Future directions in engineering ethics research: Microethics, macroethicsand the role of professional societies

Three frames of reference for engineering ethics are discussed-individual, professional and social-which can be further broken down into "microethics" concerned with individuals and the internal relations of the engineering p rofession and "macroethics" referring to the collective social responsibili ty of the engineering profession and to societal decisions about technology . Few attempts have been made at integrating microethical and macroethical approaches to engineering ethics. The approach suggested here is to focus o n the role of professional engineering societies in linking individual and professional ethics and in linking professional and social ethics. A resear ch program is outlined using ethics support as an example of the former, an d the issuance of position statements on product liability as an example of the latter.