Engineers, Ethics, and Nuclear Weapons

Abstract

For years, engineers have had the reputation of social myopia, of being competent with technical problems but relatively blind to social concerns. Using literary and historical references, the writers argue for greater participation by civil engineers in the social issues of our time. A case is made against any further pursuit of the Strategic Defense Initiative by the United States, and civil engineers are urged to use their technical background to help the public interpret this issue. Peaceful alternatives to nuclear‐weapons‐supported engineering work are discussed. The ASCE Code of Ethics is presented as a set of professional guidelines that should be followed in practice.