ENGLISH V

UNIT 3
ENGINEERING, SOCIETY AND CUTURE.
ENGINEERING AND ETHICS.

UNIT III - MODULE III - WRITTEN COMMUNICATION / READING AND WRITING

Transgenics and Ethical problems

It would be fruitless to talk about ethics when it is not clear what morality is. Therefore,
we will talk about morality all that can be given a value or in other words what governs
the individual's relationships with his conscience or what might also be called his or her
conception of God. However, we understand ethics as a set of rules governing
behavior and conduct based on reason, justice, good habits and / or customs.
And it is precisely this, the lack of ethics that leads to crime, which leads to one of the
main causes of problems and destruction of society. But this is linked with economics
which is what is imposed as a guiding light and to it are attached social, cultural,
ethical and political issues. But first we must consider the overall framework of ethics,
technology and engineering before discussing the ethical and moral implications of the
engineer as a person.
To understand these ethical problems, we must start by asking certain things such as
what kind of man we will build, to what extent society must continue to accept as a
standard the total freedom for scientific research, to what extent scientists and
engineers can be considered as the main guardians of the future of mankind, to what
extent the scientific world has the right to set their own goals beyond the control of
society, whether science needs autonomy, then who should set the limits of its
autonomy and how it should be controlled so that it does not harm the more permanent
interests of humanity.
To examine the seriousness of these ethical problems, let’s consider four core issues
such as the finiteness of non-renewable natural resources, pollution, conflicts
generated by the widespread use of computer and what has to do with domains such
as privacy, centralization or decentralization of power, the legal responsibilities of
programming malfunction, as well as the rights of ownership of the program and its
decision-making, and finally the implications of genetics.
Speaking of finite, resources are affected by prices. This is the argument of those who
think that the reserves of earth will last forever and when they are gone those of the
moon or other planets would be available. With a clear faith in technology , scientists
who predicted the crisis of scarcity, of not understanding the society and particularly to
underestimate the capacity of human ingenuity to react to market forces. But is that
economists always appreciate the laws of nature?
A general problem of computers is that they separate people from work they do and
from the perception of the people they serve. This distance facilitates the relaxation of
ethical conduct. This is a general problem of technology: its ability to act impersonally,
maintaining an appearance of impartiality that becomes acceptable, destroying with his
fascination the individualities, a prerequisite for a relationship with the spiritual world.
The obsession with comfort in consumer societies distorts moral values, the
relationship with other people and eventually leads to an impoverishment of our own
existence.
There are especially two aspects that have brought humanity major headaches which
are atomic and genetic issues. It is predicted that genetic engineering could bring even
worse consequences than atomic energy, so it is of paramount importance to push the
ethical debate to what extent research can be beneficial to humanity. To what extent
genetic manipulation is successful? Isn’t it better that instead of creating genetic
manipulation, we should focus all our efforts to create the right environment for the
education of human beings and promote the values of living together in society?
As seen in all of these questions, to which everything is pointed at is that there is no
absolute truth for all these questions and problems. Therefore, like all these conflicts
relate to our engineers, we have to prepare them to turn over all of these situations
and to this end, we must look at them from a perspective of the individual, the
professional and of course, the engineer.
Speaking from the individual level, the engineer's conduct should be guided by respect
for nature and people, that is human rights, but for this it should be taken as a starting
point the principles of freedom and equality that would be grounded on three types of
principles: civil, social and political ones. By knowing these principles it is expected
that engineers act responsibly, that is, to answer for their actions. But what would
happen to a freedom without limits? Would not that prevent human society from living
together healthily? To avoid these problems, we feel the need to create rules and laws.
For all the above we would have to say that the actions of engineers must be free and
voluntary, where freedom is understood as acting without restraints as far as this does
not affect the right of someone else. The man's rational power enables him to choose
which law he is submitted to. We might therefore conclude that our freedom to choose
depends on the wisdom that helps us know the network of laws to submit ourselves to
the best one, as a wise human being would choose the optimal program for living
together in society and not just randomly one that gives him a personal and temporal
enjoyment, a well-known case in unlawfulness, which always hurts the masterminds
and benefits in saving money. All this has to be reflected in political campaigns, the
importance of ethical awareness towards a legal culture, since it would only be enough
to look at more developed countries to notice the absence or low piracy that is
synonymous with respect for others.
Finally, it is important to know that society recognizes ethical commandments
regardless of their origin, so the options of a better choice would be given for the
person with better education and self learning accompanied by a continuous
philosophical reflection that allows us a wise decision because, although it is true that
these are conditions that are genetic, psychological and social that may influence the
person to get out of their ethical principles, educated and wise persons will have
greater freedom, responsibility and ethics to know how to defend our world in
permanent change led by capitalism, seen by some as unfair sometimes. That’s why
wisdom and not only intelligence or cramming data, is the key to help us learn and
understand what is happening in the current world and also to do something about it
but just that lack of good deeds is what has made society go where it goes and where
the indifference of good people allows for the abuse of freedom and uncontrolled
development.

Answer the following questions based on the passage about Ethics

1. According to the text, it can be inferred that the biggest problem is:
a. Capitalism.
b. Education.
c. Lack of ethical conscience.
d. Work with computers.
2. Ethics can be defined as:
a. a set of norms ruling behavior and conduct based on reason, justice, and
habits.
b. a set of norms ruling behavior and conduct based on solidarity and
generosity.
c. a set of norms ruling behavior and conduct based on education and respect
for nature.
d .a set of norms ruling behavior and conduct based on capitalism and personal
enrichment.

3. Illegality is given by
a. economy of products.
b. lack of ethics.
c. poverty.
d. lack of employment.

4. Why are computers a problem?

a. Because of pornography found on them
b. Because of the excessive use people make of them.
c. Because they have been going down.
d. Due to software pirating.

5. According to the article, it can be inferred that the problem with computers is
noticeable
a. everywhere.
b. from people getting apart.
c. by the generalized use of gadgets.
d. by the permanent crashing of computers by the use of Flash.

6. According to the article, it can be inferred that the biggest humanity problems are in
the following fields:
a. mechanical and industrial engineering.
b. chemical and environmental engineering.
c. a and b.
d. in no one of the above mentioned fields
7. According to the article, it can be inferred that the point of view in relation to genetics
is:
a. very important .
b. unsuccessful attempt .
c. difficult.
d. the axis of humanity

8. According to the article, it can be stated that the engineer’s conduct should be
based on
a. his/her own wellbeing.
b. the wellbeing of the company he/she works for.
c. respect for nature.
d. respect for both nature and people.

9. According to the passage, it can be inferred that in society ethical norms are mainly
followed in:
a. under developed countries.
b. developed countries.
c. in all countries of the world.
d. in no place of the world.

10. According to the passage, the main solution for all problems stated in the essay
could be:
a. Knowledge.
b. A better distribution of wealth.
c. More work opportunities for people.
d. More commitment with environment conservation.
WRITING ARGUMENTATION

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary: “an argumentation is the act or process
of forming reasons and of drawing conclusions and applying them to a case in
discussion. When writers need to prove or convince their readers about their points
of view, they have use solid, plentiful, and believable evidence.
In order to write a good argumentative topic or essay, you should use the following:

1. Give several instances to prove your point of view, only one instance is not
enough to prove an argument.

2. To mention famous, important or well-known people as examples of your

argument is not enough.

3. Don’t use a praise or a blame to prove your point of view.

4. Don’t use the fact that the idea you are trying to prove has been accepted for
years. Life changes everyday and situations too.

5. The fact that many people have accepted certain idea is not a good argument
to prove your idea.

6. Repetition is not a good technique if you try to prove your argument.

7. Use reliable sources.

8. Don’t lie

9. Don’t resort to people’s emotions.

10. If you draw a conclusion, be sure that is the result of the information provided.

11. Generalization is not a good argument.

 12. The fact that something happened after an event, is not necessarily the result
of such event, so don’t use such a conclusions.

13. If there are more than one alternative, do not try to prove your argument with
only one or two.

14. Be conscious that information, contrary to your view point can be valuable too.
Don’t ignore it.

EXERCISE 1.
The following statements have errors in their arguments, Fin then and correct the
statement.

a. People say that some drugs have helped writers and musicians to create their
masterpieces. So drugs are important in stimulating the brain.

b. If you don’t like Colombia coffee is because you do not have a good taste.

c. I have never paid tips in restaurants, why should I begin to pay tips now.

d. The way a person dresses, shows his/her mental capacity.

e. The building who was constructed by Colombian engineers fell, it means that
all Colombian engineers are bad.

f. I think the guy who was near the lady who was stolen, took herm cell phone
because he disappeared some minutes before the lady realized she had been
stolen.

STUDENTS SHOULD WRITE AN ESSAY ABOUT THE ROLE OF ENGINEERS IN

SOCIETY (OPINIONS AND ARGUMENTATIONS)