Should I go to work for the defense contractors?

Question

Years ago, I decided to enter into the field of engineering, as I found that designing weapons was of interest to me. Indeed, I seemed to have the knack to visualize weapons conceptions, as if it were an art. Yet prior to graduation, I had an epiphany in that I did not want to design weapons that could potentially be used against civilians. As a result, I chose to use my engineering skills elsewhere.

Here it is, years later, and I'm finding that I might be interested in going into the field that I originally abandoned. Part of my inspiration is the arms race that is going on throughout the world, as other countries are arming themselves in what appears to be an eventual confrontation with the US. As a result, I feel the need to help the US develop countermeasures that will help us retain our superiority. My current concept of weapons would only be of use against military targets.

This is a question of ethics, and I would appreciate your input.

Answer 1

Many years ago, I went through a similar issue.

Sadly, most weapons can be used on civilians. Some are more likely to effect civilians such as land mines so you need to decide what is acceptable to you.

In addition to this issue, are you ready for the weapons to be used as they are intended? Fighter planes and Humvees are really cool but will it bother you if they are used to fight in another Somalia, Kosovo or Iraq where civilians will intentionally or unintentionally be killed with them?

Ands Nuclear weapons are intended as a deterrent but what if a conflict really goes nuclear??? If you are still alive will you be able to cope with the fact the bombs were delivered on your missiles or planes?

In the end I decided the reasons for having the weapons out weighed the pain they may inflict on others. With out advanced weapons, the likes of Hitler, Milosevic, Hussein and the Taliban would have remained in power.

What about current and future conflicts. The current war on terror, a nuclear Iran, a desperate North Korea. And what of Russia and China?

When the Berlin wall fell, I remember one of the older engineers saying that we would all look back on the security of the cold war era. We thought he was nuts at the time but now...

Answer 2

Why would Congress approve contracts to ANY company that had such a stipulation in their employment contract in the first place? IF Congress had allowed such a stipulation, it should be declared illegal and null and void. That would clear the way for Ms Jones and others to file all the charges they wanted to. Wouldn't that be a better thing to do? You Liberals take half measures and say look what we did. Now when you get the 30 Republicans on record as to why they voted against we'll deal with that. What about the other two votes? Who were they? Why didn't they vote? Were they Democrat or Republican? The problem with people like you is you never tell the whole story.

Answer 3

In my humble opinion, you should do what makes you the happiest - career wise. If it not a good feeling, trust me, to look back and say: 'wow, I could've done what I wanted to do - my gut instinct' and didn't do it - Guess who youl'll blame (yourself) for your unhappiness in what you are doing.

From the ethical point of view - in the end you don't konw what the companies will do with your work; HOWEVER, if f have the ability/knowledge/conceptual view that would contriube to the creation of a weapon system that would not hurt innocent people but military targets (hey, sounds like Reagans Star Wars/Anti Ballistic weapon system)how can you not contribute to this type of work (to be used against weapon systems) why wouldn't you want to be a part of it. I think that ethically/morally I would (if I had our abilities) have to contribute from wihin - how else can you ensure that we have that type of weapon - granted.....Will you not ask you yourself later: "I could've helped/contributed and I didn't?" I think that would be more ethically/morally wrong than sitting on the sidelines and seeing them mess up and not do the right thing.

Answer 4

i'm an engineer by training myself. schooled in a world-class college in the US...

UNLESS you work in the US or perhaps...Germany.
your salary is nowhere satisfactory even if job "satisfaction" is high due to the amazing designs you come up with.
high-tech weaponry or no high-tech weaponry.

get out of it and work for your own income...and with your GLOBAL knowledge of current affairs...you'll be able to relate to people GLOBALLY at a more meaningful level...and sway people's thoughts.

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Answer 5

not if you like offense