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2017　Ethics in Engineering B

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Fudano Jun 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon1-2(W932)  Thr1-2(W932)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T206
Credits
2
Academic year
2017
Offered quarter
2Q
Syllabus updated
2017/3/17
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

One of the goals of this course is to cultivate the attitude to share the values which should be hold paramount by the scientists and engineers, through the understanding of the effects and impacts of science and technology on human society and on the natural environment. The second goal is to learn a practical method (the Seven-Step Guide) for ethical decision making by examining various cases which the future scientists and engineers might face with in their practice. In this course, the concept of "Aspirational Ethics" is emphasized in addition to that of "Preventive Ethics," which is the traditional approach of science and engineering ethics education. It is also presented that "ethical" scientists and engineers can contribute to the well-being of the public as well as maintain and raise their own well-being. Furthermore, it is expected to understand how to behave in an organization as ethical scientists/engineers through the analysis of concrete cases

Student learning outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to
1) understand the positive and negative impacts of science and engineering on human society and on the natural environment
2) understand the importance of aspirational ethics in addition to that of preventive ethics
3) use a tool for ethical decision making
4) understand one's own character strengths
5) understand the elements of well-being and recognize that contributing to something larger than yourself can raise your own well-being
6) understand the values which scientists and engineers should hold paramount and develop an attitude to share those values
7) understand the social responsibility of organization and design one's conduct in organization
8) understand the characteristics of responsible conduct of research and share the values for researchers

Keywords

Science, Technology and Society, Scientists, Engineers, Ethics, Seven-Step-Guide for Ethical Decision Making, Preventive Ethics, Aspirational Ethics、Well-being、Positive Psychology, Social Responsibility of the Organization, Responsible Conduct of Research

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The course is designed with the active-learning approach. Therefore, in addition to the acquisition and understanding information on science and engineering through lectures, students are expected to participate actively in writing reports, presenting them, and working as a group. It is essentially important for students to attend all the classes.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 １）　Course guidance and education objectives 2) What is "science and engineering ethics in a new era" After the class, 1) to answer the course questionnaire, and 2) to take the VIA survey on the VIA Institute site and understand the character strengths. https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register
Class 2 1) Lecture: When and why do scientists and engineers face with ethical decision making? (1) 2) Group Discussion: The Space Shuttle Challenger Accident Case Before the class, 1) read Chapters 1 and 2 of the textbook, 2) work on the Challenger Case Response Sheet
Class 3 1) Lecture: When and why do scientists and engineers face with ethical decision making? (2) 2) Group Presentation: The Challenger Case Before the class, 1) read Chapter 3 of the textbook, 2) Prepare for group presentation
Class 4 １）　Lecture: The Impacts of Science and Engineering on human society and the natural environment ２）　Group　discussion 2: Grand Challenges for Engineering Before the class, 1) read Chapter 4 After the class, 2) work on the Grand Challenges for Engineering Assignment
Class 5 1) Lecture: What attributes and skills are required for engineers in a new era? 2) Group discussion 3: Attributes and skills of engineers Before the class, 1) read Chapter 5 After the class, 2) prepare for the group presentation
Class 6 １）　Lecture: How to design one's conduct as ethical scientist/engineer? (1) 2) Group Presentation: Attributes and skills of engineers Before the class, 1) read Chapter 6 After the class, 2) work on the Code of Ethics Assignment
Class 7 1) Group Discussion 4: "Solar Blind" ２）　Group Presentation: "Solar Blind" Before the class, 1) work on the Solar Blind Assignment After the class, 2) prepare for the mid-term exam
Class 8 Mid-term exam
Class 9 １） Lecture: on the purposes and grading of the mid-term exam 2) Lecture: The social responsibility of scientists and engineers Before the class, 1) read Chapter 9 After the class, 2) work on the Well-being Assignment
Class 10 1) Group discussion:　What is your well-being? 2) Lecture: How to behave in an organization Before the class, 1) read Chapters 10-12 After the class, 2) prepare for the group presentation
Class 11 １）Group presentation: What is the well-being? ２）Lecture: The social responsibility of the organization After the class, 1) work on the Gilbane Gold assignment, 2) work on the CSR assignment
Class 12 1) Group discussion 6: "Gilbane Gold" 2) Group presentation: "Gilbane Gold" After　the class, 1) work on the Gilbane Gold assignment 2
Class 13 １）　Lecture: The new role of scientists and engineers after the 3.11 disaster 2) Lecture: The responsible conduct of research and development ３）　Group　discussion: Before the class, 1) read Chapters 13-15, 2) Work on Good Work
Class 14 1) Science in society and science for society 2) Group presentation: Good Work Before the class, 1) prepare for the group presentation
Class 15 1) Submission of the final paper 2) Group discussion: on philosopher-engineer 3) Lecture: science in society and for society Before the class, 1) prepare the final paper on Good Work, 2) work on the assignment on philosopher-engineer

Textbook(s)

Jun Fudano et al., Atarasiijidai no gijyutusyarinnri (Engineering Ethics in a New Era) (in Japanese), Open University of Japan Press, 2015

Reference books, course materials, etc.

To be introduced and explained in the first class

Assessment criteria and methods

1) Class participation (attendance, group discussion, presentation) 20%
2) Assignments 30%
3) Mid-term exam 20%
3) Report 20%
4) 0thers 10%

Related courses

  • LAH.T105 ： Ethics in Engineering A
  • LAH.T305 ： Ethics in Engineering C

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

No prerequisite, but it is strongly recommended to have taken the course entitled "Ethics in Engineering and Science A"

Contact information (e-mail and phone)    Notice : Please replace from "[at]" to "@"(half-width character).

fudano.j.aa[at]m.titech.ac.jp

Office hours

Monday, 3-4 period or by appointment

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