Abstract
Three frames of reference for engineering ethics are discussed—individual, professional and social—which can be further broken down into “microethics” concerned with individuals and the internal relations of the engineering profession and “macroethics” referring to the collective social responsibility of the engineering profession and to societal decisions about technology. Few attempts have been made at integrating microethical and macroethical approaches to engineering ethics. The approach suggested here is to focus on the role of professional engineering societies in linking individual and professional ethics and in linking professional and social ethics. A research program is outlined using ethics support as an example of the former, and the issuance of position statements on product liability as an example of the latter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Herkert, J.R. (2000) Engineering ethics education in the USA: content, pedagogy, and curriculum. European Journal of Engineering Education 25 (4): 303–313.
Herkert, J.R. (2001) Ethical responsibility and societal context: the case for integrating engineering ethics and public policy, in: Luegenbiehl, H., Neeley, K., and Ollis, D. F. (eds.) Liberal Education in 21st Century Engineering, Peter lang, New York (in press).
Ladd, J. (1980) The quest for a code of professional ethics: an intellectual and moral confusion, in: Chalk, R., Frankel, M.S. and Chafer, S.B. (eds.) AAAS Professional Ethics Project: Professional Ethics Activities in the Scientific and Engineering Societies. AAAS, Washington, DC, pp. 154–159.
McLean, G.F. (1993) Integrating ethics and design. IEEE Technology and Society 12 (3): 19–30.
Vanderburg, W.H. (1995) Preventive engineering: strategy for dealing with negative social and environmental implications of technology. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice 121: 155–160.
Devon, R. (1999) Toward a social ethics of engineering: the norms of engagement. Journal of Engineering Education 88: 87–92.
Roddis, W.M.K. (1993) Structural failures and engineering ethics. Journal of Structural Engineering 119: 1539–1555.
Winner, L. (1990) Engineering ethics and political imagination, in: Durbin, P. (ed.) Broad and Narrow Interpretations of Philosophy of Technology: Philosophy and Technology 7, Boston, Kluwer, pp. 53–64.
Herkert, J.R. (2000) Social, Ethical and Policy Implications of Engineering, Wiley/IEEE Press, New York, USA.
Lynch, W.T. and Kline, R. (2000) Engineering practice and engineering ethics. Science, Technology and Human Values 25: 195–225.
Woodhouse, E.J. (2001) Overconsumption as an ethical challenge for design professionals. Presented at the Tenth Annual Meeting, Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 1–4.
Clayton, E. T. (1986) The Revolt of the Engineers. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Unger, S. (1994) Controlling Technology: Ethics and the Responsible Engineer, 2nd Ed., Wiley, New York, USA.
Davis, M. (1998) Thinking Like an Engineer, Oxford University Press, New York, USA.
Wujek, J. H. (1996) Must engineers behave heroically? Presented at Frontiers in Education Conference, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and American Society for Engineering Education, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ladd, J. (1982) Collective and individual moral responsibility in engineering: some questions. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine 1 (2): 3–10.
Unger, S.H. (1999) The assault on IEEE Ethics support. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine 18 (1): 36–40.
IEEE Ethics Committee World Wide Web Page, http://www.ieee.org/organizations/committee/ethics/.
IEEE Member Conduct Committee World Wide Web Page, http://www.ieee.org/organizations/committee/mcc/.
Herkert, J. (1994) Ethical risk assessment: valuing public perceptions. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine 13 (1): 4–10.
Lewis, N.A. (1996) Clinton vetoes bill to curb awards in product liability suits. New York Times (May 3).
Hunziker, J.R. and Jones, T.O. (eds.) (1994) Product liability and innovation. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
New York Times (editorial) (1996) The Anti-Consumer Act of 1996. New York Times (March 21).
Castaing, F.J. (1994) The effects of product liability on automotive engineering practice, in: Hunziker, J.R. and Jones, T.O. (eds.) Product Liability and Innovation. National Academy Press, Washington, DC: 77–81.
IEEE-USA (1998) Tort Law And Product Liability Reform (position statement). [Available from World Wide Web site, http://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POSITIONS/liability.html]
ASME International (1996) Letter to the House and Senate Conferees on Product Liability Bills. [Available from World Wide Web site, http://www.asme.org/gric/96-01.html.]
Fischhoff, B. and Merz, J.F. (1994) The inconvenient public: behavioral research approaches to reducing product liability risks, in Hunziker, J.R. and Jones, T.O. (eds.) Product Liability and Innovation. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, pp. 159–189.
Rabins, M.J., Harris, E. and Pritchard, M. (1992) Engineering design: literature on social responsibility versus legal liability. [Available from World Wide Web site, http://lowery.tamu.edu/ethics/ethics/essays/design.htm.]
De George, R.T. (1981) Ethical responsibilities of engineers in large organizations: the Pinto case. Business and Professional Ethics Journal 1: 1–14.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Joseph R. Herkert directs a dual-degree program in engineering and humanities/social sciences and is editor of Social, Ethical, and Policy Implications of Engineering (Wiley/IEEE Press).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Herkert, J.R. Future directions in engineering ethics research: Microethics, macroethics and the role of professional societies. SCI ENG ETHICS 7, 403–414 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-001-0062-2
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-001-0062-2