GE2021 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN ENGINEERING
L T P C
3 0 0 3
UNIT I ENGINEERING ETHICS 9
Senses of ‘Engineering Ethics’ – Variety of moral issues – Types of inquiry – Moral
dilemmas – Moral Autonomy – Kohlberg’s theory – Gilligan’s theory – Consensus and
Controversy – Professions and Professionalism – Professional Ideals and Virtues –
Uses of Ethical Theories.
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UNIT II ENGINEERING AS SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION 9
Engineering as Experimentation – Engineers as responsible Experimenters – Research
Ethics - Codes of Ethics – Industrial Standards - A Balanced Outlook on Law – The
Challenger Case Study
UNIT III ENGINEER’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY 9
Safety and Risk – Assessment of Safety and Risk – Risk Benefit Analysis – Reducing
Risk – The Government Regulator’s Approach to Risk - Chernobyl Case Studies and
Bhopal
UNIT IV RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS 9
Collegiality and Loyalty – Respect for Authority – Collective Bargaining – Confidentiality
– Conflicts of Interest – Occupational Crime – Professional Rights – Employee Rights –
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) - Discrimination
UNIT V GLOBAL ISSUES 9
Multinational Corporations – Business Ethics - Environmental Ethics – Computer Ethics -
Role in Technological Development – Weapons Development – Engineers as Managers
– Consulting Engineers – Engineers as Expert Witnesses and Advisors – Honesty –
Moral Leadership – Sample Code of Conduct
TOTAL: 45 PERIODS
TEXT BOOKS:
1. Mike Martin and Roland Schinzinger, “Ethics in Engineering”, McGraw Hill, New
York, 2005.
2. Charles E Harris, Michael S Pritchard and Michael J Rabins, “Engineering Ethics –
Concepts and Cases”, Thompson Learning, 2000.
REFERENCES:
1. Charles D Fleddermann, “Engineering Ethics”, Prentice Hall, New Mexico,
1999.
2. John R Boatright, “Ethics and the Conduct of Business”, Pearson Education, 2003
3. Edmund G Seebauer and Robert L Barry, “Fundamentals of Ethics for Scientists and
Engineers”, Oxford University Press, 2001.
4. Prof. (Col) P S Bajaj and Dr. Raj Agrawal, “Business Ethics – An Indian Perspective”,
Biztantra, New Delhi, 2004.
5. David Ermann and Michele S Shauf, “Computers, Ethics and Society”, Oxford
6. University Press, (2003)