Engineering Ethics
HU 3710 Spring 2014
MWF - Walker 109 -- 12:05-12:55pm
Dr. L. Alexandra Morrison
Office Hours (Walker 340) MW: 3:00-4:00 (or by appointment)
contact: lamorris@mtu.edu
Course Description and Goals
In the professional community of engineers it is widely held that there is an
urgent need to foster ethical sensitivity in engineering students. This is not
exclusive to engineers, of course, in the science and technology and business
communities we are also hearing a call for the cultivation of “ethical imagination.”
This suggests that while professional codes and rules can serve as important
guidelines, they do not go far enough in creating the best kind of student (and
future professional and citizen), that is, a person who is able to understand,
articulate and act on their individual and collective sense of moral
obligation. To this end, we will use a variety of sources for student reflection
including difficult philosophical texts.
Remember that ethics is a branch of philosophy and consequently we must
supplement the course textbook with readings in philosophical ethics and the
philosophy of science and technology. This need is succinctly expressed by Civil
Engineer David R. Haws at Boise State University: “Expert testimony comes from
the primary writings of ethical theory—and as academically foreign to
engineering students as these treatises might seem, there is no efficient way
to eliminate or minimize their prominence in anything we might rightfully
call a course in engineering ethics.”
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Course Requirements:
It is essential that students complete the assigned readings on time and come to
class prepared to discuss the themes and concepts presented in these readings.
As stated above many of these readings will feel foreign to you, at least initially. If
you haven’t read the readings before class your ability to understand the lecture
will be greatly reduced. In order to encourage students to keep up with the
reading schedule there will be 8 in-class “surprise” reading quizzes – the best 5
will count toward your final grade.
Participation grades will be determined by how your class and on-line
contributions demonstrate that you have read the materials and carefully thought
about the topics to be discussed that day.
Late assignments will be reduced a fraction of a grade (e.g. from B to B-) for each
day, or part thereof, up to two full grades (e.g. from B to D). Late papers will be
graded without comments.
Course policies
Cell phones, Blackberries, iPods, PDAs or any other electronic devices are not to be used
in the classroom.
Required Reading Materials
Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases (Fourth Edition). Charles E. Harris, Jr.,
Michael S. Pritchard and Michael J. Rabins. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Belmont CA, 2009.
*The course textbook may also be purchased or rented (in print paperback or
eBook formats) directly from the publisher (www.cengagebrain.com).
All additional materials will be available on the course website.
TENTATIVE READING SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
M Jan/13 - Introduction
W Jan/15 – J. S. Mill On Liberty Chapter II pp. 18-32 (Modules)
F Jan/17 – J. S. Mill On Liberty Chapter II pp. 32—52 (Modules)
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WEEK 2
M Jan/20 – Martin Luther King Day – No Class
W Jan/22 – Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases (EE) Chapter 1
F Jan/ 24– EE, Chapter 5
WEEK 3
M Jan/27 – Wike “Professional Engineering Ethical Behavior: A Values-Based Approach”
pp. 1-7 (Modules)
W Jan/29 – Gene Moriarty. “Ethics, Ethos and the Professions: Some
Lessons from Engineering” pp. 75-92. (modules)
F Jan/31 – On-Line Tutorial Discussion #1 (during class time on line)
WEEK 4
M Feb/ 3– EE, Chapter 6
W Feb/5 – Charles E. Harris. “The Good Engineer: Giving Virtue its Due
in Engineering Ethics” pp153-164. (Modules)
F Feb/ 7 - WINTER CARNIVAL – NO CLASSES
WEEK 5
M Feb/10 – EE, Chapter 2
W Feb/12 – Michael S. Pritchard. “Responsible Engineering: The Importance of Character
and Imagination” pp. 391-401. (Modules)
F Feb/14 – On-line Tutorial Discussion #2
WEEK 6
M Feb/17 – Carl Mitcham, “Three Ways of Being With Technology” (Modules)
W Feb/19 – Bruno Latour. “Morality and Technology: The End of the
Means” pp. 247- 259. (Modules)
F Feb/21 – Tutorial Discussion #3
WEEK 7
M Feb/24 – Bruno Latour. “A Collective of Humans and Non-Humans” pp. 156-167
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(Modules)
W Feb/26 – Don Ihde. “A Phenomenology of Technics” pp. 76-97 (Modules)
F Mar/28 – TEST #1 (on material to date) submitted ONLINE (Essay Questions will be
posted in morning. Answers will be submitted as Word Documents on Canvas by end of
the day.)
WEEK 8
M Mar/3 – Aaron Smith. “Do you Believe in Ethics?: Watch Out Latour Ihde’s Got a Gun”
(Modules)
W Mar/5 – EE, Chapter 3
F Mar/7 – EE, Chapter 7 (also Read NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers)
WEEK 9
M Mar/10 - Spring Break
W Mar/12 – Spring Break
F Mar/14 - Spring Break
WEEK 10
M Mar/17 – Nussbaum “The Costs of Tragedy: Some Moral Limits of Cost-Benefit
Analysis” (Modules)
W Mar/19 – The Environment - EE, Chapter 9
F Mar/21 – Tutorial Discussion #4
WEEK 11
M Mar/24 – Thomas Fisher. “Our Collapsing Global Bridge”. p. 1-20 (Modules) and begin
Documentary on Environment and Ethics
W Mar/26 – Documentary on Environment and Ethics
F Mar/28– Tutorial Discussion #5
WEEK 12
M Mar/31 - Whistle Blowing etc. EE Chapter 8
W Apr/2 – Meyers, “Institutional Culture and Individual Behavior: Creating the Ethical
Environment” (Modules)
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F Apr/4 Arendt “Thinking and Moral Considerations” (Modules)
WEEK 13
M Apr/7 – Hayden: “The Relevance of Hannah Arendt’s Reflections on Evil: Globalization
and Rightlessness” pp. 451-465 (Modules)
W Apr/9 – A. Mansbach “Keeping Democracy Vibrant: Whistleblowing as Truth-Telling in
the Workplace” (Modules)
F Apr/11 – TEST #2 (on material to date) to be submitted online
WEEK 14
M Apr/14 – International Engineering EE, Chapter 10
W Apr/16- Downey et al. “Engineering Ethics and Identity: Emerging Initiatives in
Comparative Perspective” (Modules)
F Apr/18– Tutorial Discussion (extra points)
Week 15
M Apr/21 – Coeckelbergh “Regulation or Responsibility? Autonomy, Moral Imagination
and Engineering” (Modules)
W Apr/23 - Nussbaum “Citizens of the World” (Book Chapter) pp. 79-94 (Modules)
F Apr/25 – Final Paper Due
Grading Scheme
Class Attendance 5%
Participation (contribution to in-class discussion) 5%
Reading Quizzes (best 5 @ 2 points each) 10%
Tutorial Discussions (5 @ 4 points each) 20%
Test #1 (March 28th) 20 %
Test #2 (April 11th) 20 %
Essay (April 25th) 20%
Late Assignments
Late Assignments will not be accepted unless a student can provide documentation
confirming that late submission was due to circumstances beyond their control. Late
assignments will be graded without comments.
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Grading System
A – excellent - 93% & above – 4.00 grade points
AB – very good – 88 - 92% - 3.50 grade points
B – good – 82 - 86% - 3.00 grade points
BC – above average – 76 - 81% - 2.50 grade points
C – average – 70 - 75% - 2.00 grade points
CD – below average – 65 – 69% - 1.50 grade points
D – inferior – 60 – 64% - 1.00 grade points
F – failure – 50% & below – 0 grade points
Academic integrity is essential to a student’s education. Plagiarism, Cheating, Fabrication
and Facilitating Academic Dishonesty are offences that will not be tolerated. Plagiarism—
loosely defined as the presentation of the work of another author as if it were your
own—will not be tolerated. If you are unclear about how to cite your sources properly,
you are urged to discuss the matter with the instructor before submitting an assignment.
Academic regulations and procedures are governed by University policy. Academic
dishonesty cases will be handled in accordance with the University policy. See
http://www.mtu.edu/dean/conduct/policy/academic-integrity/.
If you have a disability that could affect your performance in this class or that requires an
accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please see your professor as
soon as possible so that we can make appropriate arrangements. The Affirmative Action
Office has asked that you be made aware of the following:
Michigan Technological University complies with all federal and state laws and regulations
regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have
a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education or
services at Michigan Tech, please call the Dean of Students Office at 487-2212. For other
concerns about discrimination, you may contact your advisor, Chair/Dean of your
academic unit, or the Affirmative Programs Office at 487-3310.
Academic Integrity:
http://www.studentaffairs.mtu.edu/dean/judicial/policies/academic_integrity.
Disability Services:
http://www.admin.mtu.edu/dos/disability.htm
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