1. Large military build-ups, massive projects all lead to unethical business practices and the urgency of completion of the weapons projects does not allow proper controlling and monitoring. 2. ‘Technology creep’ – development of cruise missiles alters diplomatic arrangements 3. The impact of secrecy surrounding any defense activity 4. Overall effect of defense spending on economy
1. Bob is employed by a firm manufacturing anti-personnel bombs. These bombs tie up much of the enemy’s resources in treating the wounded who survive its explosion (by showering its fragments on to the victims). Though he does not like to be involved in bomb mfr., he justifies himself that someone would have to mfr them….
• Towards the end of World War II, night raids sometimes on civilian areas were ver y common • The deaths caused by Atom bombs on Hiroshima, Nagasaki were not more than the deaths caused by single air raids in World War II • But they were horrible because of their power in rapid delivery of destructive power…
– Hundreds of billions of dollars, annually, throughout the world, are being spent for military operations. – 25% of this is spent on just procurement of weapons. – 17% of these are spent in transactions across countries Promotion of Arms Deals: 1. Krupp, a family of successful arms merchants and manufacturers Armies and navies invested in Krupp’s nickel steel…
Engineers need to examine one’s conscience to take part in any form of weapon development. – They have to consider the circumstances leading to the specific conflict and decide whether it is justified to take part in associated weapons development. – If necessary, they should refuse to be a part of it and be prepared to face…
• Weapons Development is a defensive measure against greater destruction by political adversaries, terrorists and enemy states. • They are devices to kill human beings, innocent civilians or equally unwilling soldiers on the other side.
Owing to the high degree of job complexity and technical proficiency required, a lot of issues arise in engineering ethics. 1. Computer failures: • Failures can occur due to either hardware or software • Hardware errors do not occur frequently. • Software errors are the major failures of the computers. • Hardware errors are easily detected. • Software errors are…
• A series of laws enacted to prevent abuse of information. • Information can be accessed only by consumer consent or court order. • Consumers have the right to examine and challenge information contained in computers.
Computers. Computers make more information available to more people. This makes protection of computer privacy difficult. 1. Inappropriate Access: • Documents recorded for a crime which one did not commit but was arrested. • As a child you were arrested for drinking alcohol • Medical data about visits to a psychiatrist. • A loan default to a National Bank….
‘Data’ is information stored in a computer. ‘Software’ or ‘program’ consists of i) an algorithm, ii) a source code and iii) An object code. Software can be protected by Copyrights and Trade secret laws. Patenting on software is limited to detailed coding sequences but not final products. Algorithms and object codes cannot be copyrighted. But source code…