Ethical Principles for Engineers in a Global Environment

Abstract

Engineering ethics has undergone an evolutionary process from a national perspective to a recognition that global concerns matter in engineering. However, this has been an additive process which is still generally based on an American model of ethical theory as a foundation, with professional ethics as the outcome. Neither of these elements can be expected to be understood or accepted on a worldwide basis. This chapter therefore argues that a new foundation for a global engineering ethics must be established, one which derives ethical principles from the nature of engineering and the universal use among engineers of the faculty of reason. Arguments are presented why this is the appropriate approach given the contemporary work environment of engineers. A number of fundamental engineering ethics principles are derived.