Ethics Of Engineering And Engineering Students Engineering Ethics

With the rapid development of science and technology and the growing trend ofglobalization, modern engineering activities are play an increasingly important rolein the development of the society, bridge scientific discoveries, technical inventionsand industrial development, and act as a powerful lever in promoting industry,economy and social progress. Engineering activities, on one hand, produce greatcomfort and convenience, and change people’s living conditions and lifestyles; onthe other hand, however, they also cause serious damage to our living environmentand may even threaten the survival and development of the whole mankind, andthereby the loss of engineering ethics looms. In the process of engineering design,construction and decision-making, the engineering technical personnel are not onlyrequired of professional knowledge, but also an ethical eye of inspection on how theproject would affect the environment and the society. What engineering ethicseducation aims to do is to equip students with such ethical awareness, and help themunderstand the essence of engineering——to benefit mankind, which is also thepriority of all engineering activities. In universities of science and engineering, theeducation of engineering ethics and professional knowledge are closely connected inorder to foster in their students sound values, bright outlook on life, and good workethics. As professional knowledge promotes the cultivation of ethics, the cultivationof ethics guarantees the proper application of professional knowledge. Theengineering ethics, as an external control device, should be internalized by engineersas self-regulation throughout engineering activities. In the application of professionalknowledge, the engineering personnel should learn to handle ethic issues concerningthe relationship between the project and people, society and environment in a properway, reduce the negative influence of engineering activities on people’s life andthereby put the health, safety and well-being of the public in the first place.Engineering ethics education in universities is, therefore, an important means toimprove the moral qualities of future engineering technical personnel, ensure projectquality, and prevent ethic anomie.