• basics of fundamental ethical theories (i.e. utilitarianism, deontological ethics and virtue ethics)

• ethical challenges in the construction of semi-autonomous machines

• the ethical role and efficacy of professional codes

• just allocation of resources in society from the vantage point of medical technology

• the responsibility of engineers and whistleblowing

• dealing with test subjects and personal data

Learning objectives and competencies: The students learn to

• recognize and systematically analyze ethical problems in various engineering tasks

• apply basic theories of normative ethics and understand their utility and limitations

• discuss ethical problems in a respectful and reason-driven manner with their peers

• reflect their particular moral responsibility as professionals in the field of engineering

• contextualize engineering problems as situated in a wider social environment with complex moral implications.

• Williams, B. (1971). Morality: An Introduction to Ethics. Cambridge University Press.

• Warwick, K. (2003). Cyborg morals, cyborg values, cyborg ethics. Ethics and information technology, 5(3), 131-137.

• Chapters in Part V of: Gabbay, D. M., Thagard, P., Woods, J., & Meijers, A. W. (2009). Philosophy of technology and engineering sciences. Elsevier.
  

Credits: 2,5