Contents Acknowledgments Introduction The Responsibilities of Engineers 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Responsibility 1.3 Passive Responsibility 1.4 Active Responsibility and the Ideals of Engineers 1.5 Engineers versus Managers 1.6 The Social Context of Technological Development 1.7 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions Codes of Conduct 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Codes of Conduct 2.3 Possibilities and Limitations of Codes of Conduct 2.4 Codes of Conduct in an International Context 2.5 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions Normative Ethics 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Ethics and Morality 3.3 Descriptive and Normative Judgments 3.4 Points of Departure: Values, Norms, and Virtues 3.5 Relativism and Absolutism 3.6 Ethical Theories 3.7 Utilitarianism 3.8 Kantian Theory 3.9 Virtue Ethics 3.10 Care Ethics 3.11 Applied Ethics 3.12 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions Normative Argumentation 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Valid Arguments 4.3 Deductive and Non-Deductive Arguments 4.4 Arguments in Ethical Theories 4.5 Fallacies 4.6 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions The Ethical Cycle 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Ill-Structured Problems 5.3 The Ethical Cycle 5.4 An Example 5.5 Collective Moral Deliberation and Social Arrangements 5.6 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions Ethical Questions in the Design of Technology 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Ethical Issues During the Design Process 6.3 Trade-offs and Value Conflicts 6.4 Regulatory Frameworks: Normal and Radical Design 6.5 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions Designing Morality Peter-Paul Verbeek 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Ethics as a Matter of Things 7.3 Technological Mediation 7.4 Moralizing Technology 7.5 Designing Mediations 7.6 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions Ethical Aspects of Technical Risks 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Definitions of Central Terms 8.3 The Engineer’s Responsibility for Safety 8.4 Risk Assessment 8.5 When are Risks Acceptable? 8.6 Risk Communication 8.7 Dealing with Uncertainty and Ignorance 8.8 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions The Distribution of Responsibility in Engineering 9.1 Introduction 9.2 The Problem of Many Hands 9.3 Responsibility and the Law 9.4 Responsibility in Organizations 9.5 Responsibility Distributions and Technological Designs 9.6 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions 10 Sustainability, Ethics, and Technology Michiel Brumsen 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Environmental Ethics? 10.3 Environmental Problems 10.4 Sustainable Development 10.5 Can a Sustainable Society be Realized? 10.6 Engineers and Sustainability 10.7 Chapter Summary Study Questions Discussion Questions Appendix I: Engineering Qualifications and Organizations in a Number of Countries Appendix II: NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers Appendix III: FEANI Position Paper on Code of Conduct: Ethics and Conduct of Professional Engineers Appendix IV: Shell Code of Conduct Appendix V: DSM Values and Whistle Blowing Policy Glossary References Index of Cases Index This edition first published 2011 © 2011 Ibo van de Poel and Lambèr Royakkers © chapter 7: Peter-Paul Verbeek; © chapter 10: Michiel Brumsen Blackwell Publishing was acquired by John Wiley & Sons in February 2007 Blackwell’s publishing program has been merged with Wiley’s global Scientific, Technical, and Medical business to form Wiley-Blackwell Registered Office John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, United Kingdom Editorial Offices 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services, and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell The right of Ibo van de Poel and Lambèr Royakkers to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Poel, Ibo van de, 1966– Ethics, Technology, and Engineering : An Introduction / by Ibo van de Poel and Lambèr Royakkers p cm Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 978-1-4443-3094-6 (hardcover : alk paper) – ISBN 978-1-4443-3095-3 (pbk : alk paper) Technology–Moral and ethical aspects I Royakkers, Lambèr M M II Title BJ59.P63 2011 174′.96–dc22 2010042204 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is published in the following electronic formats: eBook 978-1-4443-9570-9; ePub 978-1-4443-9571-6 2011 Morton Thiokol Moses, R Mostert, P Motion Picture Association of America motives, heteronymous/autonomous Motto, J Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People multinational companies multiple criteria analysis multiple independent safety barriers multistability mutuality NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement ) Nagasaki Namioka, A nano-electronics nanoparticles nanotechnology NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) National Association of Broadcasters National Bureau of Standards National Cable Television Association National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) National Institute for Engineering Ethics National Safety Council (NSC) National Society of Professional Engineers see NSPE National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers (NUAAW) naturalistic fallacy, see fallacy, naturalistic naturalness, fallacy of, see fallacy, of naturalness Naylor, R.L needs, meeting of negative feedback mechanism negligence Nelson, D Netherlands coal mining Computer Criminality Act Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier flooding Health Council organizations qualifications Socialist Party Neufeld, M.J neutron NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Nigeria no harm principle Noble, D.F non-deductive argumentation see argument, non-deductive normal design normative ethics normative judgments normative relativism norms categorical deontology of engagement hypothetical moral organizational deviance prima facie and rules self-evident universal and values violation of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) NSC (National Safety Council) NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers) Board of Ethical Review Code of Conduct Code of Ethics for Engineers confidentiality Executive Committee Statement whistle blowers NUAAW (National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers) nuclear fission nuclear power plants nuclear waste disposal Oberdörster, E Oberdörster, G Oberdörster, J Oberth, H obligations corporate deontology employer/employee family to future generations legal moral professional to public software engineering whistle blowing Ogoni people Olympic Foods example openness operationalization of sustainability options for actions, see ethical cycle ordinal scale Ordway, F.I., III Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development organizational deviance organizations Australia Europe Netherlands United Kingdom USA O-ring failure ostrich’s fallacy, see fallacy, ostrich’s Otten, J Otway, H.J overlapping consensus overpasses/racism ozone depletion potential Page, B pain Paine, L.S panopticon parental guidelines Pareto Principle partners, commitment to passive responsibility see responsibility, passive paternalism Peak Oil theory perception perfluorooctanoic acid personal risks personhood Perucci, R pesticide Pesticides’ Advisory Committee Petroski, H Phillips, S Piskiewicz, D Plato plausibility principle pleasure Plunkett, R P&O polluter pays principle pollution population data post hoc ergo propter hoc, see fallacy, post hoc ergo propter hoc Potter, E Pöttgens, J.J.E Powley, C.R practical wisdom precautionary principle Predator premises prenatal diagnostic technologies prescriptive ethics pricing, fallacy of, see fallacy, of pricing prisoner’s dilemma Pritchard, M.S privacy problem analysis see ethical cycle product liability product longevity profession, defined professional codes of conduct, see codes of conduct, professional Professional Engineer professional responsibility professionalism autonomy codes of conduct ethics ideals integrity and competence Progressive Era proof from the absurd property rights prototype development and testing public health concerns Public Interest Disclosure Act, UK public safety principle public utility Public Works Agency Rabins, M.J racism radical design Radin, T.J Radio Frequency Identity Chip (RFID) radioactive waste Raffensperger, C rain forest pressures Rajendran, S ratio scale Rawls, J Raz, J Reagan, R reasoning ReCiPe reciprocity principle reductio ad absurdum, see fallacy, reductio ad absurdum redundant design reflection acceptability of risks collective ethical cycle ethics moral theories Reform Bill, UK refrigerators Registered Professional Engineer in Queensland regulation regulators regulatory frameworks release assessment renewable resources see resources, renewable/non-renewable Renn, O reputation responsibility active chemical industry collective corporate social distribution of as employee freedom of action hierarchical individual knowledge condition limits to management mutuality NASA organizations passive for safety social to stakeholders structural deficiency suicide prevention see also moral responsibility; professional responsibility; role responsibility responsibility argument revolving doors RFID chips Rio Declaration Rip, A risk assessment risk communicators risk standards risk-cost-benefit analysis risks advantages and avaliability of alternatives calculated collective distributed ethical judgment fallacies ignorance known/unknown multi-dimensional personal voluntary see also acceptable risks Rittel, H.W.J robots role responsibility roll-on/roll-off ferries Roosevelt, F D Ross, W.D Royakkers, L.M.M Royal Academy of Engineering Royal Society rule utilitarianism rules Rules of Engagement Ryan, B.L.V safety aesthetics contingent validation moral responsibility responsibility strict liability safety standards car design traffic systems truck design welding/bolts Sandin, P Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) Saro-Wiwa, K Saturn V rocket Schellens, P.J Schendel, D.E Schinzinger, R Schivelbusch, W Schot, J.W Schuler, D Schulze, W.D scientifically founded judgment principle script concept search engine design seatbelts, automatic Seiden, R self-defense self-interest self-legislation separatism Sethi, S.P sewage treatment plant shareholders sheer size fallacy Shell Sherman Act shipping companies ships, demolished Shrader-Frechette, K.S Shrage, E Sidgwick, H SimaPro Simon, H.A simulation slippery slope fallacy Slovic, P Smart, J.J.C Smeatonian Society Smith, A Smith, Adam Smits, S social benefit social ethics of engineering Socialist Party, Netherlands societal experiments Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice software engineers solidarity sound argumentation see argument, sound SOX Act (Sarbanes-Oxley) space travel specifications speed bumps Spranca, M square root of argument stakeholder principles stakeholders stand still principle statements and arguments descriptive inconsistent normative public value statements Steg, L Stern, P.C Storm Flood Committee storm surge barrier Strauss, J straw person fallacy, see fallacy, straw person strict liability structural deficiency structure of amplification and reduction Stuhlinger, E Styron, W.: Sophie’s Choice, 141 suicide Sunstein, C.R Super Bowl sustainability bridge design contingent validation energy engineering operationalization responsibility sustainable development achievability Brundtland ecological footprints environmental space moral justification public obligation Rio Declaration sustainable society Swierstra, T synthetic reasoning Szilárd, L Tacoma Narrows Bridge tantalum Tavani, H.T Taylor, F W Taylor, H technical codes and standards technocracy technocratic fallacy, see fallacy, technocratic technological design technological enthusiasm technological mediation technology control externalist approach moral questions social context stability Technology Assessment Teflon Telecommunications Reform Act telephone tele-soldiers television, parental guidelines temperature factors Ten Horn-van Nispen, M.-L test Tetlock, P.E thermometer Thompson, D.F thresholds Tickner, J torture example Townsend Thoresen toxicology Tozer, J trade-offs traffic risks train tunnel design train wheels transformations transparency tripartite model triple bottom line concept Tronto, J.C truck design Truman, H S trumping of values Twente, University of type I error type II error ultrasound UN Convention Against Corruption UN Environment Programme (UNEP) UN Global Compact Principles unborn child uncertainty Unger, S.H United Kingdom organizations Public Interest Disclosure Act qualifications United States of America organizations qualifications see also specific cases Universal Declaration of Human Rights universalism universality principle uranium users of technology utilitarianism argumentation consequentialism criticism of equality principle exploitation Ford Pinto happiness highway safety case intergenerational justice means-end argumentation Mill personal relationships see also act utilitarianism; rule utilitarianism utility principle Valenti, J valid arguments see argument, valid value conflicts value sensitive design values core incommensurable instrumental intrinsic monism moral and norms trade-offs Van de Poel, I Van de Ven, B Van den Hoven, J Van der Burg, S Van der Ham, W Van Eemeren, F.H Van est, R Van Gorp, A Van Hemel, C Van Poortvliet, A Van Veen, J Vaughan, D V-chip VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure) Verbeek, P.P Vermaas, P.E virtue ethics argumentation and care ethics criticized engineering highway safety case ultrasound virtues cardinal character Von Braun, W Von Winterfeldt, D waste products Webber, M.M Weckert, J Weegink, R.J Weil, V Westinghouse Hanford Weyer, J wheel design Wheeler, D whistle blowing confidentiality engineers/managers ethical cycle individual responsibility legal position limitations obligations Whitbeck, C Whitehead, T wide reflective equilibrium Wilkins, L Williams, B Williams, O.F window-dressing Winner, L Wirtz, R wishful thinking fallacy, see fallacy, wishful thinking working principle World Commission on Environment and Development World Summit on Sustainable Development World Trade Organization World War II World Wildlife Fund wrong-doing Wynne, B Zah, R Zandvoort, H Z-Corp Zeebrugge ferry disaster Zwart, S.D ... Data Poel, Ibo van de, 1966– Ethics, Technology, and Engineering : An Introduction / by Ibo van de Poel and Lambèr Royakkers p cm Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 978-1-4443-3094-6... L and Zwart, S Fairness and completeness in distributing responsibility: The case of engineering Manuscript Introduction One of the main differences between science and engineering is that engineering. .. 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