Letters to the editor

Upon reading both Chalk´s and Winton´s articles in Technology & Society, I was appalled at their lack of understanding regarding the ethical dilemma faced by engineers. Unless the problem is understood, all solutions are of negligible value. Engineers through both the nature of their training and work tend to be highly rational. Ethics by its nature, tends to be emotional and thereby irrational. An emotional view becomes irrational when it conflicts with reality. Till such a conflict occurs, one can maintain emotional views of any kind. Reverend (father) Jones of the People´s Temple represents this clearly. His appeals, etc. had a considerable dose of emotionalism and he received support from many religious, social and political leaders as has been indicated by the books, articles, etc. written on the subject since the tragic Guyana affair. Only when reality impinged on what he said and did, were comments made regarding his rationality.