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Dr. BarnesDr. Barnes

March 3, 2008March 3, 2008

Lecture #7Lecture #7

Ethics – Part 1Ethics – Part 1

The study of the characteristics of The study of the characteristics of morals.morals.

Engineering Ethics –Engineering Ethics –• Rules and standards governing conduct Rules and standards governing conduct

of engineers.of engineers.• A body of philosophy indicating ways A body of philosophy indicating ways

that engineers should conduct that engineers should conduct themselves in their professional themselves in their professional capacity.capacity.

Why study?Why study?

Several notorious cases –Several notorious cases – Achieved great attention and led Achieved great attention and led

engineers to gain an increased sense engineers to gain an increased sense of professional responsibilities.of professional responsibilities.

Led to an awareness of the Led to an awareness of the importance of ethics, how engineers importance of ethics, how engineers have far reaching impact on society.have far reaching impact on society.

GoalGoal

Sensitize you to the important Sensitize you to the important ethical issues before you have to ethical issues before you have to confront them. confront them.

Moral autonomy –Moral autonomy –• To think critically and independently To think critically and independently

about moral issues.about moral issues.• To apply this moral thinking to situations To apply this moral thinking to situations

that arise in professional engineering that arise in professional engineering practice.practice.

Where is line drawn between Where is line drawn between ethical – unethical decision?ethical – unethical decision?

Where does an engineering team strike Where does an engineering team strike the balance between safety and the balance between safety and affordability and, simultaneously, the affordability and, simultaneously, the ability of the company to sell a product ability of the company to sell a product and make a profit? and make a profit?

Example – Ford Pinto 1978Example – Ford Pinto 1978• Car designed with a rear gas tank that Car designed with a rear gas tank that

frequently exploded on contact.frequently exploded on contact.• Design was cost-effective and allowed car to Design was cost-effective and allowed car to

be sold at a competitive price.be sold at a competitive price.

Origins of today’s ethicsOrigins of today’s ethics

Ancient Greeks - especially Socrates, Ancient Greeks - especially Socrates, AristotleAristotle

Judeo – Christian traditionJudeo – Christian tradition IslamIslam BuddhistsBuddhists HindusHindus

The Western ethics of today have principally The Western ethics of today have principally evolved from first two.evolved from first two.

Origins - continuedOrigins - continued

LawPhilosophy Religion

Ethical Behavior – grounded in concern for others

Ethics and religionEthics and religion

Some people’s ethics are based in Some people’s ethics are based in religion (however, nominally religious religion (however, nominally religious people may not be ethical).people may not be ethical).

Persons who are ethical don’t have Persons who are ethical don’t have to be religious.to be religious.

Ethics and lawEthics and law

Engineering and business are Engineering and business are governed by laws at the governed by laws at the international, federal, state and local international, federal, state and local levels.levels.

Ethics and law - continuedEthics and law - continued

Things that are legal might be Things that are legal might be considered unethical – e.g., releasing considered unethical – e.g., releasing a known toxic material that is a known toxic material that is unregulated into the air.unregulated into the air.

As an engineer, you are minimally As an engineer, you are minimally safe if you follow the law.safe if you follow the law.

Personal vs. Business EthicsPersonal vs. Business Ethics

Personal ethics deal with how we Personal ethics deal with how we treat others in our day-to-day lives.treat others in our day-to-day lives.

Professional (business) ethics often Professional (business) ethics often involves choices on an organizational involves choices on an organizational level rather than a personal level.level rather than a personal level.

Ethics problemsEthics problems

Rarely have a correct answer that Rarely have a correct answer that everyone will come up with.everyone will come up with.

There will be a range of solutions There will be a range of solutions that are clearly right, some of which that are clearly right, some of which will be better than others.will be better than others.

There will be a range of solutions There will be a range of solutions that are clearly wrong.that are clearly wrong.

4 Ethical Theories4 Ethical Theories

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism Duty EthicsDuty Ethics Rights EthicsRights Ethics Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism

John Stuart Mill (1806 John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873)– 1873)

Individual actions Individual actions should be judged on should be judged on whether the most whether the most good was produced in good was produced in a given situation.a given situation.

Rules should be Rules should be broken if doing so will broken if doing so will lead to the most good.lead to the most good.

Utilitarianism has given us –Utilitarianism has given us –

Techniques familiar to engineers –Techniques familiar to engineers –

Risk – benefit analysisRisk – benefit analysis Cost – benefit analysisCost – benefit analysis

Duty ethicsDuty ethics

Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804)(1724 – 1804)

Duty ethics – Duty ethics – ethical acts are the ethical acts are the result of proper result of proper performance of performance of one’s duties.one’s duties.

Be honest, be fair, Be honest, be fair, don’t cause don’t cause suffering.suffering.

Rights ethicsRights ethics John Locke (1632 – John Locke (1632 –

1704)1704) People have People have

fundamental rights fundamental rights that other people have that other people have a duty to respect.a duty to respect.

Humans have a right Humans have a right to –to –• LifeLife• LibertyLiberty• PropertyProperty

Virtue ethicsVirtue ethics

What kind of people should we be?What kind of people should we be? Actions are right if they support Actions are right if they support

good character qualities – good character qualities – virtuesvirtues: : responsibility, honesty, competence, responsibility, honesty, competence, loyalty.loyalty.

Actions are wrong if they support Actions are wrong if they support bad character qualities – bad character qualities – vicesvices: : dishonesty, disloyalty, dishonesty, disloyalty, irresponsibility.irresponsibility.

Engineering is a professionEngineering is a profession

Work that requires sophisticated skills, Work that requires sophisticated skills, the use of judgment, and the exercise of the use of judgment, and the exercise of discretion.discretion.

Membership requires extensive formal Membership requires extensive formal education.education.

Special societies or organizationsSpecial societies or organizations• Set standards for admissions to the profession.Set standards for admissions to the profession.• Set standards of conduct for its members.Set standards of conduct for its members.• Enforces the standards.Enforces the standards.

The practice results in significant public The practice results in significant public good.good.

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

Provides a framework for ethical Provides a framework for ethical judgment.judgment.

Expresses commitment to ethical Expresses commitment to ethical conduct.conduct.

Defines the roles and responsibilities Defines the roles and responsibilities of professionals.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 EngineersNSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers

PreamblePreambleEngineering is an important and learned profession. As Engineering is an important and learned profession. As members of this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit members of this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Engineering the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Engineering has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for all has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for all people. Accordingly, the services provided by engineers people. Accordingly, the services provided by engineers require honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity, and must be require honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity, and must be dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. Engineers must perform under a standard of welfare. Engineers must perform under a standard of professional behavior that requires adherence to the highest professional behavior that requires adherence to the highest principles of ethical conduct.principles of ethical conduct.

NSPE - I. Fundamental CanonsNSPE - I. Fundamental Canons

Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: 1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public. 1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public. 2. Perform services only in areas of their competence. 2. Perform services only in areas of their competence. 3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful 3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful

manner. manner. 4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. 4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. 5. Avoid deceptive acts. 5. Avoid deceptive acts. 6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and 6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and

lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.usefulness of the profession.

NSPE - II. Rules of PracticeNSPE - 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.

1.1. Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by the Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by the highest standards of honesty and integrity.highest standards of honesty and integrity.

2.2. Engineers shall at all times strive to serve the public Engineers shall at all times strive to serve the public interest.interest.

3.3. Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice that Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice that deceives the public.deceives the public.

4.4. Engineers shall not disclosure, without consent, Engineers shall not disclosure, without consent, confidential information concerning the business affairs confidential information concerning the business affairs or technical processes of any present or former client or technical processes of any present or former client or employer, or public body on which they serve.or employer, or public body on which they serve.

NSPE - III. Professional Obligations

NSPE - III. Professional Obligations - NSPE - III. Professional Obligations - continuedcontinued

5. Engineers shall not be influenced in their 5. Engineers shall not be influenced in their professional duties by conflicting interests.professional duties by conflicting interests.

6 Engineers shall no attempt to obtain employment 6 Engineers shall no attempt to obtain employment or advancement or professional engagements by or advancement or professional engagements by untruthfully criticizing other engineers, or by untruthfully criticizing other engineers, or by other improper or questionable methods.other improper or questionable methods.

7. Engineers shall not attempt to injure, maliciously 7. Engineers shall not attempt to injure, maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional or falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of other engineers. Engineers who believe others other engineers. Engineers who believe others are guilty of unethical or illegal practice shall are guilty of unethical or illegal practice shall present such information to the proper authority present such information to the proper authority for action.for action.

NSPE - III. Professional Obligations - NSPE - III. Professional Obligations - continuedcontinued

8. Engineers shall accept personal 8. Engineers shall accept personal responsibility for their professional responsibility for their professional activities, provided, however, that activities, provided, however, that engineers may seek indemnification for engineers may seek indemnification for services arising out of their for other than services arising out of their for other than gross negligence, where the engineer’s gross negligence, where the engineer’s interests cannot otherwise be protected.interests cannot otherwise be protected.

9. Engineers shall give credit for engineering 9. Engineers shall give credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due, and work to those to whom credit is due, and will recognize the proprietary interests of will recognize the proprietary interests of others.others.

Case – Pentium microprocessorCase – Pentium microprocessor

Chip design flawed, 1994Chip design flawed, 1994 Reports in newspapers, magazines.Reports in newspapers, magazines. How situation progressed –How situation progressed –

• 11stst – denied problem. – denied problem.• Next – said they knew about it, said Next – said they knew about it, said

difficulty was only in limited situations.difficulty was only in limited situations.• Finally – public outcry – chips replaced Finally – public outcry – chips replaced

when requested.when requested.

Space Shuttle – Challenger, 1986Space Shuttle – Challenger, 1986The shuttle exploded shortly after take-off, all The shuttle exploded shortly after take-off, all

aboard died. O-ring on solid booster failed, aboard died. O-ring on solid booster failed, hot gases leaked and blew up a liquid fuel hot gases leaked and blew up a liquid fuel tank.tank.

Pre-launch pressure –Pre-launch pressure –• Popular – schoolteacher on team.Popular – schoolteacher on team.• Postponed a few times.Postponed a few times.• Budget was under review.Budget was under review.

Engineer recommended no launch; Engineer recommended no launch; overruled by management.overruled by management.

Temperature a concern –Temperature a concern –• Previous low for a launch was 53Previous low for a launch was 53ooF.F.• Designed to operate as low as 31Designed to operate as low as 31ooF.F.• Expected temperature at launch was 29Expected temperature at launch was 29ooF.F.

Info sourceInfo source

Engineering EthicsEngineering Ethics, 2, 2ndnd Edition, Charles Edition, Charles B. Fleddermann,Chapters 1 – 3, B. Fleddermann,Chapters 1 – 3, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.