Editorial: Ethics and Engineering Design

• Published in: Science, technology, & human values Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 223 - 236
• Main Authors: Van De Poel, Ibo, Verbeek, Peter-Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications 01.05.2006; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Decision making; Design; Engineering; Ethics; Organization theory; Responsibility; Science and technology; STS; engineering design; responsibility; engineering ethics; ethical issues
• ISSN: 0162-2439; 1552-8251
• DOI: 10.1177/0162243905285838

Engineering ethics and science and technology studies (STS) have until now developed as separate enterprises. The authors argue that they can learn a lot from each other. STS insights can help make engineering ethics open the black box of technology and help discern ethical issues in engineering design. Engineering ethics, on the other hand, might help STS to overcome its normative sterility. The contributions in this special issue show in various ways how the gap between STS and engineering ethics might be overcome. In this editorial introduction, the authors discuss the various contributions briefly and delve into the way the various authors conceptualize the engineering design process and the consequences of those conceptualizations for what ethical issues become visible. They also discuss the implications for the responsibility of engineers for ethnological development.