A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computers and the Internet

by Sara Baase

This book explores social, legal, philosophical, ethical, political, constitutional and economic implications of computing from a computer scientist's point of view. It covers the issues individuals face as members of a technological society and offers guidance for professionals in computer-related fields. One of the book's goals is to develop computer professionals who understand the implications of what they create and how it fits into society at large. Chapter topics cover privacy and personal information, encryption and interception of communications, freedom of speech in cyberspace, intellectual property, computer crime, computers and work, broader issues on the impact and control of computers, and professional ethics and responsibilities. For programmers and software engineers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Technology, Computer Science, School, Reference, Philosophy, Programming

500 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have used previous editions of this book as the basis for my Social Implications of Computer course and was very happy with it. While some improvements have been made in this latest edition and the writing is still superb, on the whole I believe it is not as good as it used to be. There's just too much missing for how much book there is for me to highly recommend basing a course on it.

Some of my reading notes:

- Updates to the Work chapter are excellent
- The chapter on Evaluating and Controlling Technology contains a very good discussion on evaluating information. I may have missed it but this chapter seems to have no mention of the Amish, an excellent example of a society that executes the chapter title.
- Be nice if there were chapters/sections on:
- The History of Computing
- Critical Thinking / Logical Arguments
- I wish there were footnotes, makes the reading that much easier
- Editorializing could be perceived as good or bad
- Only three images in the entire book, all comic strips. Illustrations often make simple what words can make seem complex.
- Near complete lack of discussion concerning military related computing
- Weak coverage of Trade/Service Marks and Trade Secrets (Software as a Service)
- The chapter on Crime might be better rearranged in chronological order, easier to follow and better set the context of its message.
- The chapter on Errors, Failures, and Risks would be well served by including a section on the 1990's Patriot Missile.
- Chapters often refer to one another making this a more difficult text to cover in an alternate order.
- The chapter on Professional Ethics and Responsibilities is missing discussion of what a profession is, common attributes of professions, and the role those attributes play.

[Sean Brown]

A very informative and interesting book, great for anyone planning on going into Library Science or any kind of IT field!

[Juleah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for class

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book in teaching Social Implications Of Information Processing at WPI. I plan on using it again and would recommend it to others. I plan on switching to the latest edition next academic year.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice update to the previous edition. In a field like this it is tough to keep up with the changes. Baase does a good job of this.

[Ashlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"As the Internet of Things expands to umbrellas and tampons" Need I say more

[أكرم الشميري]

n

[Arman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book for a “Information Technology in a Global Society” class yet didn’t bother to open it. Now, having read the entire book, it has sparked an interest for Ethical, Political, and Legal theories that this book discusses, even independent of Information Technology. However, the reason why I’m giving this book a 3 star review is mostly due to the case studies and theory focus on the Western World, especially the United States, and was occasionally quite a heavy read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a social informatics class. It was surprisingly entertaining for a textbook, and I learned quite a lot. I won't go so far as to say it's a digital literacy must read - but it would definitely benefit anyone who wants a working knowledge of the history of issues like online privacy, the evolution of copyright, and what information technology actually means in the 21st century.

[Omniyyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب جداً ممتع ويجعلك تفكر بشكل أكبر وتتسائل، كان مقرر علي أجزاء منه بالجامعة لكني قرأته بشكل جانبي لشدة اعجابي بالمحتوى وأسلوب الكاتبة بالاضافة إلى أهمية الأمور التي ناقشتها وتعرضت لها من وجهة نظر أخلاقية وفلسفية.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a perfect text to address the ethical issues facing technologists, but overall very well done. It's clear the authors tried to present these topics without bias. I think it would benefit from having more examples in opposite camps for each topic.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really is a fantastic book. It makes you think, introduces you to a wealth of perspectives on given situations, and doesn't shy from being long. The updated edition looks at new legislation and events. It's gotta be near the top of its class for the material it's trying to introduce.

[Dorian Benitez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this textbook for my Professional Responsibility in Computer Science and Software Engineering course, SE 3162, with Dr. Klyne Smith at the University of Texas at Dallas. Spring 2019 semester.

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for class this is a good start into exploring the Ethical, Socil and legal issues facing technology and those who work in the filed.

[Mjaballah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for class. I remember it highlighted the many grey lines one needs to be careful with in computer science.

[Aishwarya Auti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one as a part of my masters curriculum but god did it make me think! Think about the ways we live or want to live. A hard truth teller and reality checker!

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having been assigned "The Gift of Fire" by Sara Baase for a class, I approached the book with cautious optimism, hoping to find insights and inspiration within its pages. However, my experience with the text left much to be desired, as it failed to meet even the most basic expectations.

Baase's work, touted as an exploration of the ethical and societal implications of technology, falls short on multiple fronts. From the outset, the writing feels uninspired and lacks the engaging prose necessary to sustain interest. The narrative meanders aimlessly, failing to coalesce into a cohesive exploration of its purported themes.

Furthermore, the characters within "The Gift of Fire" are thinly drawn and lack depth, making it difficult to invest in their struggles or motivations. Instead of serving as conduits for exploring complex ethical dilemmas, they come across as mere caricatures, devoid of the nuance necessary to make them relatable or compelling.

Perhaps most disappointing is the book's treatment of its central themes. While the ethical implications of technology are undeniably rich fodder for exploration, Baase's approach feels superficial and lacking in critical insight. Rather than engaging with the complexities of these issues, the book often resorts to simplistic moralizing, offering little in the way of meaningful analysis or reflection.

Overall, "The Gift of Fire" proves to be a lackluster addition to the canon of literature on technology and society. Its shallow characters, lackluster prose, and superficial treatment of its central themes make it a difficult read, particularly for those who were hoping for a more insightful exploration of the ethical implications of technology.

[Morgan Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, bite-sized textbook that touches on general issues of the information age.

The information presented in this text may be outdated, but it serves a great purpose in identifying the major issues that plague a world inundated with internet and internet services.

Almost all major topics of computing are explained, from cyber security to the surveillance state. As well as this, a decent-sized section on the legality of computer usage and hacking makes for interesting reading more than a decade later.

Baase offers insightful commentary and jam-packed information in this text, and those interested in the early history of modern computing will find a lot to pore over. Sidebars include case studies and recent events {from back then} that help to flesh out certain aspects of internet law and study.

Recommended reading for tech enthusiasts even in more recent times.

[Astrid · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is pedantic and the author reveals a complete lack of understanding how the world works. Many of the 'complex problems' outlined in the book are obvious.

The author's views on important topic such as freedom of information, hacking, and software engineering are at times ridiculous and frustrating.

I took college level class with this book and while the class itself was interesting and facilitated good discussion; the textbook was universally loathed.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers subjects ranging from hacking to telecommuting to proper testing techniques and everything in between. The author remains neutral, presenting benefits and risks equally throughout the book, and a great deal of history in the process. Her style is to ask questions of the reader to help with critical thinking. The text includes many real world examples and flows well, making this an easy and informative read.

[Maisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book gave a good overview on the murky moral waters that come with technological progress. It made me realize that some concepts I had previously thought were simple to solve actually are more nuanced than they appear. I think Chapter 6 had weird amounts of bias in an otherwise neutral book. Other than that, it was an OK read that every computer science professional should read or at least be aware of the topics discussed.

[Lorence John]

d

[Brenda Wamsley]

Good.informative.

[Ruth Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for class. Had some interesting parts but I'm just not a computer nut! =)

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an interesting read actually. It gave a lot of background on court rulings that have really shaped the digital media landscape we have today.

[~wow~ h_wow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I studied this book in the university AOU, it's nice.
الكتاب ممتع وأسلوب الكاتب جذاب ،، كان مقرر علينا في الجامعة

[Mayurathan]

It's a great book for ethical studies especially for undergraduate students

[Daniele (Life of a Quinn)]

you can bet im gonna count my textbooks toward my reading goal cause they took up the majority of the past few months and i legit read them from start to finish 🙃

[Vonee Puguon]

I haven't read yet..