Introduction

In Chapter 2 we looked at the foundations of ethics and began to develop the idea of virtues and engineering. We ended with the argument that the core foundation of ethics was the acceptance of shared responsibility. But if responsibility is shared then there has to be some process for working out just what that involves. There needs to be a practical framework for ethical decision-making. In this chapter we will develop such a framework, by:

• Looking at the work of the reflective practice school.

• Developing examples of ethical decision-making methods.

• Summing up professional ethics principles embodied in the method.

• Noting how ethical reflection runs throughout an engineering project.

These methods will form the basis of how one can respond to an ethical dilemma, and also of how ethical awareness can be a proactive part of planning, thus avoiding, as far as possible, dilemmas. Ethics in this context simply becomes part of the everyday operation and culture of the engineer.

Developing an ethical framework is important for several reasons.

• It provides a means of systematic ethical reflection, and thus a tool for both the student and the professional to practise.

• It enables the person to develop ethical autonomy, to take responsibility for ethical decision-making. Here it is not important for the person to accept a particular framework but rather to develop, and test through dialogue, his or her own.

• It enables the development of holistic thinking in which ethical framework (as process) and ethical content are not seen as...