Part 1: In your own words, summarize and contrast the harms and benefits of privacy, offering your commentary. Your commentary can include illustrative examples based on your perspective and experience.
Part 2: Offering your own commentary as you see fit, critically evaluate the idea that whistle blowing is a moral duty, focusing primarily on the perspectives of Richard De George and Carlos G. Bell, Jr.
Part 3: From the perspective of Robert Frank and Philip Cook, in your own words, describe the harmful effects of the winner-take-all society in general and the economy in particular. When it seems appropriate, provide examples from your experience or observations.
Sample Answer
Part 1: Harms and Benefits of Privacy
Privacy is fundamentally the right of an individual to exercise control over their personal information, their bodily space, and their personal choices without unwarranted intrusion. Like any concept that balances individual liberty against collective good, it presents both significant benefits and potential harms.
Benefits of Privacy
The core benefits of privacy relate to individual autonomy and security:
Autonomy and Identity: Privacy allows individuals the necessary space for self-development and reflection. It enables people to experiment with ideas, beliefs, and identities without fear of immediate public judgment or ridicule. This freedom is crucial for forming an authentic self.
Security and Safety: Privacy protects individuals from specific harms like discrimination, surveillance, and coercion. For instance, protecting medical history prevents discriminatory hiring decisions, and protecting personal location data safeguards individuals from stalkers or government overreach.
Trust in Institutions: When people trust that their data (medical, financial, communication) will be handled responsibly and kept private, they are more willing to participate fully in necessary institutions like healthcare, government surveys, and banking. This societal trust is vital for collective function.
Harms (Costs) of Privacy
While often seen as purely beneficial, excessive or absolute privacy can impose costs on society:
Hindrance to Collective Security: High levels of privacy can make it easier for individuals or groups to plan and execute illegal or harmful acts (e.g., terrorism, financial fraud, child exploitation) while remaining hidden from law enforcement. The need to protect national security often clashes directly with individual digital privacy rights.
Impediment to Research and Progress: Strict privacy rules, especially around anonymized data, can significantly slow down or halt beneficial scientific and medical research. For example, access to vast, aggregated, anonymized health data is key to fighting pandemics, but privacy regulations often make this difficult.