Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b95js Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-13T23:47:57.591Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Origin and Implications of Engineers' Obligations to the Public Welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2022

Jerry W. Gravander
Jerry W. Gravander*
Affiliation:
Clarkson College of Technology
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The “Code of Ethics” formulated by the Engineer's Council for Professional Development—and adopted by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers— claims that “engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties… . [Moreover,] should the Engineers’ professional judgment be overruled under circumstances where the safety, health, and welfare of the public are endangered, the Engineers shall inform their clients or employers of the possible consequences and notify other proper authority of the situation, as may be appropriate.“ The other major engineering societies endorse “Codes of Ethics” with a similar provision.

Type
Part VIII. Philosophy, Engineering and Society
Information
PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association , Volume 1980 , Issue 2: Volume Two: Symposia and Invited Papers 1980 , 1980 , pp. 443 - 455
Copyright
Copyright © 1981 by the Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

1

This is based on work done in conjunction with my participation in the National Project on Philosophy and Engineering Ethics, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and administered by Robert J. Baum of the Center for the Study of the Human Dimensions of Science and Technology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

References

Anderson, Roy (1975). “Professionalism, Ethics and the Public Welfare.” In Proceedings of the Conference on Engineering Ethics. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers. Pages 8-19. (As Reprinted in Baum (1980), pp. 71-79).Google Scholar
Baier, Kurt and Rescher, Nicholas (eds.). (1969). Values and the Future: The Impact of Technological Change on American Values. New York: The Free Press.Google Scholar
Baum, Robert J. (ed.). (1980). Ethical Problems in Engineering. 2nd Edition, Volume Two. Troy, New York: Center for the Study of the Human Dimensions of Science and Technology.Google Scholar
Bereano, Philip L.(ed.). (1976). Technology as a Social and Political Phenomenon. New York: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Dorf, Richard C. (1974). Technology and Society. San Francisco: Boyd and Fraser Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Fairman, J.F. Jr., et.al. (1978). “In the Matter of Virginia Edgerton.” Technology and Society 22: 8-10. (As Reprinted in Baum (1980), pp. 68-70.).Google Scholar
Flores, Albert (ed.) . (1980). Ethical Problems in Engineering 2nd Edition, Volume One: Readings. Troy, New York: Center for the Study of the Human Dimensions of Science and Technology.Google Scholar
Florman, Samuel C. (1976). The Existential Pleasures of Engineering. New York: St. Martin's Press.Google Scholar
Friedlander, Gordon D. (1974). “The Case of the Three Engineers vs. BART.” IEEE Spectrum 11(10): 69-76. (As Reprinted in Baum (1980), pp.80-87.).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greber, H. (1966). “The Philosophy of Engineering.” IEEE Spectrum 3(October): 112-115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodges, Michael P., and Liohter, Barry D. (1980). “The Union of Theory and Practice.” Engineering Education 70: 816-821.Google Scholar
Ladenson, Robert F. (1980). “The Social Responsibilities of Engineers and Scientists: A Philosophical Approach.” In Values and the Public Works Professional, Proceedings of a Workshop Presented in Conjunction with the International Public Works Congress and Equipment Show of the American Public Works Association. Boston. Massachusetts, October 1978. Edited by Babcock, D.L. and Smith, C.A. Rolla, Missouri: Curators of the University of Missouri. Pages 5-14. (As Reprinted in Flores (1980), pp. 238-245.).Google Scholar
Martin, Mike W. and Schinzinger, Roland. (1980). “Engineering As Social Experimentation: A Sharing of Responsibilities Among Engineers, Managers, and the Public.” In Proceedings of the 10,80 Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education. Washington, D.C.: The American Society for Engineering Education. Pages 391-398.Google Scholar
McLaughlin, Robert L. (1978). “Unprofessional or Unfairly Fired?” New Engineer 7(7): 23-30.Google Scholar
Mitoham, Carl and Hackey, Robert (eds.). (1972). Philosophy and Technology. New York: The Free Press.Google Scholar
Moore, Wilbert E. (1970). The Professions: Roles and Rules. New York: The Russell Sage Foundation.Google Scholar
Nader, Ralph, et.al.(eds.). (1972). Whistle Blowing. New York: Grossman Publishers.Google Scholar
Schinzinger, Roland. (1979). “The Experimental Nature of Engineering and Its Implications for Management.” Technology and Society 27: 3-7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Unger, Stephen H., et.al. (1978). “Professional Responsibility and the Dispatching of Police Cars—A Case Study.” Technology and Society 22: 3-5. (As Reprinted in Baum (1980), pp. 63-65.).Google Scholar
Weinberg, Alvin M. (1966). “Can Technology Replace Social Engineering?” The University of Chicago Magazine October: 6-10. (As Reprinted in Technology and Man's Future, Second Edition. Edited by Albert H., Teich. (1977). New York: St. Martin's Press. Pages 22-29.).Google Scholar
Ziman, J.M., (1968). Public Knowledge: An Essay Concerning the Social Dimension of Science. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar