Tragedy in the Gulf
Subtitle: a call for a new engineering ethic
By: George D. Catalano
Series: Synthesis lectures on engineers, technology, & society -- # 15
Publisher: Morgan & Claypool; Morgan & Claypool Publishers
Published: 2011
Place of publication: San Rafael, Calif. (1537 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 USA)
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Number of pages: 79
ISBN-13: 9781608456291; 9781608456284
Subjects: Oil spills; System theory; Quantum theory; Engineering ethics; Philosophy; Cosmology; BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010
Other titles: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.
Description: The recent tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico and resultant ethical consequences for the engineering profession are introduced and discussed. The need for a new engineering ethic is identified and introduced based upon advancements in science, complex systems and eco-philosophy. Motivations for introducing a new ethic rather than modifying existing ethics are also discussed.
Notes: Part of: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.

Series from website.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-77).

Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers.

Also available in print.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Table of contents: title: 1. Tragedy in the Gulf; title: Summary; title: Introduction; title: A new ethic, where might we look; title: A new ethic, why; title: 2. Tragedy unfolding; title: Summary; title: The lead-up; title: The timeline; title: Impact on Gulf communities; title: Nigeria's agony dwarfs the Gulf oil spill; title: Remembering the Exxon Valdez; title: Other historic oil spills; title: Other contamination; title: 3. Engineering ethics; title: Summary; title: Introduction to engineering ethics; title: Engineering ethics revisited; title: Traditional applied ethics; title: Engineering ethics and freedom; title: Engineering ethics and chaos; title: Engineering ethics and a morally deep world; title: Engineering and globalism; title: Engineering and love; title: Engineering codes today; title: Concluding thoughts; title: 4. Complex systems; title: Summary; title: Complex systems theory; title: Linear systems; title: Stationary systems; title: Reductionism; title: Equilibrium; title: Perturbation theory; title: Describing complex systems; title: Concluding thoughts; title: 5. Quantum mechanics; title: Summary; title: Introduction; title: Mind of a particle, mind of the universe; title: Mechanical universe vs. quantum world; title: Concluding thoughts; title: 6. Evolving principles of the universe; title: Summary; title: Introduction; title: Laws of the evolving universe; title: Differentiation; title: Subjectivity; title: Communion; title: Fractal nature of the evolving laws; title: Integration of the laws and applications; title: Family gatherings; title: Engineering design teams; title: A simple ecosystem; title: A native American nation in larger United States; title: Concluding thoughts; title: 7. A new engineering ethic; title: Summary; title: A union of ideas: complex systems, quantum mechanics and the unfolding universe; title: A new engineering ethic; title: Reflecting on the Gulf tragedy; title: 8. Epilogue; title: Bibliography; title: Author's biography.