Learning engineering ethics by debate

Abstract

In this communication, the authors aim to describe their experience in a couple of optional STS courses taught at the school Telecom BCN (ETSETB) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). The first one is about the macro-ethics area of technology and society, while the second one focuses on the micro-ethics area of professional responsibility. Both courses are based on the active participation of students in the classroom, mainly through the use of debates, where opposed viewpoints have to be argued. The paper is especially focused to the debates carried out by the students about cases of ethical conflict.