Engineering Ethics
TeachersKANNARI YUTO
Grade, SemesterYear 1 II/IV [Department of Information Science Correspondence Course, Faculty of Science and Engineering]
CategorySpecial Subjects
Classesメディア授業
Elective, CreditsElective 2credit
 Syllabus Number4G101

Course Description

There are various ethical matters that engineers and researchers should consider carefully, such as “why engineers are accountable for products,” "whose fault is an error,” “should the design be improved to reduce accidents, even at the great expense,” In this course, we will discuss the ethical issues engineers face while referring to specific cases. And you will learn the basic theories of ethics: consequentialism, duty-based theory and virtue ethics.
This course is designated to achieve to DP5.

Course Objectives

・Students can understand the problems taken up in the course and explain in their own words. (Knowledge / Understanding)
・Students can think logically and critically. (Skill)
・Students can read critically.(Skill)

Grading Policy

・The final exam: 100%
・You must pass all mini-exams to acquire the qualification to take the final exam.
・I will provide feedback on the mini exams.

Textbook and Reference

KindTitleAuthorPublisher
Textbook『JABEE対応 技術者倫理入門』小出泰士丸善株式会社、2010年
ISBN:978-4621082522
References『誇り高い技術者になろう[第二版]』黒田光太郎・戸田山和久・伊勢田哲治編名古屋大学出版会、2012年
ISBN:978-4815807061
References『はじめての技術者倫理 未来を担う技術者・研究者のために』北原義典講談社、2015年
ISBN:978-4061565470
References『技術者倫理の世界 第3版』藤本温編森本出版株式会社、2013年
ISBN:978-4627973039

Requirements(Assignments)

・Think about the questions in the lecture content (eg, why engineers are accountable) (30 minutes), and read the textbook corresponding to the lecture. (60 minutes)
・Summarize the content of the lecture and take mini-exams on the LMS. (90 minutes).

Note

・In this course, we will use LMS for distributing lecture prints, taking a questionnaire etc.

Schedule

1Introduction (What is engineering ethics?)
2Engineers in the organization (Why did the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster happen?)
3Accountability (Why engineers are accountable for products?)
4Product liability (What are the correct use conditions?)
5Human error (whose fault is an error?)
6Consequentialism (Can I sacrifice one person to help 100 people?)
7Cost-benefit analysis (Should the design be improved to reduce accidents, even at the great expense?)
8Whistle blowing (When is whistle-blowing allowed?)
9Intellectual property (Can ideas and technologies be released to the public immediately?)
10Duty-based theory (Is it true that I should not lie?)
11Globalization (Are there common global values?)
12Precautionary principle (Is GM food safe?)
13Environmental preservation (Why should we protect nature?)
14Virtue ethics (What is a virtuous person?)
15Human and technology (What is technology for humans?)