In Search of Engineering Ethics
摘要
This chapter examines the field of engineering ethics, understood not merely as a set of standards, rules, and regulations established by governmental bodies or professional associations. Engineers increasingly interact with nearly every aspect of society through the design, development, production, and distribution of technical objects, systems, and processes. Their work extends across a wide range of social domains, including agriculture, transportation, education, and healthcare, reflecting the pervasive role of technology in contemporary life. Neglecting the potential misuse of devices or procedures may result in serious and harmful consequences. These challenges have been significantly intensified by the digital revolution. The chapter begins with a philosophical introduction to ethics and then guides the “ethical engineer” through an examination of key issues, including the limits of predicting uncertain outcomes and the challenges posed by ethical paradoxes. It subsequently addresses land ethics, industrial ethics, and, in particular, digital ethics, which has become essential in the present context. The chapter concludes by considering the “slow” paradigm inspired by the philosophy of E. F. Schumacher, and the book ends with a reflection on the expressive power of poetry.