Engineering Ethics: Teaching Moral Theories To Engineers

The course uses a case study approach. However, the first section of the course, which was developed with significant interaction with the Philosophy Department, focuses on moral philosophy. Moral theories are then used as a basis for understanding and examining the engineering codes as well as the cases. This approach equips students with the tools to recognize arguments based on different types of moral theories. The students also learn the strengths and weaknesses of the theories. As a result, when a student needs to convince a colleague that a particular course of action is right, she or he is in a better position to make a rational case.