McGinn, Robert E.
The ethical engineer : contemporary concepts and cases / Robert E. McGinn. - Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2018] - x, 340 p. : ill. ; 25 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 313-327) and index
The ethics gap in contemporary engineering: Professional engineering society codes of ethics. -- The fundamental ethical responsibilities of engineers: Preface. Chapter 1. Two vignettes ; A gap between education and experience ; Evidence ; Importance ; Unfruitful approaches to bridging the gap ; Preferred approach. -- Chapter 2. Sociological and ethical preliminaries: Sociology of engineering ; Chapter 3. An ethical responsibilities approach ; Ethical issues and harm ; The fundamental ethical responsibilities of engineers. -- The Cadillac DeVille/Seville engine-control chip SDI battlefield management software Collaborative research practices at Bell Labs The Apple Newton MessagePad An employee database management system ; The Citicorp Center Tower The Union Carbide MIC plant in Bhopal The space shuttle Challenger A composite-material bicycle project Nanotechnology R&D The Ford Pinto Topf & Sons : crematorium ovens for the Nazi SS TRW and the US ballistic missile defense system The Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel walkways The Manhattan Westway Project Innovations for rural Kenyan farmers Google street view -- Opiod biosynthesis and neural enhancement. -- Chapter 4. Case studies of ethical issues in engineering: Case 1. (1990-1995) ; Case 2. (1983-1985) ; Case 3. (1997-2002) ; Case 4. (1990-1993) ; Case 5. Case 6. (1970-1978) ; Case 7. (1970-1984) ; Case 8. (1983-1986) ; Case 9. (1989-1992) ; Case 10. (1985-present) ; Case 11. (1969-1972) ; Case 12. (1939-1945) ; Case 13. (1995-2003) ; Case 14. (1979-1981) ; Case 15. (1974-1985) ; Case 16. (1991-present) ; Case 17. Case 18. Chapter 5. Key case ideas and lessons: The leading precept of most current codes of engineering ethics ; The FEREs ; Ethics and the sociology of contemporary engineering ; An ethically problematic pattern of engineering practice ; Whistle-blowing and ethical responsibility ; Risk and idealization of technology in society ; Ethical responsibility and the culture of the engineering workplace ; An overlooked responsibility of engineers ; An engineering professional ; Engineering design, paradigm departure, and the ethics of precaution ; Normalization of risk and routinization of the experimental ; Technology transfer and ethical responsibility ; "Two cultures" and ethical responsibility ; Decontextualization ; The politicization and economization of engineering decision-making ; Negligence ; Workplace culture and the ethically responsible engineer ; Conflicts of interest ; "Design for ..." ; Ethical issues in engineering research ; Factors conducive to engineering misconduct. -- Bucciarelli's critique of U.S. engineering-ethics education ; Chapter 6. Resources and options for ethically responsible engineers: Organizational resources ; Legal resources and options ; Employment-related options -- Chapter 7. Conclusion: A foundational-contextual ethical responsibilities approach ; Two quotations. -- Bibliography -- Index
An exploration of the ethics of practical engineering through analyses of eighteen case studies. The Ethical Engineer explores ethical issues that arise in engineering practice, from technology transfer to privacy protection to whistle-blowing. Presenting key ethics concepts and real-life examples of engineering work, Robert McGinn illuminates the ethical dimension of engineering practice and helps students and professionals determine engineers' context-specific ethical responsibilities. McGinn highlights the "ethics gap" in contemporary engineering-- the disconnect between the meager exposure to ethical issues in engineering education and the ethical challenges frequently faced by engineers. He elaborates four "fundamental ethical responsibilities of engineers" (FEREs) and uses them to shed light on the ethical dimensions of diverse case studies, including ones from emerging engineering fields. After examining the extent to which the actions of engineers in the cases align with the FEREs, McGinn recapitulates key ideas used in analyzing the cases and spells out the main lessons they suggest. He identifies technical, social, and personal factors that induce or press engineers to engage in misconduct and discusses organizational, legal, and individual resources available to those interested in ethically responsible engineering practice
9780691177700 (pbk.) 0691177708 (pbk.)
2017958781
Engineering ethics.
TA157 / .M34 2018
190
The ethical engineer : contemporary concepts and cases / Robert E. McGinn. - Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2018] - x, 340 p. : ill. ; 25 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 313-327) and index
The ethics gap in contemporary engineering: Professional engineering society codes of ethics. -- The fundamental ethical responsibilities of engineers: Preface. Chapter 1. Two vignettes ; A gap between education and experience ; Evidence ; Importance ; Unfruitful approaches to bridging the gap ; Preferred approach. -- Chapter 2. Sociological and ethical preliminaries: Sociology of engineering ; Chapter 3. An ethical responsibilities approach ; Ethical issues and harm ; The fundamental ethical responsibilities of engineers. -- The Cadillac DeVille/Seville engine-control chip SDI battlefield management software Collaborative research practices at Bell Labs The Apple Newton MessagePad An employee database management system ; The Citicorp Center Tower The Union Carbide MIC plant in Bhopal The space shuttle Challenger A composite-material bicycle project Nanotechnology R&D The Ford Pinto Topf & Sons : crematorium ovens for the Nazi SS TRW and the US ballistic missile defense system The Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel walkways The Manhattan Westway Project Innovations for rural Kenyan farmers Google street view -- Opiod biosynthesis and neural enhancement. -- Chapter 4. Case studies of ethical issues in engineering: Case 1. (1990-1995) ; Case 2. (1983-1985) ; Case 3. (1997-2002) ; Case 4. (1990-1993) ; Case 5. Case 6. (1970-1978) ; Case 7. (1970-1984) ; Case 8. (1983-1986) ; Case 9. (1989-1992) ; Case 10. (1985-present) ; Case 11. (1969-1972) ; Case 12. (1939-1945) ; Case 13. (1995-2003) ; Case 14. (1979-1981) ; Case 15. (1974-1985) ; Case 16. (1991-present) ; Case 17. Case 18. Chapter 5. Key case ideas and lessons: The leading precept of most current codes of engineering ethics ; The FEREs ; Ethics and the sociology of contemporary engineering ; An ethically problematic pattern of engineering practice ; Whistle-blowing and ethical responsibility ; Risk and idealization of technology in society ; Ethical responsibility and the culture of the engineering workplace ; An overlooked responsibility of engineers ; An engineering professional ; Engineering design, paradigm departure, and the ethics of precaution ; Normalization of risk and routinization of the experimental ; Technology transfer and ethical responsibility ; "Two cultures" and ethical responsibility ; Decontextualization ; The politicization and economization of engineering decision-making ; Negligence ; Workplace culture and the ethically responsible engineer ; Conflicts of interest ; "Design for ..." ; Ethical issues in engineering research ; Factors conducive to engineering misconduct. -- Bucciarelli's critique of U.S. engineering-ethics education ; Chapter 6. Resources and options for ethically responsible engineers: Organizational resources ; Legal resources and options ; Employment-related options -- Chapter 7. Conclusion: A foundational-contextual ethical responsibilities approach ; Two quotations. -- Bibliography -- Index
An exploration of the ethics of practical engineering through analyses of eighteen case studies. The Ethical Engineer explores ethical issues that arise in engineering practice, from technology transfer to privacy protection to whistle-blowing. Presenting key ethics concepts and real-life examples of engineering work, Robert McGinn illuminates the ethical dimension of engineering practice and helps students and professionals determine engineers' context-specific ethical responsibilities. McGinn highlights the "ethics gap" in contemporary engineering-- the disconnect between the meager exposure to ethical issues in engineering education and the ethical challenges frequently faced by engineers. He elaborates four "fundamental ethical responsibilities of engineers" (FEREs) and uses them to shed light on the ethical dimensions of diverse case studies, including ones from emerging engineering fields. After examining the extent to which the actions of engineers in the cases align with the FEREs, McGinn recapitulates key ideas used in analyzing the cases and spells out the main lessons they suggest. He identifies technical, social, and personal factors that induce or press engineers to engage in misconduct and discusses organizational, legal, and individual resources available to those interested in ethically responsible engineering practice
9780691177700 (pbk.) 0691177708 (pbk.)
2017958781
Engineering ethics.
TA157 / .M34 2018
190