Abstract:
One of the main differences between science and engineering is that engineering is
not just about better understanding the world but also about changing it. Many
engineers believe that such change improves, or at least should improve, the world. In
this sense engineering is an inherently morally motivated activity. Changing the world
for the better is, however, no easy task and also not one that can be achieved on the
basis of engineering knowledge alone. It also requires, among other things, ethical
reflection and knowledge. This book aims at contributing to such reflection and
knowledge, not just in a theoretical sense but also more practically.
This book takes an innovative approach to engineering ethics in several respects. It
provides a rather unique approach to ethical decision-making: the ethical cycle. This
approach is illustrated by an abundance of cases studies and examples, not only from
the US but also from Europe and the rest of the world. The book is also innovative in
paying more attention than most traditional introductions in engineering ethics to
such topics as ethics in engineering design, the organizational context of engineering,
the distribution of responsibility, sustainability, and new technologies such as nanotechnology.
There is an increasing attention to ethics in the engineering curricula. Engineers are
supposed not only to carry out their work competently and skillfully but also to be
aware of the broader ethical and social implications of engineering and to be able to
reflect on these. According to the Engineering Criteria 2000 of the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in the US, engineering graduates
must have “an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility” and “the
broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a
global and societal context” (Herkert 1999)
