Reflections On The History Of Engineering Ethics In The United States

There is an old Chinese saying: we will get a lot if we regard the history as a mirror. To know nothing of what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child is also a famous proverb in the western countries. It is no doubt we can know something better through its history. More important, we can also adjust our activities through the history rule. This thesis, by reviewing the history of engineering ethics in the USA, reflects the engineering ethics in our country nowadays and tries to make further pragmatic propositions.Taking account of the whole history of engineering ethics in USA, I divide it into three independent phases logically: first, before 1900, the study of engineering and ethics paralleled and isolated with each other. So we call it pre-history of engineering ethics; Second, from the beginning of 20 century to 1970s, with the development of engineering, many contradictions between engineering and society reveal. Man begin to focus kinds of social problems in engineering, The matter of engineering ethics becomes the most popular subject among others, we call it forming times of engineering ethics; Third, from 1970s to this day, engineering ethics comes into higher education as a discipline and step toward its process of institutionalization. We call it flourishing times of engineering ethics.Finally, on the basis of reviewing history of engineering ethics in USA, I propose that the study of engineering ethics in our country might has three problems to resolve urgently: First, to perfect ethics code of engineering association; Second, to strengthen education of engineering ethics and authentication of engineering qualification; Third, to establish and perfect enrollment system of engineer. I also try to make some propositions on these matters.