Engineering  Ethics

UC Santa Cruz – CMPE 80E – Spring 2003
M W F
9:30 --10:40AM

Social Science 2 Room 71

http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/classes/cmpe080e/Spring03

ASSIGNMENTS

 

Instructor:

Guy Cox

Office:

 

Office Phone:

Baskin Engineering,

BE 189A

(831) 459-5846

Email:

guymcox@soe.ucsc.edu

guymcox@cal.berkeley.edu

Office Hours:

Monday and Wednesday 11-12, or by appointment

 

 

Class Participation and Evaluations of Readings Every Week

A. Reading texts and articles, attending lectures, participating in discussions

Ethics has been an area of concern to humanity for several millennia.   Engineering Ethics, as distinct from philosophical ethics, has a 200 year history.  The readings and discussions in this course are designed to provide a solid, broad introduction to Engineering Ethics, its philosophical base and practical application, in the span of 10 weeks. Assigned readings are a combination of writings from Engineering Ethics textbooks and selections from the literature,

Class discussion of the readings is important both in engaging the ideas in the papers, and in developing a critical mindset concerning their contents.  Attendance at lectures and in-class discussion of the readings are required.

B. Rating/Reviewing articles

You will be required to read and evaluate each of the assigned readings by Monday prior to discussion in class that week. There is no requirement to read or evaluate the supplemental readings; they are provided as a starting point for further investigation. Reviews are due by class meeting time on the date listed in the syllabus. Review each week’s readings review should be on a separate sheet of paper or separate file, and include:

·         Your name        

·         The title, and first author’s name

·         Two subjective numerical ratings on a 1-to-6 scale (1 low, 6 high) :
a) How important is the material covered in the article?
b) How well-written was the article?

·         If you wish, you may provide a short one paragraph critique of the reading.

Also, see “How to Read an Engineering Research Paper” by Bill Griswold for additional ideas (http://www-cse.ucsd.edu/users/wgg/CSE210/howtoread.html).

 

Projects/Papers for the Quarter

C. Short Paper

Select a current social or technical issue related to information and communication technologies.  Possible sources for an issue include Responsible Computer Professionals for Society, the popular press, trade journals, or professional journals.  State your position and justification In three pages or less.  Provide the citation for your original choice of issue and any other materials or ideas referenced in the paper.

The short paper is due Wednesday, April 9.

D. Case Study Presentation/Paper

Two ethical analyses with conclusions will be required.  One will be a presentation to the class of your analysis, how it corresponds to different ethical orientations, and conclusions.  The other will be a five page paper accomplishing the same objectives.  The class will be divided so that for each assignment half the class is preparing presentations and half the class is preparing papers.

1)  Presentation of ethical analysis and conclusions; in this assignment you will develop an ethical orientation, analyze a case study, and formulate conclusions based on the analysis.  You will prepare a set of presentation materials (PowerPoint slides are preferred; however web pages, OpenOffice, or flip charts are acceptable.)  The presentation will be based on your ethical analysis and written paper.  Be prepared to make a 10 minute presentation to the class.

2) Write a paper detailing an ethical analysis and conclusions; in this assignment you will develop an ethical orientation, analyze a case study, and formulate conclusions based on the analysis.  You will write a five page paper, excluding the bibliography.

The first assignment is due Wednesday, April 30.  The second assignment is due Wednesday, May 14.

E. Final Paper

The final paper should be approximately ten pages, not including the bibliography.  It will discuss your personal statement or position regarding engineering ethics.  You should:

1)       Describe and compare your personal ethic to the major philosophical approaches: consequentalism, non-consequentalism, virtue, and care.

2)       Describe your approach to analysis of an ethical dilemma, providing appropriate examples.

3)       Relate your ethical position analysis approach to the Borgmann/Moriarty framework of Virtue Ethics, Conceptual Ethics, and Material Ethics.

4)       Critique your position and analysis approach for strengths and weakness.

 The final paper is due Wednesday, June 4.

 

Evaluation

Your grade/evaluation is based on the following factors:

·         20% – Class participation and evaluations of readings

·         10% – Short paper

·         15% -- Presentation of Case Study

·         15% -- Case Study Paper

·         20% -- Final Paper

·         20% – Final exam

A minimum score of 50% in EACH of the six categories (Short paper, Presentation of Case Study. Case Study Paper, Final Paper, Class Participation, and Final Exam) is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to pass this class.