In the United States growing professionalism gave rise to the development of four founding engineering societies: The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (1851), the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) (1884), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (1880), and the American Institute of Mining Engineers (AIME) (1871). There was considerable tension between the two sides as large industrial employers fought to maintain control of their employees. As engineering rose as a distinct profession during the 19th century, engineers saw themselves as either independent professional practitioners or technical employees of large enterprises.
As a scholarly discipline, it is closely related to subjects such as the philosophy of science, the philosophy of engineering, and the ethics of technology. The field examines and sets the obligations by engineers to society, to their clients, and to the profession.
At least sixty were killed.Įngineering ethics is the field of system of moral principles that apply to the practice of engineering.