Professional Ethics, Engineering and Energetic Issues

Abstract

Engineering is an interdisciplinary area, where interaction of technical and socioeconomic dimensions continuously occurs in the professional practice. The ethical aspects of the relationships between engineers and society have been particularly emphasized in the recent years. In fact, the main engineering societies set up their own codes of ethics and many engineering departments worldwide introduced engineering ethics in their curricula. After introducing the concept of professional ethics and its connection with the deontological codes of professional orders, this topic will be considered in close relation to the profession of engineering and with particular attention to the energetic and environmental issues. This not only in order to give an account of professional codes, but more over to highlight how professional ethics includes and at the same time goes beyond them. Professional codes derive from two features of the profession: autonomy and self-regulation. One of the main aims of the codes is to regulate the asymmetrical relationship between professional and client in order to maintain the fiduciary nature of this relationship. This is highlighted through the analysis of two professional engineering codes. The ethical dimension helps revitalize and give meaning to professional codes and law: if a good professional life is to be conducted, it is necessary to combine the use of legal and professional guidance with an ethical structure, which brings us back to the human being and his/her personal sense of responsibility.

Energy, Environment and Climate: From the Past to the Future

“…The political strategies should lead toward a society and a life style which will probably be quite different from the present ones; but this process ought to be very slow and gradual. The role of energetic education will be fundamental in order to get consensus when making decisions which may have unpopular implications [14]. Communication is also very important [15]: it is not appropriate to spread twisted information or hush up part of the truth to steer public opinion and influence attitudes and actions of a specific target audience, as frequently (unfortunately) done by politicians: transparency is always of paramount importance.…”