Ethics in Science and Engineering [Hardcover]

The only treatment of ethics from a scientific and engineering perspective

The pursuit of science and engineering requires freedom of thought and, in the academic sense, unrestricted communication. It is through the professionalism of the members of these disciplines that world knowledge and technology advances. Yet there are continuous reports of unethical behavior in the forms of data manipulation, cheating, and plagiarism at the highest levels. The motivations for this behavior are varied, such as the need to advance one's career or to obtain research funding.

This book gives an account of scientific and engineering disciplines and examines the potential for unethical behavior by professionals. Documented examples are presented to show where the matter could have been halted before it became an unethical issue. The authors also look to the future to see what is in store for professionals in science and engineering and how the potential for unethical behavior can be negated.

Preface ix

1. Explaining Ethics 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 The Impact of Science and Engineering 8

1.3 The Framework of Ethics 12

1.4 Ethics in Professional Life 19

References 24

2. Scientists and Engineers 27

2.1 Introduction 27

2.2 Definitions 32

2.3 Scientific Disciplines 35

2.4 Engineering Disciplines 39

2.5 Expert Witness 41

2.6 Professionalism 43

References 50

3. The Psychology and Philosophy of Ethics 53

3.1 Introduction 53

3.2 Ethical Responsibilities in Research 56

3.3 Ethics in Science and Engineering 63