Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction

Featuring a wide range of international case studies, Ethics, Technology, and Engineering presents a unique and systematic approach for engineering students to deal with the ethical issues that are increasingly inherent in engineering practice. Utilizes a systematic approach to ethical case analysis -- the ethical cycle -- which features a wide range of real-life international case studies including the Challenger Space Shuttle, the Herald of Free Enterprise and biofuels. Covers a broad range of topics, including ethics in design, risks, responsibility, sustainability, and emerging technologies Can be used in conjunction with the online ethics tool Agora (http://www.ethicsandtechnology.com) Provides engineering students with a clear introduction to the main ethical theories Includes an extensive glossary with key terms

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments x Introduction 1 1 The Responsibilities of Engineers 6 1.1 Introduction 7 1.2 Responsibility 9 1.3 Passive Responsibility 10 1.4 Active Responsibility and the Ideals of Engineers 13 1.5 Engineers versus Managers 21 1.6 The Social Context of Technological Development 25 1.7 Chapter Summary 28 Study Questions 29 Discussion Questions 30 2 Codes of Conduct 31 2.1 Introduction 32 2.2 Codes of Conduct 33 2.3 Possibilities and Limitations of Codes of Conduct 43 2.4 Codes of Conduct in an International Context 54 2.5 Chapter Summary 61 Study Questions 62 Discussion Questions 63 3 Normative Ethics 65 3.1 Introduction 67 3.2 Ethics and Morality 70 3.3 Descriptive and Normative Judgments 71 3.4 Points of Departure: Values, Norms, and Virtues 72 3.5 Relativism and Absolutism 75 3.6 Ethical Theories 77 3.7 Utilitarianism 78 3.8 Kantian Theory 89 3.9 Virtue Ethics 95 3.10 Care Ethics 102 3.11 Applied Ethics 105 3.12 Chapter Summary 106 Study Questions 107 Discussion Questions 108 4 Normative Argumentation 109 4.1 Introduction 110 4.2 Valid Arguments 113 4.3 Deductive and Non-Deductive Arguments 116 4.4 Arguments in Ethical Theories 118 4.5 Fallacies 127 4.6 Chapter Summary 131 Study Questions 131 Discussion Questions 132 5 The Ethical Cycle 133 5.1 Introduction 134 5.2 Ill-Structured Problems 135 5.3 The Ethical Cycle 137 5.4 An Example 147 5.5 Collective Moral Deliberation and Social Arrangements 155 5.6 Chapter Summary 157 Study Questions 158 Discussion Questions 159 6 Ethical Questions in the Design of Technology 161 6.1 Introduction 163 6.2 Ethical Issues During the Design Process 165 6.3 Trade-offs and Value Conflicts 177 6.4 Regulatory Frameworks: Normal and Radical Design 190 6.5 Chapter Summary 194 Study Questions 195 Discussion Questions 197 7 Designing Morality 198 Peter-Paul Verbeek 7.1 Introduction 199 7.2 Ethics as a Matter of Things 200 7.3 Technological Mediation 201 7.4 Moralizing Technology 205 7.5 Designing Mediations 211 7.6 Chapter Summary 214 Study Questions 215 Discussion Questions 216 8 Ethical Aspects of Technical Risks 217 8.1 Introduction 219 8.2 Definitions of Central Terms 221 8.3 The Engineer’s Responsibility for Safety 223 8.4 Risk Assessment 225 8.5 When are Risks Acceptable? 228 8.6 Risk Communication 236 8.7 Dealing with Uncertainty and Ignorance 237 8.8 Chapter Summary 244 Study Questions 245 Discussion Questions 247 9 The Distribution of Responsibility in Engineering 249 9.1 Introduction 250 9.2 The Problem of Many Hands 252 9.3 Responsibility and the Law 258 9.4 Responsibility in Organizations 263 9.5 Responsibility Distributions and Technological Designs 267 9.6 Chapter Summary 272 Study Questions 273 Discussion Questions 274 10 Sustainability, Ethics, and Technology 277 Michiel Brumsen 10.1 Introduction 278 10.2 Environmental Ethics? 280 10.3 Environmental Problems 281 10.4 Sustainable Development 283 10.5 Can a Sustainable Society be Realized? 289 10.6 Engineers and Sustainability 291 10.7 Chapter Summary 298 Study Questions 299 Discussion Questions 300 Appendix I: Engineering Qualifications and Organizations in a Number of Countries 301 Appendix II: NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers 307 Appendix III: FEANI Position Paper on Code of Conduct: Ethics and Conduct of Professional Engineers 313 Appendix IV: Shell Code of Conduct 315 Appendix V: DSM Values and Whistle Blowing Policy 320 Glossary 329 References 340 Index of Cases 351 Index 352

About the Author :
Ibo van de Poel is Associate Professor in Ethics and Technology at Delft University of Technology. He is an associate editor of the Handbook of Philosophy of Technology and the Engineering Sciences (2009) and co-editor of Philosophy and Engineering (2010). Lambèr Royakkers is Associate Professor in Ethics of Technology at Eindhoven University of Technology, and Associate Professor in Military Ethics at Netherlands Defense Academy. He is also Project Leader of the research programme Moral Fitness of Military Personnel in a Networked Environment, sponsored by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.