Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction

378 Pages·2011·3.53 MB·English

by  Ibo van de Poel

VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ccoovveerr..iinndddd 11 22//1199//22001111 66::4488::1166 PPMM
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffffiirrss..iinndddd iiii 11//2277//22001111 1111::5544::0077 AAMM
Ethics, Technology, and Engineering
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffffiirrss..iinndddd ii 11//2277//22001111 1111::5544::0077 AAMM
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffffiirrss..iinndddd iiii 11//2277//22001111 1111::5544::0077 AAMM
Ethics, Technology,
and Engineering
An Introduction
Ibo van de Poel
and Lambèr Royakkers
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffffiirrss..iinndddd iiiiii 11//2277//22001111 1111::5544::0077 AAMM
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)
1. 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
Set in 10/12.5pt Galliard by SPi Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India
Printed in Singapore
1 2011
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffffiirrss..iinndddd iivv 11//2277//22001111 1111::5544::0088 AAMM
Contents
Acknowledgments x
Introduction 1
1 The Responsibilities of Engineers 6
1.1 Introduction 7
1.2 Responsibility 9
1.3 Passive Responsibility 10
1.4 Active Responsibility and the Ideals of Engineers 13
1.4.1 Technological enthusiasm 14
1.4.2 Effectiveness and efficiency 16
1.4.3 Human welfare 18
1.5 Engineers versus Managers 21
1.5.1 Separatism 21
1.5.2 Technocracy 22
1.5.3 Whistle-blowing 23
1.6 The Social Context of Technological
Development 25
1.7 Chapter Summary 28
Study Questions 29
Discussion Questions 30
2 Codes of Conduct 31
2.1 Introduction 32
2.2 Codes of Conduct 33
2.2.1 Professional codes 34
2.2.2 Corporate codes 40
2.3 Possibilities and Limitations of Codes of Conduct 43
2.3.1 Codes of conduct and self-interest 44
2.3.2 Vagueness and potential contradictions 46
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffttoocc..iinndddd vv 11//2266//22001111 11::3311::3377 AAMM
vi Contents
2.3.3 Can ethics be codified? 48
2.3.4 Can codes of conduct be lived by? 50
2.3.5 Enforcement 52
2.4 Codes of Conduct in an International Context 54
2.4.1 Global codes for multinationals 54
2.4.2 Global codes for engineers 58
2.5 Chapter Summary 61
Study Questions 62
Discussion Questions 63
3 Normative Ethics 65
3.1 Introduction 67
3.2 Ethics and Morality 70
3.3 Descriptive and Normative Judgments 71
3.4 Points of Departure: Values,
Norms, and Virtues 72
3.4.1 Values 72
3.4.2 Norms 74
3.4.3 Virtues 75
3.5 Relativism and Absolutism 75
3.5.1 Normative relativism 76
3.5.2 Absolutism 76
3.6 Ethical Theories 77
3.7 Utilitarianism 78
3.7.1 Jeremy Bentham 79
3.7.2 Mill and the freedom principle 84
3.7.3 Criticism of utilitarianism 86
3.7.4 Applying utilitarianism to
the Ford Pinto case 88
3.8 Kantian Theory 89
3.8.1 Categorical imperative 90
3.8.2 Criticism of Kantian theory 93
3.8.3 Applying Kant’s theory to the Ford Pinto case 95
3.9 Virtue Ethics 95
3.9.1 Aristotle 96
3.9.2 Criticism of virtue ethics 98
3.9.3 Virtues for morally responsible engineers 99
3.10 Care Ethics 102
3.10.1 The importance of relationships 102
3.10.2 Criticism of care ethics 103
3.10.3 Care ethics in engineering 103
3.11 Applied Ethics 105
3.12 Chapter Summary 106
Study Questions 107
Discussion Questions 108
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffttoocc..iinndddd vvii 11//2266//22001111 11::3311::3377 AAMM
Contents vii
4 Normative Argumentation 109
4.1 Introduction 110
4.2 Valid Arguments 113
4.3 Deductive and Non-Deductive Arguments 116
4.4 Arguments in Ethical Theories 118
4.4.1 Argumentation by analogy 118
4.4.2 Arguments in a utilitarian plea 119
4.4.3 Argumentation in Kantian reasoning 122
4.4.4 Argumentation in virtue-ethical reasoning 126
4.5 Fallacies 127
4.5.1 Some common fallacies in ethical discussions 127
4.5.2 Fallacies of risk 129
4.6 Chapter Summary 131
Study Questions 131
Discussion Questions 132
5 The Ethical Cycle 133
5.1 Introduction 134
5.2 Ill-Structured Problems 135
5.3 The Ethical Cycle 137
5.3.1 Moral problem statement 138
5.3.2 Problem analysis 142
5.3.3 Options for actions 143
5.3.4 Ethical evaluation 145
5.3.5 Reflection 146
5.4 An Example 147
5.4.1 Moral problem statement 149
5.4.2 Problem analysis 150
5.4.3 Options for actions 151
5.4.4 Ethical evaluation 151
5.4.5 Reflection 153
5.5 Collective Moral Deliberation and Social Arrangements 155
5.6 Chapter Summary 157
Study Questions 158
Discussion Questions 159
6 Ethical Questions in the Design of Technology 161
6.1 Introduction 163
6.2 Ethical Issues During the Design Process 165
6.2.1 Problem analysis and formulation 166
6.2.2 Conceptual design 168
6.2.3 Simulation 170
6.2.4 Decision 171
6.2.5 Detail design 173
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffttoocc..iinndddd vviiii 11//2266//22001111 11::3311::3377 AAMM
viii Contents
6.2.6 Prototype development and testing 174
6.2.7 Manufacture and construction 175
6.3 Trade-offs and Value Conflicts 177
6.3.1 Cost-benefit analysis 180
6.3.2 Multiple criteria analysis 183
6.3.3 Thresholds 185
6.3.4 Reasoning 187
6.3.5 Value Sensitive Design 188
6.3.6 A comparison of the different methods 189
6.4 Regulatory Frameworks: Normal and Radical Design 190
6.5 Chapter Summary 194
Study Questions 195
Discussion Questions 197
7 Designing Morality 198
Peter-Paul Verbeek
7.1 Introduction 199
7.2 Ethics as a Matter of Things 200
7.3 Technological Mediation 201
7.3.1 Mediation of perception 202
7.3.2 Mediation of action 204
7.4 Moralizing Technology 205
7.4.1 Criticizing the moral character of technological artifacts 206
7.4.2 Taking mediation into ethics 207
7.5 Designing Mediations 211
7.6 Chapter Summary 214
Study Questions 215
Discussion Questions 216
8 Ethical Aspects of Technical Risks 217
8.1 Introduction 219
8.2 Definitions of Central Terms 221
8.3 The Engineer’s Responsibility for Safety 223
8.4 Risk Assessment 225
8.4.1 The reliability of risk assessments 227
8.5 When are Risks Acceptable? 228
8.5.1 Informed consent 231
8.5.2 Do the advantages outweigh the risks? 232
8.5.3 The availability of alternatives 233
8.5.4 Are risks and benefits justly distributed? 234
8.6 Risk Communication 236
8.7 Dealing with Uncertainty and Ignorance 237
8.7.1 The precautionary principle 238
8.7.2 Engineering as a societal experiment 241
8.8 Chapter Summary 244
Study Questions 245
Discussion Questions 247
VVaann__ddee__PPooeell__ffttoocc..iinndddd vviiiiii 11//2266//22001111 11::3311::3377 AAMM