Engineers Ethics To Engineering Ethics A Decade in Japan: Kiyoshi SHIBATA
Engineers Ethics To Engineering Ethics A Decade in Japan: Kiyoshi SHIBATA
Engineers Ethics To Engineering Ethics A Decade in Japan: Kiyoshi SHIBATA
Japan
Kiyoshi SHIBATA
Chiba Institute of Technology
2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino-shi
275-0016, Japan
+81-47-478-0344
kyshibt@sky.it-chiba.ac.jp
ABSTRACT
The introductory period of Japanese engineering ethics education
was briefly reviewed, and Japanese engineers attitude and its
effect on engineering ethics was discussed , comparing those in
the United States. Then, based on the survey of published
textbooks and syllabus for engineering ethics course in Japan, the
elements in the engineering ethics were extracted, and
approaching directions depending on who and to whom teaches
was analyzed. Various approaches should be determined,
depending on the students specialty, interest, and grade.
However, consideration for the side effects of technology would
be most important. Social context of the engineering, in other
words, aim of the application of each technology, should be
focused in engineering ethics. Of course, to be an ethical engineer
is desirable, but ethical technology is essential. In that sense, it is
also essential to educate ordinal non-engineering people to what is
ethical technology/engineering.
Keywords
Engineering ethics, Engineering Education, Syllabus, Design,
Compliance, Japanese engineer, STS
1. INTRODUCTION
In the past decade, most engineering departments in Japanese
universities
and
technical
colleges
have
introduced
engineering/engineers ethics into their curriculum. There are two
main reasons for the introduction and rapid spread of engineering
ethics. The first is the collapse of reputation in safety legends in
Japanese engineering products in mid 1990s. Japanese engineers
used be regarded as highly trust-worthy people and engines for the
economic success of Japan. However various technological
accidents or disasters destroyed the trust in engineers. For
example, molten sodium used in fast reactor Monju was leaked
because of primitive and incorrect miss-design and important
information on that accident was not disclosed. The 1990s also
witnessed the recruiting of highly educated scientists with
advanced knowledge by a cult group involved in terrorism.
160
Code
1961
Committee
1961
1996
1998
1999
1999
2004
2000
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
1999
1999
2001
2002
Individual
Code of Ethics
Professional Ethics
Moral Theory
Research Ethics
Prevention Engineering
Safety Design
Applied Ethics
Environmental Ethics
IT Ethics, Bio Ethics
Whistle Blowing
Ideal
Engineering History
Science History
Practical
STS
Communication
Accountability
Social context
Managerial Engineering
QC, PC, Labour Safety
Legal Regulation
Intellectual Property,
Product Liability, Technical Standard
Corporate Ethics
CSR
Organizational, Institutional
elements
Traditional ethics,
Applied ethics(Environment, Information, Bio)
Theoretical ethics Research ethics
Code of ethics/proctice of engineers society, Profesional
ethics(Physician, Lawer, )
Whistle blowing
Compliance
Design
STS
Public Comunication
Social Context
History of Technology and
STS
Case Study
Code of Ethics
Conf lict in Enterprise
Risk/Crisis manegenment
Conf lict in Enterprise
Whistle browing
Corporate Ethics
Quality/Production Management
Intellectual Properties
Product Liability
Regal Aspect
Communicatoin Skil
Engineers Duty
Quality managementi
Saf ety
Risk
Accident
Environmant & Resources Issue
Othres
Engineers Ethics
Resxearch Ethics
Bio Ethics
Inf ormation Ethics
Environmantal Ethics
Moral Theory
Prof essional Ethics
Social Contract
Normal Action
Moral Theory
0
Figure 2
10
15
20
25
30
35
Engineers in Industry
Humanities Scholars
0%
50%
100%
TO
5. REFERENCES
[1] Association for the Study of Failure,
http://www.shippai.org/index1.php, May 22, 2011
[2] Fujiki,A. and Sugihara,K., On the transition of the textbooks
of engineering ethics from 1998 to 2010 in Japan, Journal of
Engineering Ethics, Vol.7, (2010),pp23-71
[3] Harris,C.E, Pritchard,M.S., Rabins,M.J. Engineering Ethics;
Concept and Cases Ver.3. Wadsworth, 2008
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