Synthesis Lectures on Engineers, Technology, and Society : Tragedy in the Gulf : A Call for a New Engineering Ethic

The recent tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico and resultant ethical consequences for the engineering profession are introduced and discussed. The need for a new engineering ethic is identified and introduced based upon advancements in science, complex systems and eco-philosophy. Motivations for introducing a new ethic rather than modifying existing ethics are also discussed. Table of Contents: Tragedy in the Gulf / Tragedy Unfolding / Engineering Ethics / Complex Systems / Quantum Mechanics / Evolving Principles of the Universe / A New Engineering Ethic / Epilogue The Recent Tragedy In The Gulf Of Mexico And Resultant Ethical Consequences For The Engineering Profession Are Introduced And Discussed. The Need For A New Engineering Ethic Is Identified And Introduced Based Upon Advancements In Science, Complex Systems And Eco-philosophy. Motivations For Introducing A New Ethic Rather Than Modifying Existing Ethics Are Also Discussed. 1. Tragedy In The Gulf -- Summary -- Introduction -- A New Ethic, Where Might We Look -- A New Ethic, Why 2. Tragedy Unfolding -- Summary -- The Lead-up -- The Timeline -- Impact On Gulf Communities -- Nigeria's Agony Dwarfs The Gulf Oil Spill -- Remembering The Exxon Valdez -- Other Historic Oil Spills -- Other Contamination 3. Engineering Ethics -- Summary -- Introduction To Engineering Ethics -- Engineering Ethics Revisited -- Traditional Applied Ethics -- Engineering Ethics And Freedom -- Engineering Ethics And Chaos -- Engineering Ethics And A Morally Deep World -- Engineering And Globalism -- Engineering And Love -- Engineering Codes Today -- Concluding Thoughts 4. Complex Systems -- Summary -- Complex Systems Theory -- Linear Systems -- Stationary Systems -- Reductionism -- Equilibrium -- Perturbation Theory -- Describing Complex Systems -- Concluding Thoughts 5. Quantum Mechanics -- Summary -- Introduction -- Mind Of A Particle, Mind Of The Universe -- Mechanical Universe Vs. Quantum World -- Concluding Thoughts 6. Evolving Principles Of The Universe -- Summary -- Introduction -- Laws Of The Evolving Universe -- Differentiation -- Subjectivity -- Communion -- Fractal Nature Of The Evolving Laws -- Integration Of The Laws And Applications -- Family Gatherings -- Engineering Design Teams -- A Simple Ecosystem -- A Native American Nation In Larger United States -- Concluding Thoughts 7. A New Engineering Ethic -- Summary -- A Union Of Ideas: Complex Systems, Quantum Mechanics And The Unfolding Universe -- A New Engineering Ethic -- Reflecting On The Gulf Tragedy 8. Epilogue -- Bibliography -- Author's Biography. George D. Catalano. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 73-77). Preface 13 Tragedy in the Gulf 15 Summary 15 Introduction 15 A New Ethic – Where Might We Look? 17 A New Ethic – Why? 19 Tragedy Unfolding 21 Summary 21 The Lead-up 21 The Timeline 22 Impact on Gulf Communities 25 Nigeria's Agony Dwarfs the Gulf Oil Spill 29 Remembering the Exxon Valdez 31 Other Historic Oil Spills 32 Other Contamination 35 Engineering Ethics 37 Summary 37 Introduction to Engineering Ethics 37 Engineering Ethics Revisited 38 Traditional Applied Ethics 38 Engineering Ethics and Freedom 39 Engineering Ethics and Chaos 41 Engineering Ethics and a Morally Deep World 43 Engineering and Globalism 44 Engineering and Love 45 Engineering Codes Today 46 Concluding Thoughts 48 Complex Systems 51 Summary 51 Complex Systems Theory 51 Linear Systems 51 Stationary Systems 51 Reductionism 52 Equilibrium 53 Perturbation Theory 53 Describing Complex Systems 54 Concluding Thoughts 55 Quantum Mechanics 57 Summary 57 Introduction 57 Mind of a Particle, Mind of the Universe 58 Mechanical Universe vs. Quantum World 59 Concluding Thoughts 61 Evolving Principles of the Universe 63 Summary 63 Introduction 63 Laws of the Evolving Universe 64 Differentiation 64 Subjectivity 67 Communion 70 Fractal Nature of the Evolving Laws 71 Integration of the Laws and Applications 73 Family Gatherings 73 Engineering Design Teams 76 A Simple Ecosystem 76 A Native American Nation in Larger United States 77 Concluding Thoughts 78 A New Engineering Ethic 79 Summary 79 A Union of Ideas: Complex Systems, Quantum Mechanics and the Unfolding Universe 79 A New Engineering Ethic 79 Reflecting on the Gulf Tragedy 81 Epilogue 85 Bibliography 87 Author's Biography 93 Preface......Page 13 Introduction......Page 15 A New Ethic – Where Might We Look?......Page 17 A New Ethic – Why?......Page 19 The Lead-up......Page 21 The Timeline......Page 22 Impact on Gulf Communities......Page 25 Nigeria's Agony Dwarfs the Gulf Oil Spill......Page 29 Remembering the Exxon Valdez......Page 31 Other Historic Oil Spills......Page 32 Other Contamination......Page 35 Introduction to Engineering Ethics......Page 37 Traditional Applied Ethics......Page 38 Engineering Ethics and Freedom......Page 39 Engineering Ethics and Chaos......Page 41 Engineering Ethics and a Morally Deep World......Page 43 Engineering and Globalism......Page 44 Engineering and Love......Page 45 Engineering Codes Today......Page 46 Concluding Thoughts......Page 48 Stationary Systems......Page 51 Reductionism......Page 52 Perturbation Theory......Page 53 Describing Complex Systems......Page 54 Concluding Thoughts......Page 55 Introduction......Page 57 Mind of a Particle, Mind of the Universe......Page 58 Mechanical Universe vs. Quantum World......Page 59 Concluding Thoughts......Page 61 Introduction......Page 63 Differentiation......Page 64 Subjectivity......Page 67 Communion......Page 70 Fractal Nature of the Evolving Laws......Page 71 Family Gatherings......Page 73 A Simple Ecosystem......Page 76 A Native American Nation in Larger United States......Page 77 Concluding Thoughts......Page 78 A New Engineering Ethic......Page 79 Reflecting on the Gulf Tragedy......Page 81 Epilogue......Page 85 Bibliography......Page 87 Author's Biography......Page 93