This article is based on a doctoral thesis completed during 2006 by Johannes Britz at the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
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Perspectives on Global Information Ethics
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Making the global information society good: A social justice perspective on the ethical dimensions of the global information society†
Article first published online: 15 APR 2008
DOI: 10.1002/asi.20848
© 2008 ASIS&T
Issue
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology
Volume 59, Issue 7, pages 1171–1183, May 2008
Additional Information
How to Cite
Britz, J. J. (2008), Making the global information society good: A social justice perspective on the ethical dimensions of the global information society. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci., 59: 1171–1183. doi: 10.1002/asi.20848
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 18 APR 2008
- Article first published online: 15 APR 2008
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Abstract
This article discusses social justice as a moral norm that can be used to address the ethical challenges facing us in the global Information Society. The global Information Society is seen as a continuation of relationships which have been altered by the use of modern information and communication technologies (ICTs). Four interrelated characteristics of the global Information Society also are identified. After a brief overview of the main socioethical issues facing the global Information Society, the article discusses the application of social justice as a moral tool that has universal moral validity and which can be used to address these ethical challenges. It is illustrated that the scope of justice is no longer limited to domestic issues. Three core principles of justice are furthermore distinguished, and based on these three principles, seven categories of justice are introduced. It is illustrated how these categories of justice can be applied to address the main ethical challenges of the Information Society.