Name - MSSV its collapse or who deserves credit for its

success in withstanding a severe storm.

Preamble: Engineering is an important and
learned profession. As members of this
advantage over a competitor, or when
unrealistic claims endanger individuals
Profession & Ethics profession, engineers are expected to exhibit 4. To reject bribery in all its forms. Example:
Potential Moral Problems
Profession: A calling requiring specialized the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Supplier gifts, when are they big enough to
1. Lack of vision.
knowledge and often long and iniensive Engineering has a direct and vital impact on constitute a bribe?
2. Incompetence.
reparation including instruction in skills and the quality of life for all people. Accordingly, 5. To improve the understanding of
3. Lack of time/ lack of proper materials.
methods as well as in the scientific, historical, the services provided by engineers require technology, its appropriate application, and
4. A silo (separate) mentality.
or scholarly principles underlying such skills honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity and potential consequences. Examples:
5. “There are safety engineers somewhere
and methods, maintaining by force of must be dedicated to the protection of the Importance of teaching youth about
down the line to catch potential problems.”
organization or concerted opinion high public health, safety, and welfare. Engineers engineering, importance of publishing
6. Improper use or disposal of the product.
standards of achievement and conduct, and must perform under a standard of professional engineering results in IEEE publications
7. Dishonesty/ pressure by management – take
committing its members to continued study behavior that requires adherence to the 6. To maintain and improve our technical
shortcuts
and to a kind of work which has for its prime highest principles of ethical conduct. competence and to undertake technological
8. Inattention
purpose the rendering of a public service. Fundamental Cannons tasks for others only if qualified by training or
Social justice: can be defined as standards
Ethics: The study of the characteristics of 1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent
for, and a view on how to promote via human
morals. Ethics also deals with the moral choices welfare of the public. limitations. Example: A coop student who took
interactions, human dignity and human
that are made by each person in his or her 2. Perform services only in areas of their on task that affected safety on a
fulfillment for all of humanity
relationships with other persons. competence. manufacturing
 Human rights
Engineering ethics: The study of the 3. Issue public statements only in an objective 7. To seek, accept, and offer honest criticism
 Fair treatment at work
decisions, policies, and values that are morally and truthful manner. of technical work, to acknowledge and correct
 Fair treatment in economics and politics
desirable in engineering practice and research 4.Act for each employer or client as faithful errors, and to credit properly the contributions
 Environment and peace
Engineering ethics consists of the agents or trustees. of others. Note: Important to keep an
 Religious and secular perspectives
responsibilities and rights that ought to be 5.Avoid deceptive acts. emotional separation to your work so that
endorsed by those engaged in engineering, and Ethical Dilemmas, Choices, Codes Of
Ethics 6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, when it is criticized you do not take it
also of desirable ideals and personal ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the personally
commitments in engineering. Moral Dilemmas
1. Moral clarity honor, reputation, and usefulness of the 8. To treat fairly all persons regardless of such
Moral Autonomy profession. factors as race, religion, gender, disability,
Moral awareness: recognizing moral  Need to know something is wrong! Do not
ignore problems! Hold Paramount The Safety, Health, And age, or national origin. Note: There are
problems Welfare Of The Public certainly still problems in industry with these
Cogent moral reasoning: arguments on  Loyalty to employer, responsibilities to
public and environment (and complex How to assess impact on human safety, health, issues. We will discuss this more later.
opposing sides and “welfare”? 9. To avoid injuring others, their property,
Moral coherence: consistent and relations between these)
2. Know the facts Amartya Sen uses a “capabilities approach:” reputation, or employment by false or
comprehensive  Being able to live a long life in health malicious action. Example: Speaking poorly of
viewpoints based on consideration of relevant  Get hard, documented facts, discuss with
others right wrong  Being able to get an education, being able someone's project results when they do not
facts to work deserve it
Moral imagination: finding creative solutions  Competence matters in gathering technical
facts  Being able to have freedom of expression 10. To assist colleagues and co-workers in
Moral communication: common ethical and association their professional development and to support
language, a skill needed to express and 3. Consider options
 Diversity of actions to take? Lack of welfare = capability deprivation them in following this code of ethics.
support one’s moral views adequately to others Note: It does not say the engineer should be Example: If you are a manager, giving them
Moral reasonableness: The willingness and Evaluate/discuss.
 Long-term, short-term perspectives, encouraged to focus on (even extreme) opportunities for professional development
ability to be morally reasonable capability deprivation. Should it? (e.g., taking courses or attending a
Respect for persons repercussions?
 "Creative middle solution"? IEEE Code Of Ethics (10 Rules) conference)
Tolerance of diversity
4. Make a reasonable decision 1. To accept responsibility in making Moral Frameworks For Engineering Ethics
Moral hope: Enriched appreciation of the
 Weigh all factors, recognize "gray areas", engineering decisions consistent with the Ethical Theories
possibilities of using rational dialogue in
compromises safety, health, and welfare of the public, and  Rights ethics: human rights
resolving moral conflicts
 An engineering design problem? to disclose promptly factors that might  Duty ethics: individual’s rational autonomy
Integrity: Maintaining moral integrity and
Codes of Ethics endanger the public or the environment.  Utilitarianism: maximize the overall good,
integrating one’s professional life and personal
Why important? Concern: “Disclose" phrase nice, but taking into equal account all those affected
convictions
 Serve and protect the public “consistent" vs. ABET (NSPE), “engineers shall by our actions
Responsibility
 Guidance/support for engineers hold paramount the safety, health, and  Virtue ethics: good character is central to
Obligations: Responsibilities are obligations -
 Inspiration, deterrence, discipline welfare"... is a weaker statement? What does morality
types of actions that are morally mandatory.
 Shared standards, education, mutual "consistent" even mean?  Self-realization ethics: the moral
Accountable: Being responsible means being
understanding 2. To avoid real or perceived conflicts of significance of self-fulfillment
morally accountable (responsible for doing so).
 Profession’s image interest whenever possible, and to disclose Rights ethics: Human rights is the moral
Conscientious, integrity: try to do the right
Limitations of codes them to affected parties when they do exist. “bottomline” (and human dignity and respect
thing, and they largely succeed in doing so,
 Too vague to be useful in every day ethical Example: Ownership in a supplier' s company are fundamental)
even under difficult circumstances.
decision making? 3. To be honest and realistic in stating claims  Liberty rights: Rights to exercise one’s
Blameworthy/Praiseworthy: “Who is
 Impossible to cover all eventualities or estimates based on available data. liberty that leads to duties of others not to
responsible for designing the antenna tower?”
Examples: When dishonest claims give you an interfere with one’s freedoms
might be used to ask who is blameworthy for Code of Ethics for Engineers
 Welfare rights: Rights to benefits needed  Ethical egoism, the self is conceived in a 1. Uncertainties in the model used for design o Morally acceptable?
for decent human life highly individualistic manner. The calculation, materials purchased, precision of o What about push of new technologies?
→ Codes? “Engineers shall hold paramount the community-oriented version of self- materials processing and fabrication … Areas where there is no law?
safety, health, and welfare of the public in the realization 2. Uncertainties in the final outcomes of  Government/law can be too detailed - can
performance of their professional duties.” Proficiency motives: Challenge self, serve engineering projects. squash moral autonomy of engineers -
(refers to each individual) public 3. Effective engineering relies on knowledge good balance?
Duty ethics: Right actions are those required Compensation motives: Make money for gained about products both before and after Safety And Risk
by duties to respect the liberty or autonomy of self/family, but helps community they leave the factory → ongoing success in Engineer’s Concern For Safety
individuals. Moral motives: Desire to do right (“give engineering depends on gaining new Absolute safety in the senses of (a) entirely
Autonomy - moral self-determination or self- back”), integrity, feels good and positively knowledge as does ongoing success in risk-free activities and products, or (b) a degree
governance means having the capacity to impacts community experimentation. of safety that satisfies all individuals or groups
govern one’s life in accordance with moral The community-oriented version of self- Contrasts With Standard Experiments under all conditions, is neither attainable nor
duties. Hence, respect for realization ethics says that each individual 1. Medical experiments→ control group/ affordable
persons amounts to respect for their moral ought to pursue self-realization, but it comparison groups. Safety
autonomy. emphasizes the importance of caring 2. Informed consent (agreement). “A thing is safe if, were its risks fully known,
Utilitarianism says the sole standard of right relationships and communities in 3.Conscientiousness→primary obligations to those risks would be judged acceptable by
action is good consequences. There is only one understanding self realization. It emphasizes one’s employer. reasonable persons in light of their settled
general moral requirement: “Produce the most that we are social beings whose identities and 4. Comprehensive perspective (relevant factual value principles.”
good for the most people, giving equal meaning are linked to the communities in information → conscientiousness “A thing is safe (to a certain degree) with
consideration to everyone affected”. “Welfare” which we participate. 5. Moral autonomy (self-determination) respect to a given person or group at a given
is a type of “utility” (so are safety, health) “The ‘individual’ apart from the community is 6. Accountability. time if they are fully aware of its risks and they
Virtue ethics emphasizes character an abstraction. It is not anything real, and 7. Industrial standard/ a balanced outlook on judge those risks to be acceptable (to a certain
(virtues/vices) more than rights and rules. hence not anything that we can realize. . . . I law. degree).” What is “degree”?
Virtues: competence, honesty, courage, am myself by sharing with others.” Using The Public To Perform Tests Example: Safety for an engineering prototype
fairness, loyalty, and humility (vices opposites) Ethical egoism is a more individualistic Special care is obviously needed for safety, vs. a released product
Proficiency virtues are the virtues of mastery version of self-realization ethics that says each avoiding loss of customers. Example: Software Risks
of one’s profession, in particular mastery of the of us ought always and only to promote our test for popular software (e.g., word processing “A risk is the potential that something
technical skills that characterize good self-interest. programs, spreadsheets, etc.), computer unwanted and harmful may occur.”
engineering practice Ethical egoism sounds like an endorsement of hardware “Experimental” risks associated with
Teamwork virtues are those that are selfishness. It implies that engineers should Responsible Experimentalists introducing new technology (“social
especially important in enabling professionals think first and last about what is beneficial to Engineers are not the sole experimenters→ experimentation”)
to work successfully with other people themselves, an implication at odds with the Managers, Marketing people, Public Acceptability Of Risk
Self-governance virtues are those necessary injunction to keep paramount the public health, → “With knowledge comes responsibility → An  Willingness to be subjected to risk:
in exercising moral responsibility safety, and welfare engineering professional will take on the  People don’t have as much of a problem
Virtues In Engineering → Psychological egoism: All people are responsibility! with subjecting themselves to risks
Public-spirited virtues: always and only motivated by what they 1. Conscientiousness: Protect safety  Are risks on-the-job voluntary? Could quit!
 Focus on good of clients (“client-focused”) believe is good for them in some respect. knowledge, respect right of consent of public  But is this always possible? If piece-work-
 Focus on good of public Psychological egoism is a theory about 2. Comprehensive perspective: Awareness based, will workers behave less safely?
 Generosity - going beyond minimum psychology, about what actually motivates of experimental nature of projects, forecasting,  Safety complaints from on-the-job should
requirements in helping: “engineers who human beings, whereas ethical egoism is a monitoring always be listened to.
voluntarily give their time, talent, and statement about how they ought to act. 3. Moral autonomy: Personally engaged, Magnitude And Proximity Of Risk
money to their professional societies and → Four arguments for psychological egoism: thoughtful, involvement in project  What if personal connections with victims?
local communities” Argument 1. We always act on our own 4. Accountability: Accept responsibility for  What creates such changed perceptions?
Proficiency virtues: desires; therefore, we always and only seek results of a project (avoid fragmentation, → Proximity/magnitude - direct impact on you!
 Mastery/competence something for ourselves, namely the diffusion, time pressures) Example: airplane crash vs. car accident!
 Diligence (e.g., software engineering case satisfaction of our desires. Role Of Laws In Engineering Design Considerations, Risk
study example) Argument 2. People always seek pleasures; “Rules of responsible experimentation:” Principles:
 Creativity (to keep up with technology) therefore they always and only seek something  Laws can produce many benefits  Absolute safety is not attainable
Teamwork virtues: for themselves, namely their pleasures.  Produce minimal standards of professional  Improvements in safety often cost $$
 Working together effectively (not a loner) Argument 3. We can always imagine there is conduct  Products that are not safe incur secondary
 Collegiality, cooperation, loyalty, respect an ulterior, exclusively self-seeking motive  Provide motive to comply with standards costs:
for authority present whenever a person helps someone  Provide support and defense for people o Loss of customer goodwill and/or
Self-realization ethics, however, gives else; therefore people always and only seek who wish to act ethically customers
greater prominence to self-interest and to goods for themselves. Rules Of Experimentation o Warranty expenses
personal commitments that individuals develop Argument 4. When we look closely, we  Not covering engineering law here o Litigation
in pursuing selffulfillment. As with the other invariably discover an element of self-interest  You may learn some on-the-job
o Business failure? Loss of your
ethical theories, we will consider two versions: in any given action; therefore people are solely  Likely to learn some “industrial standards,”
professional employees? Bad
 A community-oriented version, the self to motivated by self interest. some of which directly pertain to safety
climate/hiring potential?
be realized is understood in terms of Engineering As Social Experimentation  Tendency toward more detail...
Uncertainties In Design
caring relationships and communities. Similarities to standard experiments  “Minimal compliance” Is it enough?
Examples:
Uncertainties in materials (e.g., what does the
silver or gold band on a resistor mean?).
Supplier’s data based on statistical averages?
What is the underlying probability density
function?
Designs that do well under static loads often do
not do well under dynamic loads
Risk-Benefit Analysis
Is a product worth the risks connected with its
use?
What are the benefits? To whom?
Do they outweigh the risks? To whom?
Environmental impact?
“Under what conditions, if any, is someone in
society entitled to impose a risk on someone
else on behalf of a supposed benefit to yet
others?”
How do you place value in $$ on a human life??
Recall cost-benefit analysis.
Human rights/dignity/respect?
Safe-Exit
When a product fails, (1) it will fail safely, (2)
the product can be abandoned safely, or at
least (3) the user can safely escape the
product.
Connecting Design To Professionalism
→ It takes significant competence, experience,
and a broad perspective to incorporate safety
and environmental impact into design.