Ethics, Technology, and Engineering

Informationen zum Autor 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. Klappentext There are many tough ethical questions at the crossroads of engineering and technology -- ones that are raised on a surprisingly regular basis. For instance, who is responsible for the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion? Do new information systems endanger our privacy? Should new energy technologies be sustainable? Engineers have to deal with such consequential issues not just as private citizens but as highly trained professionals as well. Ethics, Technology, and Engineering teaches engineering students the relevant moral skills for dealing with ethical issues inherent in engineering practice. Featuring a unique systematic approach to dealing with ethical problems known as the 'ethical cycle, ' the book utilizes an abundance of real-life case studies from the U.S., Europe, and across the world to shed important light on the ethical issues that arise in the daily practice of engineers. Topics include ethical issues that arise in engineering design, hazards and risks of technology, organizational settings, sustainability, and others. Also considered are some of the more 'macro-ethical' issues such as atomic power and nanotechnology. Ethics, Technology, and Engineering provides a wealth of enlightening insights into the consideration of ethical issues related to the interplay of engineering with our increasingly technological global society. Zusammenfassung 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. Inhaltsverzeichnis 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 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.

Texte du rabat

There are many tough ethical questions at the crossroads of engineering and technology -- ones that are raised on a surprisingly regular basis. For instance, who is responsible for the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion? Do new information systems endanger our privacy? Should new energy technologies be sustainable? Engineers have to deal with such consequential issues not just as private citizens but as highly trained professionals as well.

Ethics, Technology, and Engineering teaches engineering students the relevant moral skills for dealing with ethical issues inherent in engineering practice. Featuring a unique systematic approach to dealing with ethical problems known as the 'ethical cycle, ' the book utilizes an abundance of real-life case studies from the U.S., Europe, and across the world to shed important light on the ethical issues that arise in the daily practice of engineers. Topics include ethical issues that arise in engineering design, hazards and risks of technology, organizational settings, sustainability, and others. Also considered are some of the more 'macro-ethical' issues such as atomic power and nanotechnology.

Ethics, Technology, and Engineering provides a wealth of enlightening insights into the consideration of ethical issues related to the interplay of engineering with our increasingly technological global society.

Résumé
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.

Contenu

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…