Engineers: Mere Mercenaries?

Donald Christiansen has an interesting article about the responsibilities of engineers. Can engineers influence the use of technology they develop?

Here is an excerpt:

While the degree to which engineers can influence the uses of technology is debatable, there are many who nevertheless believe we should try. Aside from electing to work on projects that have an obvious positive social value, perhaps the best way we can exert leverage on the uses of our creations is to influence technology policy at the governmental level. But if engineers are to be induced to contribute to technology-influenced policy decisions, the value of doing so might best be emphasized while youngsters are contemplating engineering as a profession, or, a bit later, while they are undergraduate engineering students.

One modest project, friendly to this objective, is under consideration by the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Societies. It would inform high school students about future engineering challenges, which, if solved, would “make a difference and help others live better — the cool thing to do.” The council plans to elaborate on engineering challenges in energy and the environment, robotics, communications, security, transportation, climate, and water availability, among others.

J. Robert Oppenheimer faced a similar moral question as he led the development of the atomic bomb.