Engineering Ethics Concepts and Cases with CD-ROM

by Harris, Charles E.; Pritchard, Michael S.; Rabins, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780534533977
• ISBN10: 0534533973
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-08-19
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

This text bridges the gap between theory and practice in engineering ethics. The authors provide real-life cases; structured methodology for analyzing cases; and examples of cases that have been analyzed to give students a true understanding of what is involved in practicing ethical engineering. Codes of Ethics are also provided and discussed.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
PART ONE CRITICAL APPROACHES	1	(96)
Engineering Ethics: Making the Case	3	(27)
Introduction	7	(2)
Role Morality	9	(2)
What Is a Profession?	11	(2)
Professional Ethics	13	(3)
The NSPE Board of Ethical Review	16	(1)
Engineering Ethics as Preventive Ethics	17	(5)
The Importance of Thinking Ahead	18	(1)
Education in Preventive Ethics	19	(3)
Cases, Cases, Cases!	22	(4)
Chapter Summary	26	(4)
Cases to Consider	27	(3)
Framing the Problem	30	(29)
Introduction	31	(1)
Common Morality	32	(3)
Moral Justification	35	(2)
An Illustration: Research Involving Humans	35	(2)
Two Key Concepts: Universalizability and Reversibility	37	(1)
Analyzing a Case	37	(4)
A Sample Case	38	(3)
Factual Issues	41	(4)
Discerning Relevant Facts	44	(1)
Known and Unknown Facts	44	(1)
Conceptual Issues	45	(7)
Defining Concepts	46	(3)
Applying Concepts	49	(3)
General and Specific Moral Problems	52	(3)
Chapter Summary	55	(4)
Cases to Consider	57	(2)
Methods for Moral Problem Solving	59	(16)
Introduction	59	(1)
Line-Drawing	60	(4)
Conflicting Values: Creative Middle Way Solutions	64	(8)
Gilbane Gold	69	(3)
Standpoints of the Judge and the Agent	72	(1)
Chapter Summary	73	(2)
Cases to Consider	73	(2)
Organizing Principles	75	(22)
Introduction	75	(2)
Utilitarian Thinking	77	(1)
Three Utilitarian Approaches	78	(6)
The Cost/Benefit Approach	79	(2)
The Act Utilitarian Approach	81	(1)
The Rule Utilitarian Approach	82	(2)
The Ethics of Respect for Persons	84	(1)
Three Respect for Persons Approaches	85	(8)
The Golden Rule	85	(3)
The Self-Defeating Criterion	88	(1)
Rights	89	(4)
Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Middle Ways	93	(1)
Chapter Summary	94	(3)
Cases to Consider	95	(2)
PART TWO GENERIC CONCERNS	97	(76)
Responsible Engineers	99	(18)
Introduction	99	(1)
Concepts of Responsibility	100	(1)
The Minimalist View	101	(2)
Reasonable Care	103	(1)
Good Works	104	(3)
Do Engineers Need Virtues?	107	(1)
Impediments to Responsibility	108	(5)
Self-Interest	108	(1)
Fear	109	(1)
Self-Deception	109	(1)
Ignorance	110	(1)
Egocentric Tendencies	110	(1)
Microscopic Vision	110	(1)
Uncritical Acceptance of Authority	111	(1)
Groupthink	112	(1)
Chapter Summary	113	(4)
Cases to Consider	114	(3)
Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability	117	(28)
Introduction	117	(2)
Ways of Misusing the Truth	119	(2)
Lying	119	(1)
Deliberate Deception	120	(1)
Withholding Information	120	(1)
Failing to Adequately Promote the Dissemination of Information	120	(1)
Failure to Seek Out the Truth	120	(1)
Revealing Confidential or Proprietary Information	121	(1)
Allowing One's Judgment to Be Corrupted	121	(1)
Why Is Dishonesty Wrong?	121	(2)
Honesty on Campus	123	(2)
Integrity in Engineering Research and Testing	125	(3)
Integrity in the Use of Intellectual Property	128	(4)
Integrity and Client-Professional Confidentiality	132	(2)
Integrity and Expert Testimony	134	(1)
Integrity and Failure to Inform the Public	135	(2)
Conflicts of Interest	137	(5)
What Is a Conflict of Interest?	138	(1)
Conflicts of Interest and Accepting Gifts	139	(3)
Chapter Summary	142	(3)
Cases to Consider	143	(2)
Risk, Safety, and Liability in Engineering	145	(28)
Introduction	146	(1)
The Codes and Engineering Practice Regarding Risk and Safety	147	(1)
Difficulties in Estimating Risk	148	(5)
Detecting Failure Modes	148	(2)
Are There ``Normal Accidents''?	150	(3)
Normalizing Deviance	153	(1)
The Expert's Approach to Acceptable Risk: Identifying and Defining Acceptable Risk	154	(3)
Identifying Risk	154	(1)
Utilitarianism and Acceptable Risk	155	(1)
Risk as Maximizing Benefit	156	(1)
The Layperson's Approach to Acceptable Risk	157	(4)
Expert and Layperson	157	(1)
Informed Consent and Justice	158	(3)
The Government Regulator's Approach to Risk	161	(2)
The Engineer's Liability for Risk	163	(3)
The Standards of Tort Law	163	(2)
Protecting Engineers from Liability	165	(1)
Becoming a Responsible Engineer Regarding Risk	166	(2)
Chapter Summary	168	(5)
Cases to Consider	169	(4)
PART THREE SPECIAL TOPICS	173	(108)
Engineers as Employees	175	(31)
Introduction	176	(1)
The Codes and Employer-Employee Relationships	176	(2)
The Changing Legal Status of Employee Rights	178	(2)
The Public-Policy Exception	178	(1)
Statutory Protection	179	(1)
The Manager-Engineer Relationship	180	(3)
Differences in Perspective Between Managers and Engineers	180	(1)
Two Empirical Studies	181	(2)
Paradigmatic Engineering and Management Decisions	183	(5)
Functions of Engineers and Managers	183	(2)
Paradigmatic and Nonparadigmatic Examples	185	(3)
The Challenger Case	188	(3)
Loyalty: Uncritical and Critical	191	(3)
Responsible Organizational Disobedience	194	(5)
Disobedience by Contrary Action	194	(2)
Disobedience by Nonparticipation	196	(1)
Disobedience by Protest	197	(2)
Implementing Professional employee Rights	199	(3)
Chapter Summary	202	(4)
Cases to Consider	203	(3)
Engineers and the Environment	206	(27)
Introduction	207	(1)
Engineering Codes and the Environment	208	(2)
Code References to the Environment	208	(1)
Sustainable Development	209	(1)
Controversy over the Environment	210	(5)
Two Important Distinctions	210	(2)
Why the Reluctance to Be Concerned with the Environment?	212	(1)
Searching for a Criterion for ``Clean''	213	(2)
What Does the Law Say?	215	(4)
Federal Laws on the Environment	215	(2)
The Courts on the Environment	217	(1)
So, How Clean Is Clean?	218	(1)
Balancing Wealth and Health: A Criterion for ``Clean''	219	(2)
A Degree-of-Harm Criterion	219	(2)
The Anthropocentric Approach to Environmental Ethics	221	(4)
Animal Liberation and Engineering Ethics	222	(1)
The Environmental Movement and Engineering Ethics	223	(2)
The Scope of Professional Engineering Obligations to the Environment	225	(2)
Two Modest Proposals	227	(3)
Chapter Summary	230	(3)
Cases to Consider	231	(2)
International Engineering Professionalism	233	(32)
Introduction	234	(1)
Problems in International Professionalism	235	(4)
Values and Practices	236	(1)
Economic Conditions	237	(1)
Background Institutions	237	(1)
Corruption	238	(1)
Noncitizen Status	238	(1)
Vulnerability	238	(1)
Problems in Interpreting and Applying the Codes in the International Context	239	(5)
The Welfare Requirement	240	(1)
Bribery and Conflicts of Interest	241	(1)
The Environment	242	(1)
Nondiscrimination	242	(1)
The Reputation of the Profession	243	(1)
Promoting Knowledge and Avoiding Deception	243	(1)
Striking a Balance	244	(2)
Guidelines for Interpreting the Codes: (1) Human Rights	246	(4)
The Internationalization of Rights	246	(2)
Are Rights a Western Invention?	248	(2)
Guidelines for Interpreting the Codes: (2) Avoiding Paternalism and Exploitation	250	(3)
Guidelines for Interpreting the Codes: (3) Applying the Golden Rule	253	(3)
Bribery, Extortion, Grease Payments, and Gifts	256	(3)
Bribery	256	(1)
Extortion	257	(1)
Grease Payments	258	(1)
Gifts	259	(1)
Sweatshops in Asia	259	(3)
Chapter Summary	262	(3)
Cases to Consider	263	(2)
Engineering Professionalism and Ethics: Issues Old and New	265	(16)
Introduction	265	(1)
Professional Engineering Societies: Promoting Rather Than Enforcing Ethics	266	(4)
Limitations in Enforcing Ethics	266	(2)
Promoting Ethics	268	(2)
American Engineering Societies	270	(2)
State Registration Boards	272	(1)
The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)	273	(2)
Universal Engineering Licensure and the Industry Exemption	275	(2)
Gender and Minority Issues	277	(1)
Chapter Summary	278	(3)
Cases to Consider	279	(2)
Cases	281	(78)
Bibliography	359	(8)
Videotapes for Use in Engineering Ethics	367	(4)
Index	371