Hold Paramount: The Engineer's Responsibility to Society

Authors : P. Aarne Vesilind; Alastair S. Gunn

9781285869667

224 Pages Hardcover

3rd Edition | Previous Editions: 2011, 2003

£ 55.99 Price

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This practical and essential text, co-authored by an engineer and an ethicist, covers ethical dilemmas that any engineer might encounter on the job, emphasizing the responsibility of a practicing engineer to act in an ethical manner. To illustrate the complexities involved, the authors present chara... more

Features

Co-written by an ethicist and a practicing engineer, the book provides a practical and philosophically sound perspective on engineering ethics.

The book is organized by sections of the engineering code of ethics, covering all categories of ethical conflicts.

Readers learn to use the engineering co... more

New to this Edition

New discussions have been added on integrity and honesty.

New boxed entries focus on current events with ethical implications relevant to today's engineering students including discussions on the N.S.A. whistle-blowing and the Bangladesh garment factory collapse.

Authors

P. Aarne Vesilind

P. Aarne Vesilind received his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Lehigh University and his Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of North Carolina. He spent a post-doctoral year with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research in Oslo and a year as a research engineer with Bird Machine Company. He joined the faculty of Duke University in 1970 where he served as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In 1999, he was appointed to the R. L. Rooke Chair of the Historical and Societal Context of Engineering at Bucknell University. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 2006.

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Alastair S. Gunn

Alastair S. Gunn was a professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.

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Table of Contents

1. DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Deception. Keeping Promises. Doing the Right Thing. Theft of Music. Obligations to Strangers. Moral Rules. Discussion Questions. References.
2. THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION.
On Being a Professional. Technical Expertise and Ethical Obligations. Organization of Professional Engineering. Can We Afford To Be Ethical? Engineering Codes of Ethics. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Code of Ethics. Can a Person Stop Being an Engineer? Ethically Right for Me? Ethics as Decision-Making Models. Discussion Questions. References.
3. ENHANCE HUMAN WELFARE.
Moral Responsibilities of Engineers. Weapons Research. Just-War Theory. Engineering and Terrorism. Engineers as Intelligent Robots. What Is Integrity? Discussion Questions. References.
4. HOLD PARAMOUNT.
Why Can't Ethicists be as Efficient as Engineers? Medical Ethics. Legal Ethics. Legal and Moral Responsibility. Engineers Working Together. A Technical Challenge. Engineering Qualifications. Factors of Safety. Engineering Triumphs. Engineering Failures. Engineers as Managers. Acceptable Risk. Decision Making: Technical and Ethical Aspects. Consulting with Colleagues. Discussion Questions. References.
5. SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC.
Ethical and Legal Obligations. The Moral Status of Animals. Ethical Dilemmas. Calculating the Value of Life. Fix Up Your Organization Ethically. Whistleblowing I. Whistleblowing II. Whistleblowing III. Disaster in Kansas City. Options. Peace Engineering. Whistleblowing in Our Age of Terrorism and Surveillance. Ethically Right For Me? II. Trusting the Experts. Deception II. Confidentiality. Loyalty to the Firm. Discussion Questions. References.
6. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Networking. Academia. Famous Engineers in History. Discussion Questions. References.
7. SOLICIT OR ACCEPT GRATUITIES.
Deception III. Corporate Gift Policies. Climate Change. Distant People. Future People. Discussion Questions. References.
8. SELF-LAUDATORY LANGUAGE.
Advertising. Discussion Questions.
9. CONTRIBUTIONS IN ORDER TO SECURE WORK.
Competitive Bidding. Bribery and the Law. When in Rome. Ethical Dilemmas II. Human Rights II. Discussion Questions. References.
10. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OTHERS.
The Existential Pleasures of Engineering. Jokes about Engineers. Vegetarianism. Empathy. Reverence for Life. The Ethics of Asking and the Ethics of Giving. Maintaining the Quality of Engineering Education. Affirmative Action. Discussion Questions. References.
11. OVERSEAS WORK.
Environmental Racism. Human Rights III. Politicians and their Reputations. Discussion Questions. References.
12. UPHOLD THE HONOR AND DIGNITY.
Manners. Workplace Harassment. Discussion Questions.
13. FAITHFUL AGENTS.
Conflicts of Interest I. Who Owns Your Mind? Discussion Questions.
14. AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
Safety. Professional Registration. Conflict of Interest II. Why Be a Good Engineer? Discussion Questions. References.
15. OBJECTIVE AND TRUTHFUL MANNER.
Professional Respect. Engineers and the Media. Discussion Questions.
EPILOGUE.
INDEX.

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Succeed in your course and learn what it takes to be an engineer with ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS: AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING, 5e. This student-friendly book is designed throughout to help you develop the strong problem-solving skills and solid foundation in fundament... more