Preface

Natural sciences and engineering are important forces shaping our future. They exert both positive and negative influences upon our world. We all contribute to these changes. The engineering professions, however, have a particular responsibility in structuring these processes. Hence in 1950, the Association of Engineers VDI in Germany presented a document on the specific professional responsibilities of engineers.

Recently the VDI Executive Board passed the new document "Fundamentals of Engineering Ethics." They are intended to offer to all engineers, as creators of technology, orientation and support as they face conflicting professional responsibilities.

These fundamentals have been proposed by the "VDI philosophers" together with representatives of other disciplines within the VDI Committee on People and Technology.

I hope that this document may strengthen awareness and commitment in dealing with ethical issues of the engineering professions.

Dusseldorf, March...