Hold Paramount: The Engineer’s Responsibility to Society

Alastair S. Gunn and P. Aarne Vesilind provide students with practical insight into the engineering code of ethics and how a practicing engineer is obligated to act in a responsible manner. To illustrate the complexities involved with acting in an ethical fashion, the authors have created characters that encounter a number of situations that test the engineering code of ethics. The dialog between these characters highlights different perspectives of realistic situations that students will face as practicing engineers. As they proceed through the book, students see how the code can help in decision making, as well as the implications of various decisions. The philosophical theory that supports the ethical positions encountered is presented as boxed material following each section.