Ethics on Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

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Erich Eminhizer ENGR 310 Final Paper July 18, 2011 The tragedy of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a culmination of definable errors and oversights, both small and large, by industry managers, government regulators, and engineers. Each of these failed decisions can be regarded on its own, and new processes, recommendations, or tools developed to try and prevent such a tragedy from recurring. There are many important engineering principles and insights to be gained by this essential exercise. But it is also important, and perhaps imperative, to step back and consider the fundamental ethical question of deepwater drilling itself, for it is from this philosophical germ that all other ethical considerations are derived. Once formed, this foundation serves to inform our notions of “acceptable risk” and responsible engineering, allowing us to set a course for our society in real terms. I argue that this moral compass must be forward-thinking and aggressive, and represent the future we wish to achieve and preserve for future generations. It is only with this mindset will we keep apace of our innate human desire to expand, explore, control, and multiply. It must also be built on a rich appreciation for the immense complexity of Earth’s interconnected biosystems. Deepwater drilling represents both a surrendering of this moral courage to our perceived immediate needs and a failure to adequately value the obligation this natural complexity requires in securing the future health of the planet. Most would agree that the unprecedented technological advancements of the modern age have fundamentally altered the relationship between mankind and the environment. Just as new technologies now sweep instantly across populations, so do our activities have an ecological impact on a global scale. Our cognizance of this power to affect ecosystems has been slow to
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