Engineering Ethics: Responsibility and Accountability of Engineers

Abstract

The relationship between an individual and a community, where there is a shared duty to explain and justify actions,
as well as common norms regarding what requires explanation, what constitutes a good explanation, and what the
possible consequences might be, is the essence of accountability. By framing engineers' social responsibilities in terms
of accountability, we can better understand the various players involved and the ways in which these responsibilities
are shaped. For instance, this perspective highlights the role of engineering professional organizations, particularly
when they release reports on engineering failures. It also emphasizes the critical role of whistleblowing. Instead of
seeing social responsibility as something that falls solely on individual engineers, regardless of the situation, or as a
detached moral issue, it's more insightful to view these responsibilities as shaped by social practices.