About Must Engineering Ethics Presume A Secular Foundation?
| Authors | Niewoehner, Robert |
|---|---|
| Date | 2008 |
| Conference | 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition |
| Vol / Pages | pp. 13.917.1-13.917.19 |
| URL | https://peer.asee.org/must-engineering-ethics-presume-a-secular-foundation |
Type: Conference Paper
Abstract
Current formulations of engineering ethics presume a strictly secular foundation, despite the strong influence religious perspectives have historically exerted on moral philosophy, particularly in the West. This paper explores a Christian foundation for engineering ethics, and addresses three principle questions: “Why allow for a non-secular foundation for engineering ethics?” This question is important because diverse sources assert that a valid engineering ethics must necessarily be universally acceptable, and hence necessarily preclude religious perspectives. “What are the requisite presuppositions for a robust engineering ethic?” That is, what foundational questions must first be answered for a system of engineering ethics to be warranted? Engineering ethics needs a theoretical foundation and that foundation must necessarily provide reasons for humanitarian and environmental responsibility. That necessitates a philosophical system in which the individual, the community and the environment are so meaningful that they morally obligate the engineer. “How might a Christian articulation of engineering ethics contribute to the broader cause of progress in engineering ethics scholarship and practice?” Here the paper examines a Christian rationale for traditional themes in engineering ethics (such as product safety), and then suggests other avenues in which Christian perspectives might advance future scholarship. The case is made that engineering scholars and practitioners from both secular and religious perspectives should encourage dialogue with religious insights into the challenges facing engineering ethics.