International Journal of Ethics and Society

Introduction: The increasing proliferation of artificial intelligence systems and algorithmic decision-making in domains such as criminal justice, employment, resource allocation, and public policymaking has brought about wide-ranging ethical and social implications. Although these systems are often deployed with the aim of enhancing efficiency and neutrality, scientific research shows that algorithms can reproduce or intensify structural discrimination and historical inequalities. This review article adopts an interdisciplinary approach to survey the scholarly literature on the ethics of algorithmic decision-making and to analyze the role of algorithms in justice, discrimination, transparency, responsibility, and accountability. The article focuses on explicating ethical theoretical frameworks, examining social and political consequences, and identifying gaps and contradictions in prior research. Material and Methods: It is a narrative review article that focuses on the existing scholarly literature to analyze the ethical dimensions of algorithmic ethical decision-making. Previous studies were analyzed and then the subject was explained. Conclusion: The findings of this review indicate that addressing the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence requires moving beyond purely technical solutions and paying serious attention to social, institutional, and political contexts. Lack of transparency, diffusion of responsibility, and weak accountability mechanisms can lead to the legitimization of unjust algorithmic decisions. The article concludes that the development and deployment of fair artificial intelligence necessitate ethics-centered design, stakeholder participation, effective institutional oversight, and interdisciplinary, context-sensitive research, so that this technology can serve to reduce discrimination and promote social justice.

Introduction: The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) as one of the most transformative technologies of the digital age has led to the production and processing of vast volumes of personal and contextual data. While this transformation offers significant opportunities to improve quality of life, it also generates profound ethical challenges, particularly in the areas of privacy and data management. The invisible, automated, and pervasive nature of data collection within the IoT ecosystem calls into question traditional concepts of informed consent, individual control over data, and ethical accountability, and intensifies risks such as pervasive surveillance, data misuse, information insecurity, and the erosion of individual autonomy. Material and Methods: This article adopts a review–analytical approach to examine the scientific literature related to data ethics and privacy in the Internet of Things. Based on existing studies, it explores the foundational aspects of the topic and ultimately draws conclusions from the information reviewed. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that privacy in this context requires a contextual and relational redefinition. The findings indicate that ethical responsibility within the IoT data cycle is distributed in nature, and that multiple actors-from designers and companies to governments-play a fundamental role in upholding principles of data ethics. Ultimately, it can be argued that adherence to data ethics and privacy principles is a prerequisite for the formation of social trust and the sustainable acceptance of the Internet of Things. Without simultaneous attention to technical, ethical, and social dimensions, the development of this technology will face serious challenges.

Introduction: The primary aim of this article is to explicate the key role of universities in cultivating moral virtues and promoting a moral culture within society. Nixon believes that universities ought to become environments for nurturing human virtues such as social justice, civic responsibility, honesty, authenticity, and magnanimity. Material and Methods: This study adopts a qualitative approach to the educational analysis of moral virtues in higher education from John Nixon’s perspective. To elucidate moral virtues from Nixon’s viewpoint, the “conceptual analysis method” is employed. The textual corpus of the present study is Nixon’s book Towards a Virtuous University. In addition, sources related to the ethical conditions of higher education systems - such as scholarly articles and research reports - are examined. Data collection tools include library resources, academic documents, and Nixon’s works. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of promoting these virtues within higher education and creating ethically oriented learning environments. This can lead to the cultivation of committed and responsible individuals capable of active participation in building a more ethical society. Overall, the study underscores the significance of fostering moral virtues in universities and academic environments, as well as the role of these institutions in enhancing the moral culture of society.

Introduction: The intensification of environmental crises in urban societies, particularly in the context of accelerating climate change, has turned environmental policy into one of the most important arenas of public decision-making. Cities are, on the one hand, major centers of pollution generation and resource consumption, and on the other hand, they concentrate the highest levels of social inequality and environmental vulnerability. Within this context, urban environmental policies face complex ethical challenges related to the distribution of responsibilities, costs, and benefits among citizens and institutions. Drawing on the literature of environmental ethics and climate justice, this article seeks to rethink the concept of individual responsibility, examine the tension between environmental efficiency and social justice, and analyze the role of urban institutions and structures in the redistribution of responsibilities. Material and Methods: This research was conducted as a narrative–analytical review article. To this end, reputable scientific sources published in international databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE, and Google Scholar were systematically searched. The information obtained from the studies was analyzed and conclusions were drawn based on the analyses. Conclusion: The analytical findings indicate that an exclusive focus on individual responsibility, without due attention to structural and institutional constraints, can lead to the reproduction of urban inequalities and undermine the legitimacy of environmental policies. Climate justice, as a normative framework, enables the integration of environmental efficiency, social justice, and institutional responsibility, and redefines the criteria for policy evaluation. The article concludes that the design of just urban environmental policies requires a multidimensional approach in which citizen empowerment, institutional accountability, and the reduction of social inequalities are pursued simultaneously. Such an approach constitutes a fundamental condition for achieving environmental sustainability and social justice in contemporary cities.

Introduction: In democratic systems, the moral characteristics of presidential candidates play a significant role in political legitimacy and public trust. Two fundamental ethical principles in this context are accountability and trustworthiness, which manifest through legal principles and statutory duties. Accountability refers to accepting the consequences of decisions and being answerable to the people and institutions, while trustworthiness implies safeguarding public interests and preventing the abuse of power. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the ethical components of accountability and trustworthiness among presidential election candidates within the legal frameworks of Iran and Iraq. Material and Methods: The present study is a review that examines responsibility and trustworthiness of presidential election candidates in the legal systems of Iran and Iraq. In order to achieve this goal, related articles and books were examined. Conclusion: From a legal standpoint, Article 115 of the Iranian Constitution stipulates that the president must be "a manager and prudent," which inherently requires accountability. Furthermore, Islamic ethical teachings place strong emphasis on rulers being responsible and answerable (such as the hadith: "Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock"), and in this regard, the Guardian Council oversees candidates' qualifications with attention to their sense of responsibility. In Iraq’s legal system, Article 68 of the Constitution requires the president to have a good reputation, competence, and loyalty to the country. Based on Islamic ethical teachings and tribal traditions in Iraq, accountability is also considered a value.

Introduction: In contemporary societies, educational systems play a key role in shaping culture and transferring knowledge to future generations. The content of school textbooks not only influences students' scientific understanding but also plays a central role in shaping their identity, beliefs, and values. Given this importance, what happens if this content includes the immoral phenomenon of sexism? Therefore, the main objective of this study is to analyze the content of lower secondary school science textbooks based on the immoral category of sexism. Material and Methods: This research falls within the scope of qualitative studies and is categorized as fundamental research. The statistical population of this study consists of the science textbooks used in the lower secondary education level, which includes three volumes. The units of content analysis include images, texts, questions, and end-of-chapter tests. The study was conducted using the content analysis method. Results: Gender representation in lower secondary science textbooks significantly reinforces traditional gender stereotypes. Quantitative analysis revealed that scientific, technical, and managerial roles are predominantly assigned to men, while women are confined to domestic, supportive, and educational roles. Qualitative analysis also indicated that names and images are represented in a way that highlights men’s positions in leadership and scientific roles, while women are portrayed with limited and passive presence. Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that lower secondary school textbooks contain the immoral phenomenon of sexism. These patterns indicate the necessity of revising textbook content in order to achieve gender equality

Introduction: While considerable research has explored cyberbullying (CB) and its related factors, including moral disengagement (MD), moral identity (MI), and individual characteristics, the interplay of these elements remains underexplored, particularly among Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Material and Methods: Through proposing a new moderated-mediation model, this study investigated the mediating role of MI in the relationship between MD and CB, and the moderating role of artificial intelligence self-efficacy (AISE) in these connections. Applying a stratified random sampling, data were collected from 600 Iranian EFL learners using four standard questionnaires. Results: The findings suggest that MI mediates the connection between MD and CB, while AISE moderates these relationships, highlighting the importance of fostering MI and responsible AI tool use in EFL contexts to mitigate CB. Conclusion: The present investigation enhanced students' awareness of CB and fostered a culture of responsible digital citizenship, ultimately contributing to safer online learning environments. The implications suggested interventions and educational strategies designed to cultivate a more ethical and digitally responsible learning environment, finally reducing the prevalence of CB among EFL learners.

Introduction: Learning agility is an important area of study among consumers due to its significant impact on adaptability and success. The exploration of learning agility in marketing is increasing; however, little attention has been paid so far to its predictors and consequences. The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between organizational ethical values and learning agility in football club consumers. Material and Methods: This research is descriptive-correlational in nature. The statistical population included customers of sports clubs in Iraq, and a sample of 411 individuals was selected using stratified sampling. The study utilized the Learning Agility Questionnaire by Gravett and Caldwell and the Organizational Ethical Values Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and the SPSS version 18 and PLS version 4 software packages. Results: The results showed that ethical values have a significant relationship with learning agility. Conclusion: The present study highlighted that ethical values play an important role in learning agility, which leads to perceived value in the use of sports services by consumers.