Beyond the Code: A Philosophical Guide to Engineering Ethics

For over 80 years, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) has been a leader in the promotion of ethical practice within the field of engineering. One of the Society’s greatest contributions is the formation and adoption of the NSPE Code of Ethics. But the code, with its six "Fundamental Canons," is only truly instructive if engineers can bridge the gap between principles and action. Here there is no substitute for personal reflection on the ethical and philosophical issues that underlie the code. If done well, such reflection provides an indispensable basis for moral problem solving. Beyond the Code: A Philosophical Guide to Engineering Ethics is designed to complement the NSPE Code of Ethics by helping readers "go beyond" in their understanding of the philosophical issues bound up in the code. Each chapter addresses one of the Fundamental Canons of the NSPE code, and provides a philosophical analysis of the various parts of each canon by employing contemporary and classical texts. This unique approach to engineering ethics guides students and professionals in their readings of the appended selections to refine their understanding of the code in order to apply it to the practical challenges of today’s engineers.

Key Features:

• Is the first introduction to engineering ethics that helps students understand and apply the NSPE Code of Ethics to engineering practice
• Includes a Preface from Arthur E. Schwartz, NSPE Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel, and NAFE Executive Director
• As a hybrid text, includes primary philosophical texts with extensive introductions and guided reading questions from the book’s three authors
• Offers case studies from the NSPE Board of Ethical Review, allowing students to see a direct connection between the issues discussed in the text and real-world engineering practice
• Includes the following pedagogical aids:

• "Key Terms and Concepts" for each chapter
• "Preparing to Read" sections before each primary source reading
• "Guided Reading Questions" after each primary source reading
• "Going Beyond―Our Questions for a Deep Dive" after each case study.

Heidi Furey is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Manhattan College. She has authored several publications on professional ethics in leading research publications.

Scott Hill is a Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Colorado, Boulder. His papers have appeared in American Philosophical Quarterly, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Ergo, and Erkenntnis.

Sujata K. Bhatia is Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware, where she teaches design courses for chemical engineers and biomedical engineers.