibility factor of computing technologies
Describes issues stemming from the complexity, pervasiveness, and unpredictability of
technology.
Complexity of technology
Users not understanding how technology works.
Pervasiveness
Users are not aware of the embedded technology that comes with usage.
Difficulty anticipating consequences
It's hard to predict the impacts of new technologies.
,Moral imagination
Being aware of potential impacts when making decisions.
Professional societies
Create ethical codes to guide practitioners, offering principles and ensuring standards.
Hippocratic Oath
A pledge by medical professionals to practice medicine ethically, focusing on the wellness of the
patients.
Habitus
Ingrained habits and dispositions from life experiences.
Practical wisdom
The ability to make good decisions based on experience and context.
Heuristics of fear
Make short decisions based on the fear that affects a person.
Deontology
Focuses on adherence to moral duties and doing what is right.
Utilitarianism
Aims to maximize overall happiness.
Consequentialism
Evaluates decisions based on the outcomes.
Communitarianism
Emphasizes community goals and social bonds over individual autonomy.
Virtue Ethics
Focuses on the moral character of the decision-maker rather than the actions themselves or
their outcomes.
Principle of utility in utilitarianism
Seeks to maximize the overall happiness of the majority.
Happiness
,Subjective feeling that can justify harming minorities for the majority's benefit.
Communitarianism
Framework emphasizing the importance of community and social ties in shaping individuals'
identities and values.
Responsibility Ethics
Developed in response to traditional frameworks that overlook systemic issues, power
imbalances, and real-world complexities.
Capability Approach
Evaluates how well people's resources and opportunities enable them to achieve their desired
functions and well-being.
Emotional Labor
Managing and expressing emotions as part of one's job and life, including always smiling even if
sad.
Studying Multiple Ethical Frameworks
Provides a nuanced understanding of ethical issues by offering different perspectives and
criteria for evaluating decisions.
Profession
An occupation requiring specialized education, training, and expertise, often governed by a code
of ethics.
Conflict of Interest
Occurs when a professional's interests or relationships interfere with their ability to perform
their duties impartially.
Licensing
Granting individuals official permission to practice a profession.
Certification
A formal process by which a professional verifies that an individual has met specific
qualifications.
Core Characteristics of a Profession
, Includes specialized knowledge and skills, formal education and training, a code of ethics, self-
regulation, and commitment to public service.
Functions of Codes of Ethics
Inward-facing functions communicate expectations, outward-facing functions inform the public,
and decision-making aids help navigate ethical dilemmas.
Cost Benefit Analysis
Quantifies the costs and benefits of a decision for all affected parties.
Act-utilitarian Approach
Evaluates each possible action based on its consequences and chooses the one that maximizes
overall good.
Rule-utilitarian Approach
Develops rules that, if followed, will produce the most good for the most people.
Golden Rule Approach
Act in a way you would want others to act towards you.
Self-Defeating Approach
Considers if the action would be harmful if everyone acted the same way, thus defeating itself.
Rights Approach
To respect and uphold the rights of all individuals involved.
ACM Code of Ethics
Addresses privacy by emphasizing protecting personal data and confidentiality.
Preventive Ethics
Avoid misconduct with clear rules.
Aspirational Ethics
Promote high ethical standards when using technology.
Professional Societies Interaction with Laws
Includes regulatory compliance to align with legal standards.
IEEE Code of Ethics
