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Ethics – Part 1
IE491
October 24, 2005
Ethics
The study of the characteristics of
morals.
Engineering Ethics –
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Rules and standards governing conduct of
engineers.
A body of philosophy indicating ways that
engineers should conduct themselves in
their professional capacity.
Why study?
Several notorious cases –
Achieved great attention and led
engineers to gain an increased sense of
professional responsibilities.
Led to an awareness of the importance
of ethics, how engineers have far
reaching impact on society.
Goal
Sensitize you to the important ethical
issues before you have to confront
them.
Moral autonomy –
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To think critically and independently about
moral issues.
To apply this moral thinking to situations
that arise in professional engineering
practice.
Where is line drawn between
ethical – unethical decision?
Where does an engineering team strike the
balance between safety and affordability and,
simultaneously, the ability of the company to
sell a product and make a profit?
Example – Ford Pinto 1978
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Car designed with a rear gas tank that frequently
exploded on contact.
Design was cost-effective and allowed car to be
sold at a competitive price.
Origins of today’s ethics
Ancient Greeks - especially Socrates,
Aristotle
Judeo – Christian tradition
Islam
Buddhists
Hindus
Western ethics have principally evolved from
first two.
Origins - continued
Philosophy
Law
Religion
Ethical Behavior – grounded in concern for others
Ethics and religion
Some people’s ethics are based in
religion (however, nominally religious
people may not be ethical).
Persons who are ethical don’t have to
be religious.
Ethics and law
Engineering and business are governed
by laws at the international, federal,
state and local levels.
Ethics and law - continued
Things that are legal might be
considered unethical – e.g., releasing a
known toxic material that is unregulated
into the air.
As an engineer, you are minimally safe
if you follow the law.
Personal vs. Business Ethics
Personal ethics deal with how we treat
others in our day-to-day lives.
Professional (business) ethics often
involves choices on an organizational
level rather than a personal level.
Ethics problems
Rarely have a correct answer that
everyone will come up with.
There will be a range of solutions that
are clearly right, some of which will be
better than others.
There will be a range of solutions that
are clearly wrong.
4 Ethical Theories
Utilitarianism
Duty Ethics
Rights Ethics
Virtue Ethics
Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill (1806
– 1873)
Individual actions
should be judged on
whether the most good
was produced in a given
situation.
Rules should be broken
if doing so will lead to
the most good.
Utilitarianism has given us –
Techniques familiar to engineers –
Risk – benefit analysis
Cost – benefit analysis
Duty ethics
Immanuel Kant
(1724 – 1804)
Duty ethics –
ethical acts are the
result of proper
performance of
one’s duties.
Be honest, be fair,
don’t cause
suffering.
Rights ethics
John Locke (1632 –
1704)
People have
fundamental rights that
other people have a
duty to respect.
Humans have a right to
–
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Life
Liberty
Property
Virtue ethics
What kind of people we should be?
Actions are right if they support good
character qualities – virtues:
responsibility, honesty, competence,
loyalty.
Actions are wrong if they support bad
character qualities – vices: dishonesty,
disloyalty, irresponsibility.
Engineering is a profession
Work that requires sophisticated skills, the
use of judgment, and the exercise of
discretion.
Membership requires extensive formal
education.
Special societies or organizations
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Set standards for admissions to the profession.
Set standards of conduct for its members.
Enforces the standards.
The practice results in significant public good.
Code of Ethics
Provides a framework for ethical
judgment.
Expresses commitment to ethical
conduct.
Defines the roles and responsibilities of
professionals.
Order of an Engineer
I am an Engineer, in my profession I take deep pride. To it
I owe solemn obligations.
Since the Stone Age, human progress has been spurred
by the engineering genius. Engineers have made usable
Nature’s vast resources of material and energy for
Humanity's [Mankind’s] benefit. Engineers have vitalized
and turned to practical use the principles of science and
the means of technology. Were it not for this heritage of
accumulated experience, my efforts would be feeble.
Order of an Engineer – continued
As an Engineer, I pledge to practice integrity and fair
dealing, tolerance and respect, and to uphold devotion
to the standards and the dignity of my profession,
conscious always that my skill carries with it the
obligation to serve humanity by making the best use of
Earth’s precious wealth.
As an Engineer, I shall participate in none but honest
enterprises. When needed, my skill and knowledge
shall be given without reservation for the public good.
In the performance of duty and in fidelity to my
profession, I shall give the utmost.
NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers
Preamble
Engineering is an important and learned profession. As
members of this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit
the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Engineering
has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for all
people. Accordingly, the services provided by engineers
require honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity, and must be
dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and
welfare. Engineers must perform under a standard of
professional behavior that requires adherence to the highest
principles of ethical conduct.
NSPE - I. Fundamental Canons
Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:
1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public.
2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.
3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.
4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees.
5. Avoid deceptive acts.
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and
lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and
usefulness of the profession.
NSPE - II. Rules of Practice
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and
welfare of the public.
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of
their competence.
3. 3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an
objective and truthful manner.
4. Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful
agents or trustees.
5. Engineers shall avoid deceptive acts.
NSPE - III. Professional Obligations
1. Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by
2.
3.
4.
the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
Engineers shall at all times strive to serve the
public interest.
Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice that
deceives the public.
Engineers shall not disclosure, without consent,
confidential information concerning the business
affairs or technical processes of any present or
former client or employer, or public body on which
they serve.
NSPE - III. Professional Obligations continued
5. Engineers shall not be influenced in their professional
duties by conflicting interests.
6 Engineers shall no attempt to obtain employment or
advancement or professional engagements by
untruthfully criticizing other engineers, or by other
improper or questionable methods.
7. Engineers shall not attempt to injure, maliciously or
falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional
reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of
other engineers. Engineers who believe others are
guilty of unethical or illegal practice shall present
such information to the proper authority for action.
NSPE - III. Professional Obligations continued
8. Engineers shall accept personal responsibility
for their professional activities, provided,
however, that engineers may seek
indemnification for services arising out of
their for other than gross negligence, where
the engineer’s interests cannot otherwise be
protected.
9. Engineers shall give credit for engineering
work to those to whom credit is due, and will
recognize the proprietary interests of others.
Case – Pentium microprocessor
Chip design flawed, 1994
Reports in newspapers, magazines.
How situation progressed –
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1st – denied problem.
Next – said they knew about it, said
difficulty was only in limited situations.
Finally – public outcry – chips replaced
when requested.
Space Shuttle – Challenger, 1986
The shuttle exploded shortly after take-off, all
aboard died. O-ring on solid booster failed, hot
gases leaked and blew up a liquid fuel tank.
Pre-launch pressure –
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Popular – schoolteacher on team.
Postponed a few times.
Budget was under review.
Engineer recommended no launch; overruled by
management.
Temperature a concern –
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Previous low for a launch was 53oF.
Designed to operate as low as 31oF.
Expected temperature at launch was 29oF.
Info source
Engineering Ethics, 2nd Edition, Charles B.
Fleddermann,Chapters 1 – 3, Pearson
Prentice Hall, 2004.