Science- and Engineering-Related Ethics and Values Studies: Characteristics of an Emerging Field of Research

Abstract

During the past decade, studies of ethical and value aspects of the interactions between science, technology, and society have begun to develop as a research area.The intellectual impetus behind this development is clear.As with all human endeavors, science and engineering involve management, and managing human endeavors requires making decisions wjth implications for human values and norms.The objective of this article is to describe and comment on the characteristics of this emerging research field.