Morality in Computer Games: A Phenomenological Approach

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Morality in Computer GamesA Phenomenological
Approach

• GEERT GOOSKENS
• RESEARCH FOUNDATION FLANDERS
• UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

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Introduction

• Extended possibilities doing things we cannot do
  and doing things we should not do.
• Can we apply the predicates of right and
  wrong to in-game actions? Or do games
  constitute a domain beyond good and evil?

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Overview

• Freedom as the necessary condition for calling
  in-game actions right or wrong.
• The fulfillment of this necessary condition is
  not sufficient to morally judge in-game action.
• Why immorality in computer games can still
  bother us.

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1. In-game freedom

• Two types of practical rationality
• (a) Instrumental reasoning.
• (b) Moral reasoning.
• If computer games allow us to act freely, why not
  simply use normal, non-virtual ethical paradigms
  to judge in-game actions right or wrong?

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2. What makes labeling in-game actions right or
wrong problematic.

• Being-in-a-virtual-world image-consciousness.
• Image-consciousness neutrality / as-if.
• Neutrality and morality two problems.
• (a) Consequentialism and deontology
  challenged.
• (b) Identity and responsibility challenged.

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3. Discomfort and relief why immorality in
games still bothers us.

• Discomfort and relief in the theatre.
• Depiction (emphasis on difference) versus
  imagination (emphasis on identity).
• Depiction and imagination in games how virtual
  immorality can contaminate the player.