Ethical Issues Facing Engineers and their Profession (original) (raw)
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ENGINEERING ETHICS AND THE FUTURE
Responding to the demands of the technology-driven global economy, engineers increase their technical competencies, improve cross-cultural communication skills, and become more innovative, entrepreneurial and flexible (Continental, 2006). As the demands on the engineer are increasing and the role of an engineer evolves and becomes more prominent, the importance of teaching engineering ethics to engineering students is increasing too. This article investigates current trends in the teaching of engineering ethics in the context of diverse approaches to evaluating the responsibility of an engineer. The article reveals the complexity of the issue, which confirms the need for future engineers to be competent in dealing with ethical dilemmas. The engineer must be aware of the fact that his or her invention will initiate a chain of events that will involve the use of this invention and will have various social, environmental and legal ramifications, which should be taken into account. The engineer must also be sufficiently prepared to make ethical decisions without sufficient guidance, as the full range of possible future scenarios cannot be foreseen.
(Eds) © Barcelona, 2007 HINDRANCES TO ENGINEERING ETHICS APPRAISAL
2015
Engineering and ethics are, in some aspects, very close together. In fact, more than it is usually recognized. Both of them, the engineer and the individual in society are continually faced to situations that must be dealt with a limited set of resources, a particular code and some accumulated experience. The engineer confronts technical problems while the
Thinking ethics differently (challenges and opportunities for engineers education)
Independent Journal of Management & Production, 2021
Ethics has many definitions, each depending on its domain. In the ancient times, ethics was based on the principles of good action and the search for the common good. Generally, Ethics is understood as a system of moral principles which affect our ways of living. Ethics are related with what is good for society and individuals and is described as moral philosophy. Ethics only makes sense if we put them in the context of human action understood as responsible, creative and communicative. Applied Ethics and Codes of conducts have appeared in the contemporary period. One of the key issues in the engineering education ethics program is the problem of margins/limits of autonomy that will enable future engineers to act ethically in accordance with universal ethical principles and the existing codes of ethics. Computer ethics adds the intellectual property rights, and also the use of personal data. The paper shows a general review of ethics, its history, its evolution, with an emphasis on...
Ethics For First Year Engineers: The Struggle To Build A Solid Foundation
2005 Annual Conference Proceedings
Exploring Engineering is a first semester course taken by all incoming engineering students at Bucknell University. The instructional objectives for this course include introducing the disciplines taught at Bucknell, cultivating technical problem solving skills which serve those disciplines, fostering teamwork and communication skills, and developing an understanding of the history and societal impact of engineering. Two years ago, the course was redesigned and has been successful at achieving the first three objectives (Vigeant et al 2003, Vigeant et al 2004). This paper documents our approach to achieving the specific outcomes associated with the final objective, dealing with societal responsibility. The course outcomes for societal responsibility are that students should be able to define professional ethics and associated terminology and apply the fundamental canons of engineering ethics to generate and defend appropriate solutions to ethical dilemmas. These outcomes are particularly important because it provides the foundation for each department's meeting ABET Program Outcome 3.f, which states graduates "must have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility." Historically, both within this course and others, it has been difficult to convince students not only that engineering ethics is relevant, but that it is teachable. In Exploring Engineering, engineering ethics are presented by a combination of techniques, including descriptive lectures from an ethics expert, case studies, and reading books, culminating in a final paper analyzing an ethical problem. The descriptive lectures are accompanied by a book summarizing the ethical responsibilities of engineers, written specifically for this audience. The case studies are a combination of academic responsibility problems and analysis of engineering disasters or near-disasters. The books each center on historical or fictional accounts involving ethical issues resulting from the creations of engineers. The papers are assigned with the goal that students will synthesize all of this information into a coherent analysis of an ethical dilemma presented by their book. This approach has increased the average student response to the statement "This course has improved my understanding of the ethical and professional responsibilities of engineers" from 3.3 to 4.0 on a five-point scale. While student surveys indicate continued resistance to ethics education, our approach is achieving our outcomes.
Practicing Professional Ethics in Engineering: How This Field is Developed and Its Importance
2020
Many associations of engineers around the world have worked to develop rules in an effort to regulate the ethical practice of the engineer's profession. These rules are usually referred as Code of Ethics for Engineers and tries to explain how an engineer must practice his work with professional ethics. The purpose of this paper is to show, in informative form, how this field has developed around the world and to emphasize the importance of implementing these rules during the practice of the profession of engineer.
Ethical Responsibility in Engineering : A Fundamentation and Proposition of a Pedagogic Methodology
2003
The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines engineering as: “The profesional art of applying science for the optimum conversion of natural resources for mankind.” If we accept this definition we can see that the enphasis is on scientific knowledge and knowing how to apply it. Engineering is a science, which according to Ortega [23], on the basis of scientific knowledge imposes reforms on nature to adapt it for the well being of humanity. In our opinion this means that following the maxim “knowledge is obligation”, the knowledge and power of the engineer must be matched by their sense of responsibility and because of this a consciousness of ethical responsability is intrinsic to the development of an authentic practising profesional in engineering. The fundamental objective of this presentation is to promote arguments in favour of the development and introduction of ethics in technical studies in universities. We will start with a short presentation of the changes in the social context th...
ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES FACING ENGINEERS IN GLOBAL SETTINGS
2000
Very frequently the members of the engineering profession are blamed for a variety of events that have adverse effects on society, the environment, and safety of humans and ecosystems. While technological innovations generally do improve the living standards of people, there were, and are, occasions that cause unforeseen consequences which may prove to be undesirable at best and lethal at
2020
This thesis explores the treatment of ethics within engineering education and practice under a sustainability guise. The approach taken has been to consider influences of rationality, power and ideology in shaping modern society and in framing the treatment of ethics within both engineering education and engineering practice. There is also a consideration of how those influences then shape and Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Background and Rationale for Study
Teaching ethics to engineers – a research-based perspective
European Journal of Engineering Education, 2010
Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.
Engineering Ethics: What? Why? How? And When?
Journal of Engineering Education, 1996
Engineering ethics is professional ethics, as opposed to personal morality. It sets the standards for professional practice, and is only learned in a professional school or in professional practice. It is an essential part ofprofessional education because it helps students deal with issues they will face in professional practice. The best way