Locating and Promoting Ethical, Social and Professional...

Locating and Promoting Ethical, Social and Professional Values in Engineering and Computing Practice

Lecture

from

Brian M. O’ConnellAssociate Professor of Ethics, Law & Computing

Departments of Computer Science & Philosophy

Central Connecticut State University




Within recent times, interest in ethics and social implications of technology has increased exponentially in education as well as in the professions of engineering and computing. While enthusiasm for engagement in these fields is widespread, there remains much controversy about how to relate them to students, active professionals and to the general public. This lecture will present a brief history of the development of ethics and social implications of technology as a discipline and as a subject of professional concern for those engaged in engineering and computing. It will propose that while strong cooperation with those in the philosophical and humanistic disciplines are critical, these subjects are ultimately best taught and discussed in a manner that emphasizes the importance of actual practice over abstractions and theories. It will be suggested that the ultimate result of this methodology will be a more vibrant, responsive and successful approach to the ethical and social issues that currently confront the profession and society at large.