Moral Reasoning & Codes of Ethics

By

Zyon N. Addison

A book report submitted to Dr. Stanley Ihekweazu in partial fulfillment of the requirements for

Engineering Ethics – EAET 410

South Carolina State University

Fall Semester 2022

Abstract/Synopsis:

This report goes over and discusses the themes discussed in the second chapter of the

Engineering Ethics textbook. It goes over topics such as engineering projects as social

experiments. As they allow for new possibilities while also opening the door for new risks for

engineers. Other topics including the impact the codes of ethics has on engineering and the

personal commitment that engineers must have to promote ethics in engineering while also

preventing wrongdoing amongst other engineers and companies. This report will also prove the

importance of moral reasoning and making moral choices in engineering as a whole. The

decision-making process in engineering is an extremely portion of the construction process for

engineers. This report will discuss how the codes of ethics exist in every aspect of engineering

including a small thing as a simple decision such as deciding to use a higher quality material

over a lower quality material for a building project. Overall, this report will explain the

importance of the codes of ethics and making reasonable decisions in all aspects of engineering

amongst engineers.
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Acknowledgments:

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to acknowledge the receipt of Ethics in Engineering written by Mike W.

Martin and Roland Schinzinger and dedicate this report to my school, South Carolina State

University. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. I would also like to thank South

Carolina State University for allowing me to advance my education level and work towards a

better career and lifestyle. Thank you.

Zyon Niziah Addison

Senior | SC State University

Mechanical Engineering
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Table of Contents:

1. Abstract/Synopsis…………………………………………………………………Page 2

2. Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………Page 3

3. Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………Page 4

4. List of Figures……………………………………………………………………Page 5

5. List of Tables……………………………………………………………………Page 6

6. Introduction………………………………………………………………………Page 7

7. Resolving Ethical Dilemmas…………………………………………………….Page 8-9

8. Moral Choices…………………………………………………………………Page 10-11

9. Codes of Ethics…………………………………………………………………Page 12-13

10. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………Page 14

11. References………………………………………………………………………Page 15
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List of Figures:

1. None
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List of Tables:

1. None
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Introduction:

In any field of work, there are certain situations that may arise that will present problems

that do not have an ideal or obvious solution. These situations could be as simple as using a

certain product or tool as opposed to using one less desirable. These issues must be met with a

certain mindset in order to be resolved quickly and effectively. Any field of work, and more

specifically, the field of engineering will have a set guidelines and ideals to abide by when

problems and situation arise that do not have a clear solution. Many are aware of and know these

set of guidelines as a code of ethics. A code of ethics in present in almost every field of work,

and especially in engineering. As engineers, we face many complex situations that have an

unclear solution because our values may conflict with each other. When situations like these

arise, we turn to our code of ethics. The universal code that every engineer must abide by is,

“Engineers shall hold paramount the health, safety, and welfare of the public.”. This statement is

universal to every engineer, but along with this statement, engineers have more than one

obligation. While the overall safety, health, and welfare of the general public is the greatest

responsibility and obligation an engineer has, it is not the lone responsibility. The engineer also

has a responsibility to his employer and to his or herself. This is why when certain situations

arise, they create certain issues that cause conflicting solutions meaning while the offered

solution may resolve the problem, but will it be a safe and legal solution? These types of

situations are called ethical dilemmas (also can be called moral dilemmas). Ethical dilemmas are

situations in which moral reasons come into conflict, or in which the applications of moral values

are unclear, and it is not immediately obvious what should be done (32). Ethical dilemmas arise

in engineering often, as well as elsewhere, and require different approaches to be resolved.

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas:

As stated previously, ethical dilemmas are situations where the solution is not

immediately clear, and the problem must be resolved using moral reasoning and judgement.

Reasonable solutions to ethical dilemmas are clear, informed, and well-reasoned. Additionally,

this requires engineers to have clarity when in these situations, meaning to be well aware of

what’s at stake, and have the ability to identify the reasonable solutions. This can be described as

moral clarity. This also is being informed about the situation. All details MUST be known before

an engineer is able to make a decision, hence the term “informed decision”. With all this being

said, there are certain steps and guidelines that should be taken when pondering on how to solve

an ethical dilemma. These steps are not considered an ultimate direct guide to solve any and

every moral dilemma, but they do serve as a helpful resource to help engineers arrive at a

reasonable solution by using their own moral reasoning and judgement.

When ethical dilemmas arise, the most important thing is to become aware of them as

soon as possible so they can be resolved even faster. It is important to obtain moral clarity and

identify the relevant moral values that pertain to the situation and keeping them in mind while

further investigation continues. It is a skill that engineers must have to be able to articulate how a

situation must be approached and dissected before any action can be taken. Engineers have three

main responsibilities; they have a responsibility to be honest and truthful in their statements, to

their employer to remain a professional, and to the public and environment. Engineers must be

able to clarify key concepts and obtain relevant information in these ethical dilemmas. It can

become difficult to obtain all of the facts about a situation and without all the facts, engineers

cannot make a reasonable situation and then there will consequences for being misinformed.
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Questions must be asked, such as what are the possible harming effects? or how serious is the

conflict?

Once the engineer has identified the relevant moral values and clarified the key concepts

that pertain to the ethical dilemma, they are now able to begin looking for solutions. But before

they are able to implement a possible solution, they have to be informed about all options, and

consider them. Initially, ethical dilemmas may seem to force one into a two-way choice. Do this

or that, which can be similar to right or wrong choices, but it is rare when this is the case. If one

looks closer and takes time to fully analyze the situation, it will reveal additional solutions to the

ethical dilemma. In the end, before making a decision, an engineer must closely analyze the

situation, and consider all options.

At this point, the engineer has identified the relevant moral values and clarified the key

concepts pertaining to the dilemma. They have retrieved all the facts and relevant information

and closely analyzed the situation to identify all of the solutions, as well as consider all of the

options. With all of this being completed, they now have the ability to make an informed

reasonable decision using their reasoned judgment by weighing all of the relevant moral reasons

and facts. The important thing to remember is that this process is not mechanical. Meaning that

each ethical dilemma is precious and must be carefully analyzed individually, while being given

the same level of consideration as any other situation. Although the one important hierarchy that

all engineers must follow which is the paramount statement no matter what situation, it does not

offer a quick and easy solution to every issue that arises in the field of engineering. Because of

this, engineers must be able to use the steps and guidelines mentioned before to resolve the

different types of ethical (moral) dilemmas that arise in the field of engineering. These do not

serve as a rule book, think of them as a map, but there is more than one way to the destination.
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Moral Choices:

Moral dilemmas are situations that arise that may not seem like the right thing to do to

whomever is considering the situation. This in turn causes moral reasoning which is the instance

when one begins to consider the dilemma at hand and brainstorm different solutions and

outcomes to solve their own internal moral dilemma. It is a difficult occasion for engineers

because of the various responsibilities they have. At this point, one eventually wants make to

moral choices which is the choice one makes using their own personal judgement that seems like

the right thing to do. Most moral choices are routine and straight-forward and usually are

universal amongst engineers, but on occasion, certain situations arise where the answer to the

dilemma is unclear, and many moral principles are taken into careful consideration before they

make a reasonable decision.

A great example of this is the design of the aluminum can. The aluminum can was first

designed in the year 1958 by Kaiser Aluminum, in an attempt to improve upon tin cans. With

aluminum being a lightweight flexible material, it allowed for the can to be constructed from a

single sheet and the top being added after the container was filled. It was a manufacturing

success and a better and cheaper solution for manufactures, making it easier to keep pressurized

liquid inside while still being cost effective. While this innovative solution created for a better

alternative than that of tin cans, the initial design required for a separate tool to open the can

which was created a slight inconvenience. One can now begin to see how the solution of one

problem creates another dilemma. So, to combat the slight inconvenience, the aluminum can was

redesigned. Eventually, Ermal Fraze added a removable opener to the can for a convenient way

to open the can without having to remember to bring the opener tool.
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This again caused another dilemma where the removable opening tool became a hazard to the

environment due to pollution. It also became a hazard to the public because the tool caused foot

injuries which turned into minor infections. Again, one solution causes another problem. Thus,

the aluminum can was redesigned one more and final time. This time adding a removable

opening tool that would remain attached to can after opening. The innovative solution did solve

the dilemma the original designs presented, but the invention of the aluminum can itself also

caused environmental hazards because of improper disposal of the can and the opening tool. The

invention and many redesigns of the aluminum is a great example of the moral dilemmas that

engineers may face. It allows us to see that when deciding to create something, engineers have to

make moral choices, weigh their options, and carefully consider those options before deciding to

build something. Like before, when the aluminum was redesigned the second time, the

engineering designers decided that the convenience of the removable opening tool did not pose

as big a hazard as it did when they were considering making that innovation. When approaching

a moral dilemma, engineers should be prepared to have to make a reasonable moral choice that

reflects their values and key concepts.

Codes of Ethics:

As they are present in nearly every field of work, a code of ethics is essential to the

morality and overall resolutions to ethical (moral) dilemmas in the workplace. More specifically

in the field of engineering, codes of ethics state the moral responsibilities of engineers as seen by

the profession, and as represented by a professional society. They express the professions

commitment to ethics.

Codes of ethics play different roles in the field of engineering; eight to be exact. The first

being serving and protecting the public. It is universally known that engineering involves many

things that may are considered hazardous to the public. Codes of ethics functions as a

commitment by the engineers that they will serve the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

The next role the codes play is guidance. To put it simply, codes of ethics provide helpful

guidance concerning the main obligations of engineers in a brief way to be an effective guide.

The third role is inspiration. Since codes of ethics express a profession’s commitment to ethics,

this will inspire individuals to be happy to be a part of a profession that’s promoting the safety,

health, and welfare of the public. The fourth role codes of ethics play is the shared standards that

other members of that profession have. There are diverse moral viewpoints among individual

engineers but with a code of ethics, the public can be certain that there is a minimum standard of

excellence. The fifth role is the support for responsible professionals. Codes of ethics simply

give support to professionals seeking to act ethically. The sixth role is the education and mutual

understanding it provides to members of the profession.

Codes offer a shared understanding among professionals, the public, and government

organizations about moral responsibilities of engineers. The seventh role is deterrence and

discipline. Codes can serve as the formal basic for investigating unethical conduct. The eighth

and final role codes of ethics play is the contribution it makes to the professions image. With a

code of ethics present, the public can be confident that they are considered and well taken care

of. They are able to know that they are always being considered when engineers are practicing

their profession. The reputation of a profession is essential in sustaining the trust of the public.

While codes of ethics serve a huge purpose and play a major role in any profession,

especially the field of engineering. They are not perfect and can be abused and have their

limitations. When codes are not taken seriously within a profession like engineering, many

things are placed at risk such as the general public and the environment. The worse abuse if the

codes of ethics is the use to restrict honest moral effort by the engineers in the attempt to

preserve the professions public image. The best way to increase trust is by encouraging and

helping the engineers to speak freely and responsibly about the public safety and well-being.

Moreover, codes of ethics certainly do have their limitations as they do offer a clear,

logical solution in every situation. They offer guidelines and certain morals engineers should

abide by when they in the decision-making process that may be hazardous to the public or

environment. Codes are jo substitute for individual responsibility in grappling with concrete

dilemmas. For example, most codes are restricted to general wording, and hence inevitably

contain substantial areas of vagueness. Codes can be flawed and can definitely be questioned by

the members of the profession using them. Codes of ethics should never be treated as sacred

canon in silencing healthy moral debate, including debates about how to improve them.
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Conclusion:

Ethical dilemmas in the profession of engineering are inevitable and must be approached

individual with the same consideration and level of urgency. There are certain steps and

guidelines that engineers can follow to resolve different ethical (moral) dilemmas. Also, every

engineer must follow a code of ethics and must uphold and promote the morality of engineering

excellence. Although, codes of ethics can have their flaws and are allowed to be questioned,

moral values are embedded in engineering and engineers must understand that they are

responsible for the safety and well-being of the public when they are constructing things for

public use. It is a personal commitment that each and every engineer must hold near and dear to

them. It is their responsibility to use their moral reasoning and judgement when they are deciding

to solve an ethical dilemma. It is also their responsibility to prevent wrongdoing amongst other

engineers and companies as best they can. While there is a myriad of moral reasons that can

generate ethical dilemmas, engineers should do what is right as long as it is in line with their

respective code of ethics. The Accreditation Board for Engineering (ABET) states, “Engineers

shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their

professional duties.”.
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References:

1. Martin, M. W., & Schinzinger, R. (2014). Ethics in Engineering. Mcgraw-Hill Education

(India) Private Limited.