Architecture and its Ethical Dilemmas

Proceedings form a conference held in Cambridge in 2004. Architecture intersects with ethics in numerous ways and though the book aims to examine some of them, it does not pretend to be comprehensive. Ethical dilemmas arise for all of us as individuals and in every kind of work, since we all make decisions daily which imply a scale of values as to where to place our energy or our resources. At a global scale the huge disparities in affluence between differing parts of the world, and between differing sectors of society in the so-called developed world, raise awkward issues of judgement that have led many who are trained in the design disciplines to feel that the exercise of their skills is irrelevant, at least until such disparities are substantially reduced. But the focus of this book is on the particular professional dilemmas that architects face, broadly within the context of the developed world. Within this topic there is plenty to discuss. Despite the final section of the book, which does examine some more general philosophical issues (namely the pervasive influence of the thinking of Heidegger and Kant), the kinds of dilemmas raised are not “fundamental”, and mostly revolve around “everyday” ethical issues – what is it right to do in these circumstances? It therefore aims to inform the practice of architecture, to encourage a more self-reflective professionalism, and to assist in a broader understanding of issues of practice by those who theorise.