2008年职称英语考试阅读判断试题训练(四)

4．Engineering ethics  工程道德

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 the  National Science Foundation to develop material for introducing ethical issues in required undergraduate  engineering courses. A small group of faculty and administrators actively supported the growing  effort at Texas A＆M，yet this group must now expand to meet the needs of increasing numbers of  students 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 such  well-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 introduce  literature in engineering ethics into their classrooms．They are most comfortable with quantitative  concepts 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类院校里愈来愈受到关注。在得克萨斯州的A&M大学，随着工程道德这门新课的开设以及由全美科学基金会提供基金、旨在为大学工程类必修课程提供道德问题方面的材料的项目的启动，人们对职业道德的关注达到了顶峰。一个由教师和管理人员组成的小组对得克萨斯州A&M大学的不懈努力予以了积极的支持，但是由于越来越多的学生希望能够更加了解作为职业工程人员自己的行为的价值含义，为了满足这些需求，目前该小组必须发展壮大。

    人们之所以对工程价值尺度愈发关注，至少部分原因是由于媒体对挑战者号灾难、堪萨斯城Hyatt—Regency旅馆通道的坍塌以及Exxon石油泄漏等事件的关注所引起的。为了响应人们的关注，一个新的学科——工程道德应运而生。同医学道德、商业道德和法律道德这些已经确立的学科一样，该学科无疑也将确立起自己的地位。

    开发这一新学科所面临的问题是，大部分工程教授不愿意将工程道德方面的资料引进课堂。他们满足于使用以数字表达的概念，不相信自己有资格就工程道德问题在课堂上展开讨论。许多工程类教授认为课程安排紧张，没有时间在课堂上就职业道德问题进行讨论，或者觉得自己没有时间去准备必要的材料。希望这里提供的资料会有所帮助。

★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