Professional Ethics (Chapter one)

Done by:Marzooq Juma Marzooq (S200104679)

Musad Al Qadi (H00137554)

Overview Introduction Is Engineering a True Profession? Is Ethics are important in professionalism?

Why should I study Ethics?You’re not being asked to study ethics, but your profession ethics.

professionalismEthicsProfessionalism

Ethics

Is Engineering a True Profession?

(logically) whenever we’re thinking about professionalism, we link it to high standards,

technically & ethically. So, professional without standards is not professional & mostly ethical

people are professional. So, professionalism & ethics comes together (integrated).

What is profession?A highly commitment action to certain life style.

How to decide what is a profession?Author said “To gain deeper vision, we have to look at the account of

the professionalism given by the sociologists & philosophers.”

1- Sociological analysis

2- Social practice

3- Socratic Fashion

“ we have to profession Ethics” what is profession means?

According to what criteria we can decide what is profession?

Sociological Account

Difference between “occupation” & “profession”.

Occupation: a way of make a living.

Profession: Occupation has a professional status, profession is the

more professional characteristics an occupation has.

Characteristics of professionalism. Extensive training

Vital knowledge & skills

Control of services

Autonomy in the workplace

Claim to ethical regulation

(mental character) - theoretical base gained through formal education (bachelor & above)

being specialist & extremely important for the general welfare

Only professionals who are graduated from professional schools & licensed are allowed to do & provide the service

individual judgment & creativity to do they professional responsibilities

Controlled by ethical standards

Social Practice account

philosopher (Alasdair MacIntyre) said “professions is a social practice”

Why it’s a social practice?

Has one or more aims or good associated with it.

Inconceivable without distinctive aim.

Morally Justifiable aims.

Moral standard for evaluating the behavior

The aim of this practice is the society benefit, social practice must be

morally permissible & aim at good morals.

medicine aim health of patientLaw aim justice

medicine without producing health or law without producing justice

Morally acceptable & correct

medical doesn't promote health is morally wondered!!!

Socratic Account

Philosopher Michael Davis rephrased Socrates definition of professionalism.

Features of professionalism concept: Profession is always composed of number of individuals

involves public element (must be profess his work)

A way of earn a living

voluntarily enters and voluntarily leaves

Must serve morally creditable goal

The creditable goal must be morally permissible

Ethical standards force professional to act beyond if requires

Team working together

For the good of the welfare

Making money

Not forced or asked to profession, self selected

Ex. The creditable goal of medicine is health of the patient

Is Engineering a true profession?

Sociological Account

Control of services ?!

Autonomy in the workplace ?!

Claim to ethical regulation ?!

Social practice Account

Questionable professional status engineers who ignores the human health, safety and welfare

still called engineer. engineering produce technology, technology can be used for moral or immoral

purpose.

Socratic Account

Full professional status engineering group activity using special (knowledge, skills & judgment).

Engineers earn their living through their profession. They entered voluntarily. Engineering serves

morally good end and for the benefit of mankind, So its morally permissible. They have obligation to

protect the health and safety of the public through their production.

Questionable professional status Engineers have extensive training and process knowledge and skills that are vital to the public. No complete control over the engineering services. In US a license not required to practice many types of engineering and only licensed engineers are governed by the code of ethics. So claim the engineers to be regulated by ethical standards can be questioned. In large organization engineers authority limited by their managers, so no autonomy in the work place.

Are Ethics important in professionalism?

Models of Professionalism

Business model: making profit within the law boundaries or

selling their expertise for more profit & protecting them self from

government regulation

Professional model: focus on the trust of the public & they don’t

take unfair advantage of the public

Making profit within the law boundaries & selling their expertise for more profit.Manipulate the regulations in order to get more profit & protect themselves

focus on the trust of the public & they don’t take unfair advantage of the public ( social contract). Seek considerable control in order to protect the public. Earn higher income & autonomy. professional Education provided by the public.

The Different of Professional Ethics from other types of Ethics or Morality

Common Morality: is morals beliefs shared between everyone

(like violation, murder, stealing,…etc)

Personal Morality: is the person beliefs (like stealing from rich

people)

Professional morality: is set of ethical standards require to act

as professionals adopted by professionals ( like civil engineering

has it’s own standard ethics code)

Two face for Professional Ethics of engineering

Positive Ex. The Seal-Beam headlight

Negative Ex. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

Conclusion

Professional Ethics & Personal Ethics may become very conflict in Engineering

Cases in engineering ethics

Easily develop the abilities of ethical

Recognize the ethical problems

Can shows us that there are more than one solution

The End