Ethics and the Development of Technology

Course Description

• Because of the rapidly changing nature of technology, new and complex ethical issues are emerging which bring into question the ability of society to address, and hopefully resolve them. These new issues are arising in such areas as biotechnology, information technology, nanotechnology and nuclear technology. They range from protecting the health and welfare of the public and the environment, to patenting living organisms and labeling products containing genetically modified organisms, to biological, chemical and nuclear weapons of mass destruction, to concerns regarding the alteration of the ecology of life. This course focuses on the nature of these emerging technical issues, their ethical, legal and social ramifications, and what individuals and our society value in relation to these issues. We will examine what contemporary philosophy, religion and art, and contemporary views of natural and social science have to say about these issues, and about the relationship between individual and societal values regarding these issues. The goal of this course is to develop awareness in our students of these issues and a basis to pursue future study.

Course Objective

• This course is intended to satisfy the breadth requirement in Philosophy and Values for College of Letters and Science students and to satisfy the Engineering Ethics requirement for a select group of College of Engineering students. We believe the course will be of much more value with a diverse mix of students.

Course Assignments and Grading

• Assignments will include weekly readings and discussions, a Term Project, two Mid-term Exams and a Final Exam. The exams will be composed of short essay type questions. Grades will be based on participation in discussion, the Term Project, and on the three Exams.

Textbook(s) and/or other required material

• E124 Class Reader