Introduction to Engineering Ethics Provides the Framework for Discussing the Basic Issues in Engineering Ethics
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Now in its second edition, Introduction to Engineering Ethics provides the framework for discussing the basic issues in engineering ethics. Emphasis is Basic Engineering Series and Tools given to the moral problems engineers face in the corporate setting. It places those issues within a philosophical framework, and it seeks to exhibit their Martin social importance and intellectual challenge. The goal is to stimulate critical and responsible re ection on moral issues surrounding engineering practice Introduction To and to provide the conceptual tools necessary for responsible decision making. Schinzinger Features include: Engineering Ethics Organization – The text has been expanded from 6 to 10 chapters, with increased coverage given to computer ethics, moral reasoning and codes of ethics, personal commitments in engineering, environmental ethics, honesty Second Edition and research integrity, the philosophy of technology, and peace engineering. Case Studies – Updated case studies are provided throughout the book to further support the concepts presented. NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers – The National Society of Professional Engineers® Code of Ethics for Engineers is included. Discussion Questions – Thought-provoking discussion questions appear Engineering Ethics at the end of each section. Introduction to Introduction to Welcome to the BEST! MD DALIM #1003647 1/20/09 McGraw-Hill’s BEST – Basic Engineering Series and Tools – consists of modularized textbooks and applications appropriate for the topic covered in most introductory engineering courses. The goal of the series is to provide the educational community with material that is timely, affordable, of high quality, and exible in how it is used. For a list of BEST titles, visit our website at www.mhhe.com/engcs/general/best. CYAN MAG Second Edition YELO BLK Mike W. Martin Roland Schinzinger Introduction to Engineering Ethics Second Edition Mike W. Martin Professor of Philosophy Chapman University Roland Schinzinger Late Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering University of California, Irvine CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd i 1/14/09 9:23:16 AM INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING ETHICS, SECOND EDITION Published by McGraw-Hill, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Copyright © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Previous edition © 2000. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning. Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers out- side the United States. This book is printed on acid-free paper. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 DOC/DOC 0 9 ISBN 978-0-07-248311-6 MHID 0-07-248311-3 Global Publisher: Raghothaman Srinivasan Sponsoring Editor: Debra B. Hash Director of Development: Kristine Tibbetts Developmental Editor: Darlene M. Schueller Senior Marketing Manager: Curt Reynolds Project Manager: Joyce Watters Senior Production Supervisor: Laura Fuller Associate Design Coordinator: Brenda A. Rolwes Cover Designer: Studio Montage, St. Louis, Missouri (USE) Cover Image: Globe Radiating Light, Circuit Boards, Montage of Computer Parts: © Getty Images; Pyramid Shaped Tomb: © 1998 Copyright IMS Communications Ltd./Capstone Design Senior Photo Research Coordinator: John C. Leland Compositor: Lachina Publishing Services Typeface: 10/12 Times Roman Printer: R.R. Donnelley Crawfordsville, IN Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Martin, Mike W., 1946- Introduction to engineering ethics / Mike W. Martin, Roland Schinzinger.—2nd ed. p. cm. Rev. ed. of Introduction to engineering ethics / Roland Schinzinger, Mike W. Martin. 2000. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-07-248311-6—ISBN 0-07-248311-3 (hard copy : alk. paper) I. Schinzinger, Roland. Introduction to engineering ethics. II. Title. TA157.S382 2010 174’.962—dc22 2008047516 www.mhhe.com CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd ii 1/14/09 9:23:16 AM In memory of Roland Schinzinger— Inspiring mentor, friend, and advocate for peace. Mike W. Martin CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd iii 1/9/09 9:29:19 AM CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd iv 1/9/09 9:29:19 AM CONTENTS About the Authors xi Preface xiii Acknowledgments xv 1 Ethics and Professionalism 1 1.1 Ethics and Excellence in Engineering 2 Micro and Macro Issues 3 Dimensions of Engineering 5 Potential Moral Problems 7 What Is Engineering Ethics? 8 Why Study Engineering Ethics? 10 Discussion Questions 12 1.2 Responsible Professionals, Professions, and Corporations 14 Saving Citicorp Tower 14 Meanings of Responsibility 16 Engineering as a Profession 18 Ethical Corporations 19 Senses of Corporate Responsibility 22 Discussion Questions 23 2 Moral Reasoning and Codes of Ethics 27 2.1 Moral Choices and Ethical Dilemmas 27 Designing Aluminum Cans 27 Steps in Resolving Ethical Dilemmas 30 Right-Wrong or Better-Worse? 34 Moral Decision Making as Design 37 Discussion Questions 38 2.2 Codes of Ethics 40 Importance of Codes 40 Abuse of Codes 41 Limitations of Codes 42 v CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd v 1/14/09 9:23:16 AM vi Introduction to Engineering Ethics Ethical Relativism 44 Justification of Codes 46 Discussion Questions 47 3 Moral Frameworks 49 3.1 Rights Ethics, Duty Ethics, Utilitarianism 49 Rights Ethics 49 Duty Ethics 52 Utilitarianism 55 Discussion Questions 57 3.2 Virtue Ethics, Self-Realization Ethics 60 Virtue Ethics 60 Self-Realization Ethics 64 Ethical Egoism 68 Which Ethical Theory Is Best? 71 Discussion Questions 73 4 Engineering as Social Experimentation 77 4.1 Engineering as Experimentation 78 Similarities to Standard Experiments 78 Learning from the Past 79 Contrasts with Standard Experiments 80 Discussion Questions 84 4.2 Engineers as Responsible Experimenters 85 Conscientiousness 86 Comprehensive Perspective 87 Moral Autonomy 88 Accountability 89 A Balanced Outlook on Law 91 Industrial Standards 93 Challenger 95 Discussion Questions 102 5 Commitment to Safety 105 5.1 Safety and Risk 106 The Concept of Safety 106 CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd vi 1/9/09 9:29:20 AM vii Contents Risks 108 Acceptability of Risk 109 Discussion Questions 113 5.2 Assessing and Reducing Risk 114 Uncertainties in Design 114 Risk-Benefit Analyses 118 Personal Risk versus Public Risk 120 Examples of Improved Safety 122 Three Mile Island 123 Safe Exits 127 Discussion Questions 128 6 Workplace Responsibilities and Rights 131 6.1 Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest 132 Confidentiality: Definition 132 Confidentiality and Changing Jobs 133 Confidentiality and Management Policies 135 Confidentiality: Justification 136 Conflicts of Interest: Definition and Examples 137 Moral Status of Conflicts of Interest 140 Discussion Questions 141 6.2 Teamwork and Rights 143 An Ethical Corporate Climate 143 Loyalty and Collegiality 144 Managers and Engineers 146 Professional Rights 147 Employee Rights 150 Discussion Questions 155 7 Truth and Truthfulness 159 7.1 Whistle-Blowing 161 Whistle-Blowing: Definition 161 Moral Guidelines 163 Protecting Whistle-Blowers 164 Common Sense Procedures 165 Beyond Whistle-Blowing 166 Discussion Questions 167 CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd vii 1/14/09 9:23:17 AM viii Introduction to Engineering Ethics 7.2 Honesty and Research Integrity 169 Truthfulness 169 Trustworthiness 171 Academic Integrity: Students 172 Research Integrity 174 Bias and Self-Deception 175 Protecting Research Subjects 177 Giving and Claiming Credit 178 Discussion Questions 180 8 Computer Ethics 183 The Internet and Free Speech 184 Power Relationships 186 Property 189 Privacy 193 Additional Issues 195 Discussion Questions 196 9 Environmental Ethics 201 9.1 Engineering, Ecology, and Economics 202 The Invisible Hand and the Commons 202 Engineers: Sustainable Development 204 Corporations: Environmental Leadership 206 Government: Technology Assessment, Incentives, Taxes 207 Market Mechanisms: Internalizing Costs 208 Communities: Preventing Natural Disasters 209 Social Activists 210 Two Corps Cases 212 Discussion Questions 215 9.2 Environmental Moral Frameworks 216 Human-Centered Ethics 217 Sentient-Centered Ethics 219 Biocentric Ethics 220 Ecocentric Ethics 221 Religious Perspectives 221 Discussion Questions 223 CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd viii 1/14/09 9:23:17 AM ix Contents 10 Global Justice 227 10.1 Multinational Corporations 229 Technology Transfer and Appropriate Technology 230 Bhopal 231 “When in Rome” 233 International Rights 234 Promoting Morally Just Measures 236 Discussion Questions 237 10.2 Weapons Development and Peace 240 Involvement in Weapons Work 240 Defense Industry Problems 243 Peace Engineering 244 Discussion Questions 246 Appendix 249 Index 253 CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd ix 1/9/09 9:29:20 AM CONFIRMING PAGES mar83113_fm_i_xvi.indd x 1/9/09 9:29:20 AM ABOUT THE AUTHORS Mike W. Martin and Roland Schinzinger began their 25-year collaboration as a philosopher-engineer team in the National Project on Philosophy and Engineering Ethics, 1978–1980. They have coauthored articles, team-taught courses, and given presentations to audiences of engineers and philosophers. In 1992 they received the Award for Distinguished Literary Con- tributions Furthering Engineering Professionalism from The Institute