For use in undergraduate engineering programs incorporating ethics topics. Engineering Ethics serves as both a textbook and a resource for the study of engineering ethics. It is written to help future engineers be prepared for confronting and resolving ethical dilemmas that they might encounter during their professional careers.
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Background Ideas 2
1.2 Why Study Engineering Ethics? 2
1.3 Engineering Is Managing the Unknown 3
1.4 Personal vs. Professional Ethics 4
1.5 The Origins of Ethical Thought 4
1.6 Ethics and the Law 4
1.7 Ethics Problems Are Like Design Problems 5
1.8 Case Studies 6
Summary 15
References 15
Problems 16
2 Professionalism and Codes of Ethics 18
2.1 Introduction 19
2.2 Is Engineering a Profession? 19
2.3 Codes of Ethics 24
Key Terms 33
References 34
Problems 34
3 Understanding Ethical Problems 37
3.1 Introduction 38
3.2 A Brief History of Ethical Thought 38
3.3 Ethical Theories 39
3.4 Non-Western Ethical Thinking 46
Key Terms 53
References 53
Problems 53
4 Ethical Problem-Solving Techniques 56
4.1 Introduction 57
4.2 Analysis of Issues in Ethical Problems 57
4.3 Line Drawing 59
4.4 Flow Charting 62
4.5 Confl ict Problems 63
4.6 An Application of Problem-Solving Methods: Bribery/Acceptance of Gifts 65
Key Terms 71
References 71
Problems 72
5 Risk, Safety, and Accidents 74
5.1 Introduction 75
5.2 Safety and Risk 75
5.3 Accidents 79
Key Terms 98
References 98
Problems 99
6 The Rights and Responsibilities of Engineers 103
6.1 Introduction 104
6.2 Professional Responsibilities 104
6.3 Professional Rights 106
6.4 Whistle-Blowing 108
Key Terms 120
References 120
Problems 121
7 Ethical Issues in Engineering Practice 124
7.1 Introduction 125
7.2 Environmental Ethics 125
7.3 Computer Ethics 127
7.4 Ethics and Research 135
Key Terms 143
References 143
Problems 144
8 Doing the Right Thing 150
References 155
Problems 155
APPENDIX A Codes of Ethics of Professional
Engineering Societies 157
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) 157
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) 158
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 163
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 164
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) 168
Japan Society of Civil Engineers 169
APPENDIX B Bibliography 172
General Books on Engineering Ethics 172
Journals with Articles on Engineering Ethics and Cases 173
Websites 173
Index 174
