Raymundo, Jino

1.

Based in Aristotle’s golden mean, which is the intermediate of good and evil, downloading is wrong in the sense that you are taking too much from the author without paying him anything. It could also be attributed to stealing. According to Aristotle, taking in too much of something is bad. Illegal downloading would take too much of the author/actor/artist’s work. It could also be right if the downloader chooses not to use the program/music/video as a direct source of income. It would be right to just use the downloaded data for personal use, maybe of educational purpose and deleting the file afterwards. Some people may just want to try things out before they purchase an original copy. Say, for example, John wants to know how the new 311 album sounds like before even considering on buying the original release. But in the 311 site, no samples are provided. John always has the option to illegally download the album from certain sites. He must bear in mind that after he has evaluated the album as worth buying or not, he must delete the file.

2.

            Downloading can be right based on Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative. This is if you strongly believe that downloading files is right because you are able to download them and you don’t mind if the same is done to you. For example, you’ve downloaded Mr. X’s ebooks in his site by hacking through it. You must not feel bad if someone steals your files too. It can be wrong if you don’t want others to do the same to you. If you think you deserve to get paid for your files that are posted on the Internet, then downloading really is wrong. “Act on something that you can fully accept the fact that other people can do the same thing to you.” If you find it right to use someone else’s work then it is right, otherwise not.

3.

Utilitarianism’s view on Downloading is that is right if its for the benefit of the majority. For example, some people don’t have the financial capability to buy the original copy of the Adobe Creative Suite 4. But they have been excellent in Adobe CS3, bu they have to get updated. They have the option to get the cracked version online. It is right in this way, because a significant amount of digital artists here in the Philippines could not afford buying the costly original version. It can also be wrong if a lot of people would be on a disadvantage because of downloading, For example, in a certain town, about 60% of the population contributed on programming software and they posted it online. The remaining 40% can choose to steal the software by illegally downloading it. Thus, the principle of utility is contradicted.

4.

            Downloading is right if you think you are supreme in nature and you are the one to create values. You think and feel that you are the one who dictates right from wrong. So, if you think downloading is right, no matter what consequences are to be dealt with, then it is automatically right. But if you consider yourself as a follower, then downloading is wrong.