On the Use of Models in Planning Ethics

Professional ethics is a recognized part of what is commonly called “applied” or “practical” ethics. In the same way that environmental ethics refers to the application of moral principles and philosophical methods of inquiry to environmental issues, professional ethics pertains to the study of ethical aspects of issues faced by members of professions. While discussions of business, legal, medical, and “bio” ethics dominate the literature, the past decade also has witnessed increasing ethical scrutiny of other fields of endeavour such as education, engineering, and planning.