Ethical codes and values in a virtual world.

Abstract

Some members of the so-called virtual world deny that technology such as the virtual environment (VE) is value-laden. But there are a variety of complex issues which arise in VE that make it necessary to think about ethics and values in VE applications. Using VE in therapy and psychotherapy research or diagnostics leads to several ethical concerns. VE can impoverish those aspects of life that are essential to social development, interpersonal relations, and emotional growth. This paper will focus on the concept called "virtual world," a question of metaphysics. After reviewing general ethical principles, ethics in applied sciences will be described. Ethical decision-making, code of conduct, and specific issues in VE will be discussed. The VE community is challenged to set guidelines around VE, and its ethics and values. A set of measurement tools around ethical codes and values in a virtual world ought to be discursively gained in this virtual world and in real society as a whole.