ANAESTHETISING OURSELVES: ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AS A BARRIER TO AN ETHICAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME

This paper proposes the idea of ‘engineering consent’ as an important ethical consideration for engineers. The paper illustrates the notion of techno-culture, emphasising the non-neutrality of technology in the world and how technology can be used in cultural and economic colonialisation by the west. It advocates a fundamental review of engineering education theory and practice. In this review, the paper argues that engineers must enter new spaces of thought and learning including the post-colonial ‘Third Space’ advocated by Homi K. Bhaba. The review of education must be based on current ideas as to professional competence, as well as a healthy approach to dissidence through innovative and creative thought processes. In this way a new community of practice will emerge which is centred not upon technological progress but social responsibility.