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Design Problems and Ethics

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Philosophy and Engineering:

Part of the book series: Philosophy of Engineering and Technology ((POET,volume 2))

Abstract

The intellectual core of engineering is the solution to design problems. Those solutions are embodied in artifacts – software, a bridge, elevators, and so on. An engineer who so designed artifacts as to maximize the harm they bring into the world would be unethical. Ethical considerations are internal to engineering because the introduction of each engineering artifact will produce more or less harm, no matter what the solution may be.

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References

  • Manes, Stephen. 1996. When Trust in ‘Data’ Is Misplaced. New York Times, 17 September, C9.

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  • Petroski, Henry. 1992. To Engineer is Human. New York: Vintage Books.

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  • Walton, Joseph W. 1991. Essentials of Engineering Design. St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co.

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Correspondence to Wade Robison .

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Robison, W. (2009). Design Problems and Ethics. In: Poel, I., Goldberg, D. (eds) Philosophy and Engineering:. Philosophy of Engineering and Technology, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2804-4_17

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