Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Delaying Obsolescence

Science and Engineering Ethics volume 21, pages 401–427 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper argues that those who emphasise that designers and engineers need to plan for obsolescence are too conservative. Rather, in addition to planning for obsolescence, designers and engineers should also think carefully about what they could do in order delay obsolescence. They should so this by thinking about the design itself, thinking of ways in which products could be useful and appealing for longer before becoming obsolete, as well thinking about the wider context in terms of the marketing of products, and also the social and legal. The paper also considers objections that these suggestions are unrealistically idealistic, failing to recognise the economic realities. I respond to these objections appealing to research in advertising, psychology, cognitive linguistics, philosophy, history, and economics, as well as drawing on the Statement of Ethical Principles developed by the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Council.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Notes

  1. See, for example, Dictionary.com (2014).

  2. Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

  3. My italics.

  4. See, for example, Smith (2013), Tofel (2013) and Kameka (2013).

  5. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, usually used to treat depression.

  6. Single lens reflex.

  7. Others may raise concerns about the economics, but not at the level of individual companies or individual products, but on a larger scale, worrying that my suggestions would be detrimental to the economy. I cannot address this in detail here, but will make two comments. First, my approach needn’t be in opposition to economic growth, but may instead focus more on a service economy (discussed in more detail in the following). Second, even if there is a conflict here, it is not clear that we should assume that economic growth must win over environmental concerns. See, for example, Jackson (2011) and Heinberg (2011).

  8. Also see the various discussions of the “welfare state” and a “safety net” throughout.

  9. From 1 min 20 s.

  10. Miles per gallon, or equivalent if we are including electric cars as well.

  11. The 25 and 65 mpg figures are based—roughly—on a Porsche 911 and a Toyota Prius (Fuel-economy.co.uk 2013).

  12. Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

  13. Paragraphs 1, 4 and 5 (my italics), and also 39, 43, 46, and 47.

  14. And many would also point out that this is something that we are failing to do, already, because the needs of the present clearly isn’t meant to refer only to the needs of the present in the UK or USA and other wealthy countries.

References

Download references

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to the Arts and Humanities Research Council for the early career research fellowship, funding my project, “Climate Change, Ethics and Responsibility: an interdisciplinary approach”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied, Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Rob Lawlor

Authors
  1. Rob Lawlor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rob Lawlor.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lawlor, R. Delaying Obsolescence. Sci Eng Ethics 21, 401–427 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-014-9548-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-014-9548-6

Keywords

search

Navigation