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College of EngineeringEngineering Education Innovation Center

Engineering Ethics

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Review of Goals

• Note the Importance of Academic Integrity• Introduce and Define Ethics• Develop a Process for Responding to Ethical

Problems• Understand the Role of Engineering Codes of

Ethics• Practice the Process on Engineering Cases

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Review of Academic Integrity

• Your pre-class assignments outlined student responsibilities in maintaining Academic Integrity

• Most problems in the First Year Engineering Program involve copied lab reports and home work problems

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Review of Academic Integrity

• Since there is zero tolerance for academic misconduct, any situation where misconduct is suspected must be submitted to The Ohio State University Committee on Academic Misconduct

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Defining Ethics• Discussion Question:

So how would you define ethics?

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Available Definitions EthicsEthics can be defined as:1. synonyms for “morally* correct” or justified; set of

“justified” moral principles of obligation, rights, and ideals

2. particular beliefs or attitudes concerning morality

3. area of study or inquiry – an activity of understanding moral values, resolving moral issues, and justifying moral judgments

*Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behavior")

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How Are Ethics and Law Related?

Legal & Ethical

Illegal & Ethical

Illegal & Unethical

Legal & Unethical

Coming to Class

Cheating on an Exam

Selling an outdated

textbook to anunaware student

Parking in A space with C sticker while taking roommate to emergency room

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Legal & Ethical

Illegal & Ethical

Illegal & Unethical

Legal & Unethical

How Are Ethics and Law Related?

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Ethics Specifically for Engineering• Engineering ethics is the study of the moral

values, issues, and decisions involved in engineering practice.

• Why should ethics be important to you as an engineer?

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Ethics and Practicing Engineering

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What resources are available to help you make ethical decisions?• Codes of Ethics - Professional organizations

address complex moral issues in their fields by developing codes of ethics.– Example: NSPE Code in pre-reading

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Engineering Code of EthicsProfessional codes of ethics consist primarily of principles of responsibility that delineate how to promote the public good.

One example is NSPE’s • Fundamental Cannons• Rules of Practice• Professional Obligations

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Roles of Codes

• Shared Standards

• Positive Support to Act Ethically

• Guidance Concerning Obligations

• Motivation

• Education

• Deterrence and Discipline

• Professional Image

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Review - Developing a Well-Reasoned Response to a Moral Dilemma

• Moral dilemmas are situations in which two or more moral obligations, duties, rights, goods, or ideals come into conflict with one another.

• How does one decide whether a response is well-reasoned? What criteria apply? Can we reliably judge?

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Responses can be judged on whether the response:1. Addresses each of the issues and points of ethical conflict

presented in the case or problem;

2. Considers each interested party’s legitimate expectations;

3. Recognizes the consequences (positive and negative) of acting and specifically describes and incorporates them into the decision; and

4. Describes the duties or obligations, which are grounded in moral considerations.

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In-Class Exercise 1 • Materials:

– On-line Case Statement (EEIC website)

– Worksheet (handout),

– NSPE Code of Ethics (on upcoming slide)

• Large Group Discussion for First Case

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Case Summary• Chris Jackson, environmental engineer, Z-Corp, • Z-Corp factory currently discharging lead (and arsenic) to

city treatment system. • Z-Corp is anticipating a major expansion • Chris is instructed to scale up the current process. • Chris knows the diluted lead will be absorbed by the city's

sewage sludge and ultimately end up on farmers’ fields • Chris is considering becoming a whistleblower which could

lead to disastrous consequences for him personally and for Z-Corp.

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NSPE Code of EthicsEngineers, 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.

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Worksheet

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In-Class Exercise 2

Small Group Discussion: Cases 2(a-d)

– Using the case assigned to your group, fill out the in-class discussion worksheet and write any comments on the back.

– After all groups have completed this exercise, teams will report their findings to the class.

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Review Class Results

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Summary• Defined ethics and engineering ethics

• Tried one approach to developing a well-reasoned response to a moral dilemma

• Introduced the NSPE Engineering Code of Ethics

• Tried application of the Code of Ethics to engineering cases

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Follow-up• In this course - Ethics cases will be used as a basis for oral

presentations later in the term. – Steps include:

• Team picks three cases of interest to submit to GTA.• GTA assigns case to Team• Team submits completed Worksheet and draft presentation plan

(including draft visuals) to GTA• GTA gives feedback• Team does Oral Presentation on their Ethics Case

• In the future – You will take an ethics course as part of your General Education requirements and you will encounter the topic in one of your major classes.