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Virtuous Engineers

Jon Alan Schmidt, PE, SECBAssociate Structural Engineer

Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO

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Summary

Trends in philosophy Nature of engineering Theories of ethics Aspects of engineering

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Philosophy

Kinds of knowledge Episteme Techne Phronesis

Forms of human activity Theoria = contemplation/thinking Poiesis = production/making Praxis = (inter)action/doing

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= theoretical knowledge= technical rationality= practical judgment

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TheoreticalKnowledgePropositional

Eternal Truth

Conceptual Beliefs

Facts

Understanding

Intelligent

Evidence

Data

Mental

Memory

Student

Instructing

Technical RationalityProcedural

External Success

Instrumental Abilities

Proficiencies

Skill

Competent

Method

Rules

Physical

Habits

Apprentice

Training

Practical Judgment

Personal

Internal Integrity

Ethical Dispositions

Virtues

Wisdom

Prudent

Intuition

Experiences

Social

Conscience

Disciple

Mentoring

TheoreticalKnowledge

Technical Rationality

Practical Judgment

Propositional Procedural Personal

Eternal Truth External Success Internal Integrity

Conceptual Beliefs Instrumental Abilities Ethical Dispositions

Facts Proficiencies Virtues

Understanding Skill Wisdom

Intelligent Competent Prudent

Evidence Method Intuition

Data Rules Experiences

Mental Physical Social

Memory Habits Conscience

Student Apprentice Disciple

Instructing Training Mentoring

TheoreticalKnowledge

Technical Rationality

Practical Judgment

Propositional Procedural Personal

Eternal Truth External Success Internal Integrity

Conceptual Beliefs Instrumental Abilities Ethical Dispositions

Facts Proficiencies Virtues

Understanding Skill Wisdom

Intelligent Competent Prudent

Evidence Method Intuition

Data Rules Experiences

Mental Physical Social

Memory Habits Conscience

Student Apprentice Disciple

Instructing Training Mentoring

TheoreticalKnowledge

Technical Rationality

Practical Judgment

Propositional Procedural Personal

Eternal Truth External Success Internal Integrity

Conceptual Beliefs Instrumental Abilities Ethical Dispositions

Facts Proficiencies Virtues

Understanding Skill Wisdom

Intelligent Competent Prudent

Evidence Method Intuition

Data Rules Experiences

Mental Physical Social

Memory Habits Conscience

Student Apprentice Disciple

Instructing Training Mentoring

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Engineering

Rational solution of technical problems?

Inherently indeterminate Intentionality vs. rationality Heuristics Design procedures

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Modern Ethics

Deontology Rules, duties, obligations Code of ethics

Consequentialism Actual or expected consequences Liability

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Virtue Ethics

Being good, not just doing good Heuristic, not rule-based Aspirational, not preventive Focused on helping people, not

impersonal Applied within a particular practice

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Social Aspect

Engineering as “human social performance”

Behavior of engineers 60% of time engaging with others Identify job with analysis & calcs Marginalize other activities

Engineering as “combined performance”

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End in Itself

Internal goods Virtues External goods Institutions Proper purpose

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Proper Purpose

Ideal for which practice strives No such ideal? Satisfaction? Contentment? Quality of life? Some aspect of eudaimonia Material well-being of all

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Societal Role

Assess/manage/communicate risk Definitions of “risk”

Harm that may or may not occur Cause of harm Probability of harm Statistical expectation value of harm Decision made when outcome

probabilities are known

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Societal Role

Definitions of “responsibility” Cause Role Authority Capacity

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Virtue Obligation Accountability Blameworthiness Liability

Risk Ethics

Three positions in risk-taking Decision-maker Potential harm-bearer Intended beneficiary

Objective vs. subjective

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Internal Goods

Safety Protecting people, preserving property

Sustainability Improving environments, conserving

resources

Efficiency Performing functions, minimizing costs

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Moral Virtues

Grounded in proper purpose and societal role

“Ascribed obligations” “Ascribed ethics” Mean between extremes of excess

and deficiency (vices)

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Moral Virtues

All practices Justice, courage, honesty

Engineering specifically Objectivity, care, honesty Role of emotions Alignment with societal role

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Intellectual Virtue

Technical competence Ethical competence Practical judgment Engineering judgment

Disposition (including ability) Key to integrating ethics Discipline-specific form of phronesis

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The “What” of Engineering

Social aspect Engaging in a combined human

performance

Societal role Assessing, managing, and

communicating risk

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The “How” of Engineering

Intellectual virtue Exercising practical judgment

Moral virtues Exhibiting objectivity, care, and

honesty

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The “Why” of Engineering

Proper purpose Enhancing the material well-being of

all people

Internal goods Achieving safety, sustainability, and

efficiency

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Virtuous Engineers

Assert their responsibility For engaging in a combined human performance That involves the exercise of practical judgment To enhance the material well-being of all people By achieving safety, sustainability and efficiency While exhibiting objectivity, care and honesty In assessing, managing and communicating risk

“Your Practice IS Your Ethics!”

Pending Issues

Proper purpose Risk and responsibility Internal goods and virtues Additional goods or virtues Education reform Concrete applications Major ethical/technical challenges

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Join the Movement!

www.VirtuousEngineers.orgJonAlanSchmidt@gmail.comtwitter.com/JonAlanSchmidt