Ethics for architects : 50 dilemmas of professional practice /
Thomas Fisher
- 1st edition.
- New York : Princeton Architectural Press, c2010
- 151 pages ; 22 cm.
Introduction -- 1. General obligations. Conflicts of interest -- Uncompensated work -- Community service -- Pro bono work -- Living conditions -- Working conditions -- Layoffs -- Unequal pay -- 2. Obligations to the public. Repressive governments -- Corrupt politicians -- Public officials -- Public opinion -- Public bailouts -- Public reviews -- Public health -- Cultural differences -- 3. Obligations to the client. Self-destructive behavior -- Distrustful behavior -- Dishonest behavior -- Deceptive behavior -- Spendthrift behavior -- Solicitous behavior -- Unrealistic expectations -- Manipulative situations -- Deceiving a client -- 4. Obligations to the profession. Greed -- Insensitivity -- Jealousy -- Betrayal -- Treachery -- Unfairness -- Uncertainty -- Cheating -- 5. Obligations to colleagues. Office affairs -- Working hours -- Labor law violations -- Crediting coworkers -- Accommodating disabilities -- Firm bankruptcy -- Firm loyalties -- Untrustworthy colleagues -- 6. Obligations to the environment. Environmental hypocrisy -- Environmental conflicts -- Contextual conflicts -- Social justice -- Future generations -- Other species -- Reducing waste -- Reducing consumption -- Rights of nature -- Postscript : Why ethics matters now.
In this new Architecture Brief, Ethics for Architects, Thomas Fisher presents fifty case studies representing a broad range of ethical dilemmas facing today architects, from questions regarding which clients to work for, to the moral imperatives of reclaiming building materials for construction instead of sending them to landfills. This timely book features newly relevant interpretations adapted to the pervasive demands of globalization, sustainability, and developments in information technology. Fisher's analysis of architectures thorniest ethical issues are written in a style that is accessible to the amateur philosopher and appealing to professional architects and students alike. Thought-provoking and essential, Ethics for Architects is required reading for any designer who wants to work responsibly in today's complex world.