Baghdad Quote by Anonymous
“It should be noted that no ethically-trained software engineer would ever consent to write a DestroyBaghdad procedure. Basic professional ethics would instead require him to write a DestroyCity procedure, to which Baghdad could be given as a parameter.”
About This Quote
Professional ethics demand generic, non‑targeted code rather than specific destructive commands.
In simple terms: Engineers should write neutral tools, not harmful scripts.
Key Takeaway
Avoid creating location‑specific weapons.
Themes
ethics
software development
responsibility
security
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
prescriptive
ethical
When to use this quote
- software design
- security policy
- AI governance
Key Concepts
code of conduct
risk mitigation
parameterization
Questions to Reflect On
- Is generic code truly safer?
- How to enforce ethical coding standards?
A Different Perspective
May be unrealistic for certain security contexts.
![“[I]t being reasonable and just, I should have a right to destroy that which threatens me with destruction: for by the fundamental law of nature, man being to be preserved as much as possible, when all cannot be preserved, the safety of the innocent is to be preferred: and one may destroy a man who…” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7d/john-locke-814_destruction_i-t-being-reasonable-and-just-i-should-h_404829.jpg)
