ETHICS AND ENGINEERING
ECE/PHILOSOPHY 316
FALL SEMESTER
2015
COURSE SCHEDULE
* = Available through electronic reserves — http://www.library.illinois.edu/ereserves/
Class #1
Tu 8/25
The Universe of the University
Course Overview, Gilbane Gold
VOLUME I
INTRODUCTION
Class #2
Th 8/27
Moral Theory: Concepts and Cases
* Pritchard and Holtzapple, "Responsible Engineering: Gilbane Gold Revisited," 217–230
* Grahm, "Palchinsky's Travels," 23–31
* Fleming, "Engineers of Death," 19
Class #3
Tu 9/1
Freedom, Responsibility, and Human Personhood
* Hackett, A Philosophical and Critical Ethic,
“The Nature and Importance of Moral Inquiry,” 1–4
* Covey, Restoring the Character Ethic,
Habit 1: “Principles of Personal Vision,” 66–76, 78–80;
Habit 2: “Principles of Personal Leadership,” 98–100, 103, 106, 109
Class #4
Th 9/3
Social Context and the Professions
Engineering Ethics, Chapter 1: 1–8, 12–14
* Greenwood, "Attributes of a Profession," 67–77
* Grose, "Danger Zone: What It Takes to Fix America's Crumbling Infrastructure," 28–32
American Society of Civil Engineers, "Report Card for America's Infrastructure,"
online at http://www.asce.org/reportcard/
Class #5
Sun
9/6
Draft of Mission Statement Due
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site
Tu 9/8
Class Member Introductions
The History of Engineering
Codes of Ethics
2
Davis, "A History of Engineering in the United States," 18–30, 196–203
Dunwoody, et al., Fundamental Competencies for Engineers, 9–13
IEEE and NSPE Codes of Ethics
Class #6
Th 9/10
The Moral Responsibility of Engineers
Attributes of an Engineer — “Essential Skills, “Core Focus,” and “Worldview Development”
“Mission, Vision, and Educational Objectives” — University of Illinois, College of Engineering
Engineering Ethics, Chapter 3, "Responsibility in Engineering," 51–71
Alpern, "Moral Responsibility for Engineers," 187–95
Thompson, The V-22: Time Investigation, 36–37, 39–40, 42, 44
[* For further study of the V–22 case, see Gertler, "V–22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft:
Background and Issues for Congress," 1–26; plus Appendixes A, B, and C, 27–52.]
Class #7
Sun
9/13
Draft of Response Paper #1
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site
Tu 9/15
Language and Communication Skills
Sullivan, Fundamentals of Logic, 3, 6–10, 14–15, 31–33, 77–81, 113–15, 281–82
Zinsser, On Writing Well, Chapter 2: “Simplicity,” 7–13
Strunk, The Elements of Style, [II] “Elementary Rules of Usage,” [III] “Elementary Principles of
Composition,” and [V] “Words and Expressions Commonly Misused — available online through
“Project Gutenberg” and public domain documents. See the direct link on the course home page
under “Important Tools” at http://publish.illinois.edu/ecephil316/.
* Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, 3, Part I, Book Two, "The Bridge of Khazad-Dum," 335–46
Class #8
Th 9/17
Principles of Effective Writing
Williams, “The Grammar of Clarity,” 8–32, and “Sustaining the Longer Sentence,” 80–105
Chicago Manual of Style, “Part Three: Documentation,” Chapter 14, “Documentation I: Notes
and Bibliography,” 14.1–14.29 [655–69]. For an example of the proper use of footnotes, see
“Figure 14.1” [672]. The full text of The Chicago Manual of Style is available online through the
University Library home page at www.library.illinois.edu. See the direct link through the course
home page under “Important Tools” at http://publish.illinois.edu/ecephil316/.
* Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, 3, Part I, Book Two, "The Breaking of the Fellowship," 411–23
F 9/18
Writing Skills Assessment Due
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site
3
Sun
9/20
Research Topic Due
Compass Course Site, 11:00 p.m.
VOLUME II
NORMATIVE ETHICAL THEORIES
Class #9
Tu 9/22
The Discipline of Philosophy:
Epistemology, Metaphysics, and Ethics
Ethical Theories: Teleological and Deontological Perspectives
Engineering Ethics, Chapter 2, “A Practical Ethics Toolkit,” 24–50
Class #10
Th 9/24
The Scientific Method and the Tests of Truth
The Principles of Contradiction and Causality
Sandage, "Cosmology," 321–34
Principle of Contradiction: Aristotle, Metaphysics, Book IV, 731–32; 735–38 [1003a–1012b]
Principle of Causality: Aristotle, Posterior Analytics, 110–11 [71a–72b]; the Metaphysics,
Book V, 752–53 [1012b–1013b]
Adler, Aristotle, 39–46
[See also the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy articles by Falcon, “Aristotle on Causality,”
and Gottlieb, “Aristotle on Non-contradiction,” linked through the course homepage —
http://publish.illinois.edu/ecephil316/.]
Class #11
Sun
9/27
Final Version of Response Paper #1
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site
Tu 9/29
Normative Ethical Naturalism
Aristotle, Darwin, and Nietzsche
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I [1094–1103]
White, "Preface" and "The Pursuit of Happiness," xi–xii, 3–11
[For further study, see the online articles in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy by Shields,
“Aristotle,” and by Kraut, “Aristotle’s Ethics.” A contemporary exposition of Aristotle's literary
corpus can be found in Shields, Aristotle (London and New York: Routledge, 2007). For other
perspectives on Ethical Naturalism, see Darwin, The Descent of Man; Nietzsche, On the
Genealogy of Morality; and Spinoza, Ethics.]
Class #12
Th 10/1
The Structure of Aristotelian Ethics
in Dialogue with Darwin and Nietzsche
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book II [1103–1109]
White, "The Pursuit of Happiness," 12–21 [307–16]
4
Class #13
Tu 10/6
Normative Ethical Idealism
Plato, Kant, and Hegel
Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, "Preface" [387–92], "Transition from the
Ordinary Rational Knowledge of Morality to the Philosophical" [393–405]
Paton, “The Good Will,” 34–37, 44–45, “Duty,” 46–55, and “Appendix,” 55–57
[See the article by Rohlf, “Immanuel Kant,” and the essay by Johnson, “Kant’s Moral
Philosophy,” in the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. A systematic introduction to
Kant's literary corpus can be found in Guyer, Kant (London and New York: Routledge, 2006).
For a modern retrieval and interpretation of Kant's work as applied to contemporary moral
theory, see the work of Rawls as summarized in Freeman, Rawls (London and New York:
Routledge, 2007) — in particular, Chapter 7: "Kantian Constructivism," 284-323. For other
perspectives on Ethical Idealism, see Plato, The Republic; Hegel, The Phenomenology of Spirit;
Schwartz, The World of Thought in Ancient China; Raju, The Philosophical Traditions of India;
and Hackett, Oriental Philosophy.]
Class #14
Th 10/8
The Structure of Kantian Ethics
Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, "Transition from Popular Moral Philosophy to a
Metaphysics of Morals" [406–45]; "Transition from a Metaphysics of Morals to a Critique of
Pure Practical Reason" [446–47]
Paton, “The Maxim of Morality,” 58–62, “The Law,” 69–73, and “Misunderstandings,” 74–77
Sun
10/11
Class #15
Research Project
Bibliography, Thesis, and Outline Due
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site
Tu 10/13 Normative Ethical Theism
Augustine, Aquinas, and Luther
Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Question #2 [5–17], #5 [61–81], #6 [83–93]
Genesis 1:1–31
[See McInerny and O’Callaghan on “Aquinas,” and Finnis on “Aquinas’ Moral, Political, and
Legal Philosophy,” in the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. For other perspectives
on Ethical Theism, see the Talmud and the Koran. For a recent study of the cosmological
argument in the tradition of Aquinas and Leibniz, see O'Connor, Theism and Ultimate
Explanation: The Necessary Shape of Contingency (Oxford: Blackwell, 2008).]
Class #16
Th 10/15 The Structure of Biblical Theism
Reflections on a Treatise in Moral Theory
Selected Texts of the Biblical Narrative
Genesis 2 – Revelation 22
5
Class #17
Tu 10/20 Normative Ethical Theories
Review, Discussion, and Dialogue
Preparation for Response Paper Two
Bring to class the readings from Volume 2 on “Normative Ethical Theories,” beginning with
“The Scientific Method and the Tests of Truth.” Open dialogue and discussion, reviewing the
central principles and perspectives in the study of normative ethical theories.
VOLUME III
WINDOWS INTO APPLIED ETHICS
Class #18
Th 10/22 The Engineer as Citizen
Bellah, et al., Habits of the Heart, "Preface," vii–viii
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, xvii–xix, xxxix–xlii, 27–35, 39
Founding Documents of the United States: “The Declaration of Independence,” i–v,
“The Constitution of the United States,” 1–34, and Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address,” 17–23
Sun
10/25
Class #19
Draft of Response Paper #2 Due
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site + Peer Review Neighbor
Tu 10/27 The Engineer and Society
Fiduciary Relationships
Conflicts of Interest
Martin and Schinzinger, "Engineering as Social Experimentation," 88–106
Engineering Ethics, Chapter 5, "Trust and Reliability," 90–106
Bayles, “Obligations between Professionals and Clients,” 305–16
Class #20
Th 10/29 Peer Review of Response Paper #2
Principles and Worldviews Applied
Bring to class a printed copy of your constructive evaluation — in Microsoft “Track Changes”
format — of your neighbor’s draft of response paper #2 on normative ethical theories.
Gotterbarn, Miller, and Rogerson, "Software Engineering Code of Ethics," 102–7
and “… Making Decisions Using the Software Engineering Code of Ethics,” 66–73
Class #21
Sun
11/1
Compete Draft of Research Paper Due
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site
Tu 11/3
The Frontiers of Cyberspace
Spinello, CyberEthics: Morality and Law in Cyberspace, 1–10, 31–35 + Case Study: Wikipedia
6
[Frontiers of Cyberspace Resources: Bibliography, 227–32]
Class #22
Th 11/5
The Engineer's Responsibility for Safety
Engineering Ethics, Chapter 6, "Risk and Liability in Engineering," 107–37
Petroski, To Engineer Is Human, "Preface," xi–xii, Chapter 1: "Being Human," 1–5, 9–10,
and Chapter 8: "Accidents Waiting to Happen," 85–97
The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 14 and June 7, 1979 [See Petroski, To Engineer is Human, 3]
Sun
11/8
Class #23
Final Version of Response Paper #2 Due
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site + Peer Review Neighbor
Tu 11/10 The Apollo Lunar Landing
The Challenger and Columbia Case
Clavius Home Page — http://www.clavius.org — and “Mythbusters”
[* Perlmutter and Dahmen, “(In)visible Evidence,” 234–45, 248–51]
Bell and Esch, "The Fatal Flaw in Flight 51-L," 36–51
Engineering Ethics, Chapter 6:128–29; Chapter 7.2:140–43; 7.7:151–55; 7.11:164–68
Boisjoly, “Morton Thiokol Memo” and “Moral Responsibility and the Working Engineer," 6–14
"History as Cause: Columbia and Challenger," 195–204,
The CAIB Report: Columbia Accident Investigation Board
Class #24
Th 11/12 In-Class Peer Review of Research Papers
Engineers and the Environment
As part of the scheduled peer review, bring to class a printed copy of your constructive
comments and evaluation — in Microsoft “Track Changes” format — of your neighbor’s final
research paper.
Engineering Ethics, Chapter 8, "Engineers and the Environment," 173–86
Class #25
Tu 11/17 Choosing a Vocation
Obligations of the Profession
Fleddermann, "Doing the Right Thing," 112–14
Meese, "The Sealed Beam Case: Engineering in the Public and Private Interest," 1–20
Martin and Schinzinger, "Saving Citicorp Tower," 12–14
Morgenstern, "The Fifty-Nine Story Crisis," 45–53
Class #26
Th 11/19 Class Research Project Presentations Begin
7
F 11/20
Final Version of Research Paper Due
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site
Thanksgiving Vacation, November 21–29
Sun
11/29
Final Version of Mission Statement
Electronic Submission, 11:00 p.m.
Compass Course Site
Class #27
Tu 12/1
Research Project Presentations
Class #28
Th 12/3
Research Project Presentations
Class #29
Tu 12/8
Research Project Presentations
Class #30
Final class session to be held in place of the scheduled final examination time
for ECE/Philosophy 316 — Ethics and Engineering — at the University of
Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Fall Semester, 2015.
Section E1: Saturday, December 12, 3:00–4:20 p.m., Gregory Hall 329
[in place of the scheduled final examination time @ 8:00–11:00 a.m.
on Friday, December 11]
Section E2: Sunday, December 13, 3:00–4:20 p.m., Gregory Hall 329
[in place of the scheduled final examination time @ 8:00–11:00 a.m.
on Wednesday, December 16]
Conclusion of Class Research Project Presentations
Final Review of the Course, University ICES Evaluations,
Final Letters of Evaluation, and Final Words