The Engineering Ethics in Southern African textbook has been written specifically for engineers in this geographical region. Not only does it provide an overview of moral philosophy and the various ethical approaches that can be applied in the engineering field, but it shares what it means to be a professional engineer in Southern Africa and provides insight into both professional and community expectations. Local engineering case studies have been chosen to highlight ethical dilemmas and conflicts that can arise, and various ethical approaches have been applied to them to explain their cause and consequence(s). Readers will find that this textbook not only provides them with invaluable knowledge for their careers as professional engineers, but that it will continue to encourage them to think ethically in their lives as professional engineers engaged in engineering projects and engineering activities.

About the Author: 

Dr Lorrainne Doherty has been lecturing Engineering Ethics in the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand since 2013 as part of a Washington Accord accredited programme. 

1. Moral Philosophy:

• What is Ethics?

    Moral Approaches: 

• Virtue
• Deontology

2. Professionalism:

• What is a professional?
• What is an Engineering
• The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)
• Risk Safety Mitigation
• Whistleblowing

3. Engineering Case Studies:

• Merriespruit Dam Disaster
• Ford Kuga
• Tongaat Mall Collapse
• Grayston Bridge Collapse
• Fracking
• Life Esidemini
• 747 MaxShell Exploration
• Acid Mine Drainage
• Durban South Basin
• Coalbrook Mining Disaster
• Orkney Earhquake
• Babitha Deokaran (slain whistleblower)
• N2 Toll Road
• Ford Pinto

Engineering Ethics has served not just as an introduction to moral philosophy for engineers but has further served to teach engineers the importance of both personal and professional ethics and the need for a moral compass.