You can’t learn ethics

All master’s students at TU Delft have to take the Ethics and Engineering module. This module, which equates to three credits, covers the basics of ethical codes and introduces leading thinkers ranging from Aristoteles to Immanuel Kant. With its clear focus on ethics in technology and engineering, the module reflects the nature of TU Delft. Some students see the module as just an easy way to earn credits and only attend the compulsory sessions after which they take a relatively easy exam. But the content is more relevant than they realise.

As future engineers, many of us will climb to the top of corporate ladders and end up on the frontline of innovations such as AI and quantum technology. So it seems highly relevant to gain the ability to navigate complicated issues within an ethical framework. But in real life, the easiest path is often the most attractive. When the negative effects seem vague and distant, people tend to put their own interest first and take the most lucrative option.

ASML, Crown Jewel of the Netherlands’ economy, does not appear to think about where their machines may end up

Als a student of Applied Physics, I see my fellow students going to work for companies like ASML after they graduate. But when Dutch chips turn up in Russian weapons (in Dutch), nobody within the company seems to take responsibility. Does this mean that working for ASML is immoral? This is up to you. I do not myself think that a data analyst or R&D engineer at ASML spends any time wondering if they are indirectly involved in making weapons. And ASML, Crown Jewel of the Netherlands’ economy, does not appear to think about where their machines may end up, despite possible sanctions (in Dutch). After all, a healthy economy is apparently the priority. Money talks. And this despite the fact that the people who work there have most likely had lessons on ethics.

I do not believe that you can learn how to handle difficult choices in a module. If you want to find out how to deal with complex issues at a small scale, you need to take your responsibility during your student time. What I mean by this is that you should be involved in committees or boards as you will face difficult choices while organising things. This is a good way to learn about making choices at a small scale.

As an example, you are organising a conference or fair on sustainability as part of your committee or board work. Do you let Shell sponsor the event or do you stick to your principles and refuse their sponsorship, running the risk that your event will not go ahead? There is no clear answer, but if I look at all the career fairs and conferences at TU Delft over the last few years, it seems Shell is the greenest and most sustainable company in the Netherlands.

Ethics is more than just a subject on your timetable. It is a learning process that lasts a lifetime and starts with the choices that we make today. And while the path to acting ethically is a rocky one, it is the journey that ultimately defines us as individuals and as a society.