How then are the ethical principles of differing cultures expressed when applied to professional ethics in general, and codes of ethics specifi cally?
Engineering Codes of Ethics in non-Western Countries Although ethical thinking throughout the world has originated in various ways and has diverse language and terminology, the results are similar across cultures. How then are the ethical principles of differing cultures expressed when applied to professional ethics in general, and codes of ethics specifi cally? It seems that the concept of a formal code of ethics is a Western creation designed to serve the needs of professional communities. However, engineers around the world have recognized the value of codes of ethics in expressing shared values and ideas on engineering practice. Indeed, many of the codes of ethics for engineering pro- fessional practice borrow heavily and sometimes even use the exact wording of the codes of ethics of the U.S. engineering societies. In addition, some of the engineering societies, such as the IEEE, already have an international reach and their code of ethics is widely recognized and adhered to by electrical engineers worldwide.
50 3.4 Non-Western Ethical Thinking
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CASES The Disaster at Bhopal
On the night of December 2, 1984, a leak developed in a storage tank at a Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India. The tank contained 10,000 gallons of MIC, a highly toxic chemical used in the manufacture of pesticides, such as Sevin. The leak sent a toxic cloud of gas over the surrounding slums of Bhopal, resulting in the death of over 2,000 people, and injuries to over 200,000 more.