綜合類：閱讀判斷Engineering ethics

　　Engineering ethics is attracting increasing interest in engineering universities throughout the nation.At Texas A&M University，evidence of this interest in professional ethics culminated in the creation of a new course in engineering ethics，as well as a project funded by theNational Science Foundation to develop material for introducing ethical issues in required undergraduateengineering courses. A small group of faculty and administrators actively supported the growingeffort at Texas A&M，yet this group must now expand to meet the needs of increasing numbers ofstudents wishing to learn more about the value implications of their actions as professional engineers.

　　The increasing concern for the value dimension of engineering is，at least in part，a result of the attention that the media has given to cases such as the Challenger disaster，the Kansas City Hyatt-Regency Hotel walkways co11apse，and the Exxon oil spill.As a response t this concern，a new discipline，engineering ethics，is emerging.This discipline will doubtless take its place alongside suchwell-established fields as medical ethics，business ethics，and legal ethics.

　　The problem presented by this development is that most engineering professors are not prepared to introduceliterature in engineering ethics into their classrooms.They are most comfortable with quantitativeconcepts and often do not believe they are qualified to lead class discussions on ethics.Many engineering faculty members do not think that they have the time in an already overcrowded syllabus to introduce discussions on professional ethics，or the time in their own schedules to prepare the necessary material.Hopefully，the resources presented herein will be of assistance.

　　工程道德在全美的工程類院校里愈來愈受到關注。在得克薩斯州的A&M大學，隨著工程道德這門新課的開設以及由全美科學基金會提供基金、旨在為大學工程類必修課程提供道德問題方面的材料的項目的啟動，人們對職業道德的關注達到了頂峰。一個由教師和管理人員組成的小組對得克薩斯州A&M大學的不懈努力予以了積極的支持，但是由于越來越多的學生希望能夠更加了解作為職業工程人員自己的行為的價值含義，為了滿足這些需求，目前該小組必須發展壯大。

　　人們之所以對工程價值尺度愈發關注，至少部分原因是由于媒體對挑戰者號災難、堪薩斯城Hyatt—Regency旅館通道的坍塌以及Exxon石油泄漏等事件的關注所引起的。為了響應人們的關注，一個新的學科——工程道德應運而生。同醫學道德、商業道德和法律道德這些已經確立的學科一樣，該學科無疑也將確立起自己的地位。

　　開發這一新學科所面臨的問題是，大部分工程教授不愿意將工程道德方面的資料引進課堂。他們滿足于使用以數字表達的概念，不相信自己有資格就工程道德問題在課堂上展開討論。許多工程類教授認為課程安排緊張，沒有時間在課堂上就職業道德問題進行討論，或者覺得自己沒有時間去準備必要的材料。希望這里提供的資料會有所幫助。

　　★1). Engineering ethics is a compulsory subject in every institute of science and technology in the United States. -N

　　★2). The number of students wishing to take the course of engineering ethics is declining at Texas A & M University. -W

　　★3). The National Science Foundation involves itself directly in writing up material about ethical issues. -W

　　★4). It seems that medical ethics and business ethics are more mature than engineering ethics. -R

　　★5). Several engineering professors have quit from teaching to protest against the creation of a new course in engineering ethics. -N

　　★6). Many engineering professors may not have time to prepare material for class discussion on professional ethics. -R

　　★7). It is likely that following this introductory passage， the author will provide the necessary material related to the topic of engineering ethics. -R