Engineering Ethics

1. Engineering Ethics Professional Responsibilities or “Doing the Right Thing”

2. What is Ethics?

3. Defining Ethics Is it ethical? Is it legal? Is it moral?

4. Defining Ethics • Ethics (from ancient Greece) • from the Greek word Éthos which means “the persuasive appeal of one’s character” • the keyword here is character

5. Defining Ethics • Ethics (from Merriam-Webster) • the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and – a set of moral principles or values • a theory or system of moral values • the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group (e.g., professional ethics)

6. Defining Ethics • Ethical(from Merriam-Webster) • of or relating to ethics • involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval • conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct

7. What are Moral Values? What is Morality? • Moral • of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior, good and bad behavior • Morality • a doctrine of system of moral conduct • particular moral principles or rules of conduct • conformity to ideals of right human conduct Ultimately, morality is about reasons centered in respect for other people as well as ourselves, reasons that involve their good as well as our own.

8. Working Definitions • Ethics • the rules and ideals for human behavior • they tell us what we ought to do • Engineering Ethics • the rules and ideals of the engineering profession

9. Meaning of Our Definitions So, what do we mean by Ethics? • a body of moral principles • a set of rules and behaviors • standards, rules and guidelines • socially approved conduct • respect for people and rights • distinguished from matters of legality

10. Engineering Ethics • Who decides • Standards adopted by professional community and established companies • NSPE, ASME, ASCE, ACM, IEEE, etc. • May conflict with personal ethics • Case studies • used to set standards • Provide real-world examples

11. Social Contract Service • Promoting well being of general public • Ensuring competence of professionals Self-regulation • Create and enforce high standards • Autonomy of the profession

12. Moral Reasoning

13. Ethics and the Law

14. Ethical Illegal Legal Unethical Legal & Ethical Illegal & Ethical Legal & Unethical Illegal & Unethical Ethics and the Law

15. Developing a Well-Reasoned Response to a Moral Dilemma • Moral dilemmas are situations in which two or more moral obligations, duties, rights, goods, or ideals come into conflict with one another. • How does one decide whether a response is well-reasoned? What criteria apply? Can we reliably judge?

16. Developing a Well-Reasoned Response to a Moral Dilemma Responses can be judged on these criteria: • Whether the response addresses each of the issues and points of ethical conflict • Whether eachinterested party’s legitimate expectations are considered • Whether the consequences of acting for each party are recognized and incorporated into the decision • Whether each of the duties or obligations of the participants are described and based on moral considerations

17. Why should engineers have a code of ethics?

18. Herbert Hoover (on engineering) • “The great liability of the engineer compared to men of other professions is that his works are out in the open where all can see them. His acts, step by step, are in hard substance. He cannot bury his mistakes in the grave like the doctors. He cannot argue them into thin air or blame the judge like the lawyers… He cannot, like the politician, screen his shortcomings by blaming his opponents and hope that the people will forget. The engineer simply cannot deny that he did it. If his works do not work, he is damned forever.” 31st President 1929-1933 Mining Engineer

19. Engineering (past and present) • Past • independent craftsman and consultant • individualism and accountability • personally identifiable engineer • Present • engineer is now less visible to the public • technology is the domain of the “corporation” • anonymity of the Engineer • focused on serving the organization, not the public

20. Engineering Code of Ethics • Most professional organizations have addressed the complexity of moral issues in their fields by developing codes of ethics • Professional codes of ethics consist primarily of principles of responsibility that delineate how to promote the public good.

21. Roles of Codes • Shared Standards • Positive Support to Act Ethically • Guidance Concerning Obligations • Motivation to do the right thing • Education to help with making hard decisions • Deterrence and Discipline • Maintanence of Professional Image

22. IEEE Code of Ethics • Introduction and items 1 through 5

23. IEEE Code of Ethics • Introduction (repeated) and items 6 through 10 http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/about/whatis/code.html

24. ACM Code of Ethics • Preamble (excerpts)

25. ACM Code of Ethics • General Moral Imperatives

26. ACM Code of Ethics • More Specific Professional Responsibilities

27. ACM Code of Ethics • Organizational Leadership Imperatives

28. ACM Code of Ethics • Compliance with the Code http://www.acm.org/constitution/code.html

29. ASME Code of Ethics • Fundamental Principles

30. Canon • an accepted principle or rule • a criterion or standard of judgment • a body of principles, rules, standards or norms ASME Code of Ethics • Fundamental Canons

31. ASME Code of Ethics • Responsibility and Revisions http://files.asme.org/asmeorg/Governance/3675.pdf

32. ASCE Code of Ethics • Fundamental Principles

33. ASCE Code of Ethics • Fundamental Canons

34. ASCE Code of Ethics • Guidelines to Practice http://www.asce.org/inside/files/pdf/CodeofEthics1.pdf

35. NSPE Code of Ethics • Preamble

36. NSPE Code of Ethics • Fundamental Canons

37. NSPE Code of Ethics • Rules of Practice

38. NSPE Code of Ethics • Professional Obligations

39. NSPE Code of Ethics • Professional Obligations (continued) http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-code.asp

40. Possible Sources of Conflict • Personal integrity vs. corporate loyalty • business interests such as cost • Career goals or considerations • Deadlines • Insufficient knowledge

41. Why should you have a code of ethics?

42. The Reality Is … • You will be faced will ethical dilemmas • They will have serious consequences, either now or in the future • If you do the right thing it may go unnoticed, but… • If you don’t, your job/career/company/family may be hurt, along with innocent customers, users, or other people

43. Remember • You are professional • You are a member of a profession that has many worthy accomplishments • You and others in your profession can do much to help to improve the quality of life

44. Ethical Decision Making • Who will be affected by my decision? • What general rules or principles underlie my decision? Are you handling similar matters consistently? • What are the implications of my decision for the University, Company and the public? • What does my decision say about my values? (We all know people who say one thing & do another.) • One can be unethical without breaking the law. • What is right, what is fair and what is in your best interest may not be the same. Put your bias aside.

45. An Example • You are working on a school project in a group.  One of your members refuses to do his or her part in the project.  What do you do?

46. Another Example • One of your friends has not prepared well for the test today, and you have.  The friend would like to copy your answers.  What do you do?

47. Case Studies • We will case studies of real-world situations that involve decisions based on an ethical code • Each person will write a report that describes your reasoning and conclusions • Remember … ethics means “do the right thing”