Technoethics is a term coined in 1974 by the Argentinian-Canadian philosopher Mario Bunge to denote the special responsibilities of technologists and engineers to develop ethics as a branch of technology. However, in 1971 the chemical engineer and theologian Norman Faramelli had used a word of only one less letter, technethics, to argue for a general ethics of technology from a Christian theological perspective. In 1973 the Britannica Book of the Year defined the same term, without referencing Faramelli, as indicating "the responsible use of science, technology and ethics in a society shaped by technology."

Bunge's use is the more significant and radical. For Bunge engineers and managers, because of their enhanced powers, acquire increased moral and social responsibilities. To meet these responsibilities they cannot rely on traditional moral theory; since moral theory itself is underdeveloped having "ignored the special problems posed by science and technology" (Bunge 1977, p. 101). Instead, engineers must adapt...