Acknowledgments x
Introduction 1
1 The Responsibilities of Engineers 6
1.1 Introduction 7
1.2 Responsibility 9
1.3 Passive Responsibility 10
1.4 Active Responsibility and the Ideals of Engineers 13
1.5 Engineers versus Managers 21
1.6 The Social Context of Technological Development 25
1.7 Chapter Summary 28
Study Questions 29
Discussion Questions 30
2 Codes of Conduct 31
2.1 Introduction 32
2.2 Codes of Conduct 33
2.3 Possibilities and Limitations of Codes of Conduct 43
2.4 Codes of Conduct in an International Context 54
2.5 Chapter Summary 61
Study Questions 62
Discussion Questions 63
3 Normative Ethics 65
3.1 Introduction 67
3.2 Ethics and Morality 70
3.3 Descriptive and Normative Judgments 71
3.4 Points of Departure: Values, Norms, and Virtues 72
3.5 Relativism and Absolutism 75
3.6 Ethical Theories 77
3.7 Utilitarianism 78
3.8 Kantian Theory 89
3.9 Virtue Ethics 95
3.10 Care Ethics 102
3.11 Applied Ethics 105
3.12 Chapter Summary 106
Study Questions 107
Discussion Questions 108
4 Normative Argumentation 109
4.1 Introduction 110
4.2 Valid Arguments 113
4.3 Deductive and Non-Deductive Arguments 116
4.4 Arguments in Ethical Theories 118
4.5 Fallacies 127
4.6 Chapter Summary 131
Study Questions 131
Discussion Questions 132
5 The Ethical Cycle 133
5.1 Introduction 134
5.2 Ill-Structured Problems 135
5.3 The Ethical Cycle 137
5.4 An Example 147
5.5 Collective Moral Deliberation and Social Arrangements 155
5.6 Chapter Summary 157
Study Questions 158
Discussion Questions 159
6 Ethical Questions in the Design of Technology 161
6.1 Introduction 163
6.2 Ethical Issues During the Design Process 165
6.3 Trade-offs and Value Conflicts 177
6.4 Regulatory Frameworks: Normal and Radical Design 190
6.5 Chapter Summary 194
Study Questions 195
Discussion Questions 197
7 Designing Morality 198
Peter-Paul Verbeek
7.1 Introduction 199
7.2 Ethics as a Matter of Things 200
7.3 Technological Mediation 201
7.4 Moralizing Technology 205
7.5 Designing Mediations 211
7.6 Chapter Summary 214
Study Questions 215
Discussion Questions 216
8 Ethical Aspects of Technical Risks 217
8.1 Introduction 219
8.2 Definitions of Central Terms 221
8.3 The Engineer's Responsibility for Safety 223
8.4 Risk Assessment 225
8.5 When are Risks Acceptable? 228
8.6 Risk Communication 236
8.7 Dealing with Uncertainty and Ignorance 237
8.8 Chapter Summary 244
Study Questions 245
Discussion Questions 247
9 The Distribution of Responsibility in Engineering 249
9.1 Introduction 250
9.2 The Problem of Many Hands 252
9.3 Responsibility and the Law 258
9.4 Responsibility in Organizations 263
9.5 Responsibility Distributions and Technological Designs 267
9.6 Chapter Summary 272
Study Questions 273
Discussion Questions 274
10 Sustainability, Ethics, and Technology 277
Michiel Brumsen
10.1 Introduction 278
10.2 Environmental Ethics? 280
10.3 Environmental Problems 281
10.4 Sustainable Development 283
10.5 Can a Sustainable Society be Realized? 289
10.6 Engineers and Sustainability 291
10.7 Chapter Summary 298
Study Questions 299
Discussion Questions 300
Appendix I: Engineering Qualifications and Organizations in a Number of Countries 301
Appendix II: NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers 307
Appendix III: FEANI Position Paper on Code of Conduct: Ethics and Conduct of Professional Engineers 313
Appendix IV: Shell Code of Conduct 315
Appendix V: DSM Values and Whistle Blowing Policy 320
Glossary 329
References 340
Index of Cases 351
Index 352
