Abstract
Knowledge of the responsibilities of engineers is the foundation for answering ethical questions about the work of engineers. This paper defines the responsibilities of engineers by considering what constitutes the nature of engineering as a particular form of activity. Specifically, this paper focuses on the ethical responsibilities of engineers qua engineers. Such responsibilities refer to the duties acquired in virtue of being a member of a group. We examine the practice of engineering, drawing on the idea of practices developed by philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre, and show how the idea of a practice is important for identifying and justifying the responsibilities of engineers. To demonstrate the contribution that knowledge of the responsibilities of engineers makes to engineering ethics, a case study from structural engineering is discussed. The discussion of the failure of the Sleipner A Platform off the coast of Norway in 1991 demonstrates how the responsibilities of engineers can be derived from knowledge of the nature of engineering and its context.
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Notes
This article focuses mainly on the practice of engineering and its goods while leaving the issue of how these goods fit with other goods that an individual may pursue for later work.
Two independent investigative agencies came to the same conclusion. One investigation was conducted by Norwegian Contractors, the company who was under contract to design and build the Sleipner A Platform. The other investigation was conducted by SINTEF at the request of Statoil who owned the lease for the off-shore field where the Sleipner A Platform was to be operated.
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1260863. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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Smith, J., Gardoni, P. & Murphy, C. The Responsibilities of Engineers. Sci Eng Ethics 20, 519–538 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-013-9463-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-013-9463-2