Fundamentals of Ethics for Scientists and Engineers Book

Preface
UNIT ONE: FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
1. APPROACHING THE SUBJECT OF ETHICS
An Example The Importance of Ethics in Science and Engineering Managing Ethical Discussion Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics The Existence of Right and Wrong
Principle: Certain aspects of right and wrong exist objectively, independent of culture or personal opinion
The Subject of Moral Analysis The Role of Codes of Ethics
A Real-life Case: Destruction of the Spaceship Challengerr
2. THE PERSON AND THE VIRTUES
Developing a Model for the Person Components of the Psyche Limitations of the Model Habits and Morals The Four Main Virtues
Principle: People should always decide and act according to the virtues insofar as possible
An Example
A Real-life Case; Toxic Waste at Love Canal
3. ANALYZING EXTERIOR ACTS: SOME FIRST STEPS
Ethics as a Craft Distinguishing Exterior and Interior Morality Beginning Case Analysis Event Trees
A Real-life Case: Dow Corning Corp. and Breast Implants
4. ANALYZING INTERIOR INTENTIONS: SOME FIRST STEPS
Describing Intention The Importance of Intention Effort and the Virtues
Principle: People should try insofar as possible to continue to progress in the moral life
The Role of Benevolence
A Real-life Case: The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
SUMMARY
Some Words of Caution Note
UNIT TWO: RESOLVING ETHICAL CONFLICTS
5. TOWARD A HIERARCHY OF MORAL VALUES
On Selecting Principles and Methods Hierarchies of Values: Moral and Nonmoral Line-drawing An Example Mathematical Analogies Ranking the Virtues
A Real-life Case: Scientific Tests Using Animals
6. STARTING MORAL JUDGMENTS: EVALUATING EXTERIOR ACTS
A Mathematical Analogy An Example
A Real-life Case: Chemical Disaster at Bhopal
7. COMPLETING MORAL JUDGMENTS: THE DECISIVE ROLE OF INTENTION
Evaluating Interior Goodness An Example Balancing Evaluations of Interior and Exterior Goodness The "Solomon Problem"
Principle: The obligation to avoid what is bad outweighs the obligation to do what is good
Cooperating in the Evil of Others
A Real-life Case: The Problem of Performance Evaluation—Grade Inflation
8. MORAL RESPONSIBILITY
Factors Limiting Moral Responsibility Degrees of Responsibility An Example The "Sainthood" and "Devil" Problems
A Real-life Case: Responsibility in Software Engineering
SUMMARY
Some Words of Caution
UNIT THREE: JUSTICE: APPLICATIONS
9. TRUTH: PERSON-TO-PERSON
Truth in Actions Truth in Words Harm from Deception Harm from Withholding Truth Whistleblowing Harm from Spreading Truth Privacy
A Real-lfe Case: Censorship of the Internet
10. TRUTH: SOCIAL
Distinctions between Science and Engineering Approach to Knowledge in Science Recognition from Scientific Publication Black and Gray in Scientific Practice Approach to Knowledge in Technology Intellectual Property
A Real-life Case: Copying Music Illegally Using the Internet
11. FAIRNESS: PERSON-TO-PERSON
Conflict of Interest Qualitative versus Quantitative Fairness Credit or Blame in Team Projects Authorship Questions Fairness in Supervising Fairness in Contracting with Clients
A Real-life Case: Problems with Peer Review
12. FAIRNESS: SOCIAL
Intellectual Property and the Society Environmental Issues Experts and Paternalism Social Aspects of Employment
A Real-life Case: Environmental Cleanup—Problems with the Superfund
SUMMARY Some Words of Caution
UNIT FOUR: ADVANCED TOPICS
13. RESOURCE ALLOCATION
What is Resource Allocation?
Allocation by Merit Allocation by Social Worth Allocation by Need Allocation by Ability to Pay Allocation by Equal or Random Assignment Allocation by Similarity How to Decide among Methods
A Real-life Case: Ethical Issues in Affirmative Action
14. RISK
A Historical Perspective Defining Safety and Risk Evaluating Risk Making Decisions about Risk Some General Guidelines
A Real-life Case: Experimental Drug Testing in Humans
15. DEALING WITH DIFFERING ETHICAL SYSTEMS
Differing Anthropologies Differing Principles and Methods Monism and Relativism Postmodernism True Pluralism Conclusion
A Real-life Case: Geological Experiments in Sacred Mountains
16. HABIT AND INTUITION
Rationalist Approaches to Moral Action Advantages of Rationalist Approaches Problems with Rationalist Approaches Toward a More Comprehensive Approach to Moral Behavior
A Real-life Case: The Ethics of Human Cloning
Chapters 1-15 end with Notes and Problems
Chapter 16 ends with Notes