Abstract

In order to be able to fulfill its mission, engineering ethics must have a practical character, that is, it must be capable of shaping individual and social practices in the world of technology. This article attempts to answer the question of how to bridge the gap between the world of norms and that of real practice. This attempts is carried out under the author's model of human action, which can be called the model of concrete action. An agent is guided by reasons for acting, which are formulated by his professional practical judgment. The proposed answers, having to do with the current state of the debate in engineering ethics and with real practical problems, show the need for a clear awareness of the crucial role of professional judgment, both in practice and in engineering ethics. It also points out the role of the relevant systems of norms, including the role of the relevant codes of ethics, and the idea of responsibility, understood both in a negative and positive sense. The results proposed can be used in curricula and courses on engineering ethics.