107
services. Each of these sub-sections presents literature within the context
of ethical analysis as outlined in Sect. 6.2; it should however be noted that
due to the limitations previously outlined on the depth of ethical analysis,
the section is sometimes presented as a critical collection of existing contribution on the theme. The Conclusions section hosts final reflections
and outlines avenues for further research; ultimately, it suggests that ethical analysis pertinent to cloud computing needs to be more ethically
grounded, if it seeks to contribute authoritatively to wider ethical debates
regarding the ethics of new technologies.
6.2 An overvIew of ethIcs And ethIcAl theorIes
for AnAlysIs of cloud computIng
Before reviewing existing literature about the ethics of cloud computing,
it is important to understand what ethics is, and who the main thinkers
that nourished the debate in this branch of philosophy are. Throughout
history, many thinkers devoted attention to human actions and asked fundamental questions about their meaning and purpose, reaching very different—and even contrasting—conclusions. For example, Aristotle
regarded ethics as a discipline to study the way human beings live and act
in order to achieve a life worth living. Aristotle’s inquiry was not only
theoretical, but also eminently practical: he focused his attention to studying the habitual dispositions that human beings can develop when working towards the realization of their good, which he called virtues (Aristotle
2000). He is considered one of the fathers of Virtue Ethics, one of the
most prominent ethical theories. Other thinkers studied questions similar
to those of Aristotle, but arrived at different conclusions. The seminal
work of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, as well as Immanuel Kant,
considered to be the fathers of Utilitarianism and Deontological Ethics,
respectively, is also very significant. For Bentham, the guiding principle for
human actions was the principle of utility, which he first formulated as the
achievement of the greatest good for the greatest number of people
(Crimmins 2019). Utilitarianism established itself as one of the most pervasive normative ethical theories and considers as “right” that which
achieves the satisfaction of the highest number of people possible. Its main
focus is on the consequences of human actions, up to the point of considering undesirable actions as “right” if they can in turn achieve desirable
outcomes. Despite recognized shortcomings, Utilitarianism inspired many
6 ETHICS AND CLOUD COMPUTING
services. Each of these sub-sections presents literature within the context
of ethical analysis as outlined in Sect. 6.2; it should however be noted that
due to the limitations previously outlined on the depth of ethical analysis,
the section is sometimes presented as a critical collection of existing contribution on the theme. The Conclusions section hosts final reflections
and outlines avenues for further research; ultimately, it suggests that ethical analysis pertinent to cloud computing needs to be more ethically
grounded, if it seeks to contribute authoritatively to wider ethical debates
regarding the ethics of new technologies.
6.2 An overvIew of ethIcs And ethIcAl theorIes
for AnAlysIs of cloud computIng
Before reviewing existing literature about the ethics of cloud computing,
it is important to understand what ethics is, and who the main thinkers
that nourished the debate in this branch of philosophy are. Throughout
history, many thinkers devoted attention to human actions and asked fundamental questions about their meaning and purpose, reaching very different—and even contrasting—conclusions. For example, Aristotle
regarded ethics as a discipline to study the way human beings live and act
in order to achieve a life worth living. Aristotle’s inquiry was not only
theoretical, but also eminently practical: he focused his attention to studying the habitual dispositions that human beings can develop when working towards the realization of their good, which he called virtues (Aristotle
2000). He is considered one of the fathers of Virtue Ethics, one of the
most prominent ethical theories. Other thinkers studied questions similar
to those of Aristotle, but arrived at different conclusions. The seminal
work of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, as well as Immanuel Kant,
considered to be the fathers of Utilitarianism and Deontological Ethics,
respectively, is also very significant. For Bentham, the guiding principle for
human actions was the principle of utility, which he first formulated as the
achievement of the greatest good for the greatest number of people
(Crimmins 2019). Utilitarianism established itself as one of the most pervasive normative ethical theories and considers as “right” that which
achieves the satisfaction of the highest number of people possible. Its main
focus is on the consequences of human actions, up to the point of considering undesirable actions as “right” if they can in turn achieve desirable
outcomes. Despite recognized shortcomings, Utilitarianism inspired many
6 ETHICS AND CLOUD COMPUTING