Ethics, tools, and the engineer

321 Pages·2001·1.515 MB·English

by  Spier, Raymond

ETHICS,
TOOLS, and the
ENGINEER
Titles in the Technology Management Series
Series Editor Richard C. Dorf
The Strategic Management of Technological Learning
Elias G. Carayannis
Ethics, Tools, and the Engineer
Raymond Spier
ETHICS,
TOOLS, and the
ENGINEER
By
Raymond Spier
CRC Press
Boca Raton London New York Washington, D.C.
disclaimer Page 1 Wednesday, January 10, 2001 10:45 AM
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Spier, R. (Raymond)
Ethics, tools, and the engineer / Raymond E. Spier.
p. cm.— (Technology management series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8493-3740-2 (alk. paper)
1. Ethics 2. Technology—Moral and ethical aspects. 3. Engineering—Moral and ethical
aspects. I. Title. II. Technology management series (CRC Press)
BJ59 .S67 2000
174′.962—dc21 00-050722

This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material
is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable
efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot
assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use.
Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or
retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for
creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC
for such copying.
Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431, or visit
our Web site at www.crcpress.com
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are
used only for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe.
Visit our Web site at www.crcpress.com.
© 2001 by CRC Press LLC
No claim to original U.S. Government works
International Standard Book Number 0-8493-3740-2
Library of Congress Card Number 00-050722
Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Printed on acid-free paper
820089_CRC4_3740_FM 1/3/01 12:49 PM Page v
Preface
During my first television and radio interviews on ethics in relation to
biotechnology, the interviewer always inquired about the harm that could be
caused by new developments. I was led into using the analogy of the ham-
mer, which clearly could be used for pounding in nails or, on rare occasions,
skulls. In generalizing this, I realized that virtually everything we have
around us can be used to cause pain or damage. The question then becomes,
bearing in mind that all tools can cause damage as well as benefit, “How do
our societies come to terms with such instruments to the extent that they are
freely available in the marketplace?” One way this is done is via risk assess-
ment and management. Acomplementary approach based on the HAZOP
analysis technique has been used in this book. The next step is to apply this
kind of thinking to the new biotechnology tools. Having examined the issue
of the cloning of humans from this angle, it seemed appropriate to widen the
scope of this approach to other such developments.
This book stems from this background. In recognizing that tools can be
used for both benefit and harm, it is necessary to come to terms with these
concepts via a discussion of the basic nature of ethics and the kinds of ethical
systems we now use. In this discussion I am aided by my biological back-
ground. Hence, I briefly describe the origin of life and its evolution as it
relates to humans today. From this four-billion-year story I am able to see
ethics as a suite of words used to promote human survival in both an indi-
vidual and group sense. Working from this grounding, the application of sur-
vivalistic ethics to the particular problems we face when we gear up to use
new tools becomes practicable.
Putting ethics into the way engineers come to use new tools is the third
step. In this I explore the possible origins of the kind of person who did engi-
neering work in prehistoric times. This brought me into contact with the con-
jectured world of the spirits. As our reductive science has given a clear steer
as to how questions of origins (universe, Earth, life, etc.) might be answered,
the need to invoke spirits has diminished. I therefore explore the practicality
and implications of progressing the ethics of tool use in a spirit-free world.
R. E. Spier
820089_CRC4_3740_FM 1/3/01 12:49 PM Page vi
820089_CRC4_3740_FM 1/3/01 12:49 PM Page vii
Author
After studies at the University of Oxford and the
University of London, Dr. Raymond Spier was
qualified as a biochemical engineer in 1965. His
engineering career has taken him from industry
to government research to a position as professor
and head of the microbiology department at the
University of Surrey in Guildford.
He worked as an industrial engineer with the
intent of pursuing relief of the world’s food prob-
lem. He became disillusioned when India
decided to buy fighter jets rather than fund
the vegetable protein production plant he was
designing. He then joined Merck & Co., Inc. in the U.S., where his assignment
was to design large-scale production processes for virus vaccines, including
those intended to immunize humans against mumps, measles, and rubella.
Dr. Spier returned to the U.K. 4 years later and joined the Animal Virus
Research Institute. As principal scientific officer, he was in charge of a pilot
plant that made foot-and-mouth disease vaccines from baby hamster kidney
cells. The need to control the biological and physical components of the
vaccine production process led to his formation of the European Society for
Animal Cell Technology, and he co-edited the first 12volumes of its meeting
proceedings.
After 10 years of applied research, Dr. Spier joined the University of
Surrey. In addition to teaching and heading the microbiology department, he
pursued a number of research, writing, and other activities. He has consulted
widely on animal cell technology and virus vaccine production technology
and has served on the boards of five start-up biotechnology companies.
Dr. Spier started and continues to edit Vaccineand was invited to co-edit
Enzyme and Microbial Technology.He co-edited a six-volume series on animal
cell biotechnology. He also had a role in starting Cytotechnology and edited
the two volumes of the Encyclopedia of Cell Technology published in 2000, in
addition to authoring or co-authoring about 200 research papers, reviews,
articles, and patents.
820089_CRC4_3740_FM 1/3/01 12:49 PM Page viii
While studying biology, chemistry, and physics at school, Dr. Spier
realized that as evolution and development progressed, organisms acquired
increasing abilities to control themselves and their environments. Advances
in technology provided more ways for humans to control their environment
and other species. In 1993 Dr. Spier became interested in science and engi-
neering ethics in relation to the way humans seek to control the behaviors of
other humans in social situations and through the use of technology. He
wrote a number of papers on ethics and co-founded the Science and
Engineering Ethicsjournal. The University of Surrey appointed him to the first
chair in science and engineering ethics in the U.K. in 1997. As a result he was
invited to join the editorial board of and contribute to the Encyclopaedia of
Applied Ethics. He also edited a book titled Science and Technology Ethics (in
press). Ethics, Tools, and the Engineeris the result of Dr. Spier’s interest in the
social and technological aspects of control.
As a result of his work in ethics, Dr. Spier was recently elected to a
fellowship of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Spier’s current interests are the nature of science, engineering and
ethics, and ethical issues engendered by the application of new technology to
biology, biotechnology, vaccines, and prophylactic medicine.
820089_CRC4_3740_FM 1/3/01 12:49 PM Page ix
Dedication
In dedicating this book to my wife, Merilyn, I delight in recognizing that my
efforts are but a part of a joint commitment with her to carry forward new
ideas and concepts that we believe will serve and benefit our communities.
Her encouragement, criticism, and creativity are inextricably woven into this
work. Let me be responsible for the errors and misjudgments, but let me also
pay tribute to the inspiration that I received from her.