Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
We then had a slightly fl ippant discussion about the ethics of hitmen (it is
probably not an equal opportunities profession) and the ethics of using them to
threaten or infl ict retribution on authors who do not deliver chapters. This started me
thinking about the ethics of hired killers.
I will admit to having no fi rst-hand knowledge of hitmen. While I rarely talk about
subjects of which I have little or no knowledge, the purpose of this discussion will be
made clear later. I presume successful hitmen, like other successful 'professionals',
must have a code of professional ethics. It might cover issues such as charging a fair
price, confi dentiality, refusing bribes, meeting deadlines, rejecting commissions
which cannot be fulfi lled and behaving discretely and professionally. Looking at this
list, it would seem equally appropriate for an engineer (in private practice).
However, there is still the issue of whether it is in any sense meaningful for a
hitman to behave in accordance with professional ethics. For instance, not accept-
ing bribes may mean killing (murdering) a person or group of people according to
contract rather than accepting money not to do so. Meeting deadlines means
killing one or more people to an agreed deadline rather than at some later unspeci-
fi ed time. Rejecting commissions which cannot be fulfi lled means not taking
money to kill one or more people and then not killing them (and disappearing
with the money). The problem is that killing people in return for an agreed sum
is not ethical. Not overcharging, not accepting bribes and meeting deadlines do
not make it so.
So what relevance does this discussion have for engineers? There has been a
tendency for discussion of engineering ethics to focus on the ethics of professional
practice. This is clearly very important. However, it is not suffi cient. As the discus-
sion of the professional ethics of contract killers illustrates, it is also essential for
engineers to consider the ethics of what they are doing. For instance, are they
involved in activities that benefi t humanity and the environment, or are they the
engineering equivalent of hitmen?
It should also be noted that hired killers who use state-of-the-art weapons to
carry out their professional activities (murdering people for pay) are using technology
designed by engineers. Engineers who are involved in weapons' design and
development cannot be sure that these weapons will not end up being used by con-
tract killers. Highly professional and highly paid hitmen will want the best modern
technology in order to carry out their profession as effectively and professionally
as possible. Naturally, the best modern weapons technology is designed and
developed by engineers.
At the fi rst international academic conference I attended there was what was
supposed to be a light humorous talk in the afternoon. All I remember of it was the
presenter talking about producing sub-standard cement and selling it to majority
world (developing) countries. The buildings built with this substandard cement fell
down after a short period, providing more opportunities to sell cement. I made a
protest against this, dressed up in slightly technical terms, as it was an academic con-
ference. Now I would probably be blunter, but I was a research student attending my
fi rst conference. Unfortunately no-one else said anything.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search