Engineering Ethics A Peek Beyond PHIL 1104 Rajeev Bansal

Engineering EthicsA Peek Beyond PHIL 1104Rajeev Bansal .

Disclaimer I am a professor and I have a Ph. D. (Doctor of Philosophy) but I do not profess to be a philosopher.

Just Wondering… “What do ethics have to do with my contribution to the solution of this problem? I am merely solving a technical problem.”

A case Study “The decision to launch the Challenger was flawed.” (from the Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident.)

Science vs. Ethics • Science gives us knowledge about the facts (physical laws). • Science and technology tell us how to do things, not whether we or not we ought to do them. • “What one ought to do” : domain of Ethics

In Other Words… • Ethics is the study of questions about what is morally right and wrong. (Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary, 1987)

Skepticism Relativism Absolutism “Well, if it doesn’t matter who’s right and who’s wrong, why don’t I be right and you be wrong?” Meta-Ethics: Theories about the Nature of Ethics

Good intentions are not enough. Ethical behavior requires actually doing the right thing. Example: DUI “Sir, Hell is paved with good intentions.” (Life of Johnson, 1791) Intentions vs. Behavior

Standards or Guidelines for Ethical Behavior by People Existence of goal conflicts and the need for an intelligent trade-off to determine what is “more” good among our goals “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Yogi Berra (1925- ) Normative Ethics

Ethical Values vs.Personal Values Generally speaking, ethical standards apply only to conduct which could have some significant impact on the lives of other people. Example: Specifying substandard wiring vs. choosing generic orange juice

Ethical and legal standards are distinct issues. Engineering ethical standards will generally be in close harmony with existing legal codes. “I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law.” Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), author of Ethics Ethical vs. Legal Standards

IEEE Ethik-Kodex Wir, die Mitglieder des IEEE, erkennen die Bedeutung unserer Technologien in ihrem Einfluß auf die Lebensqualität überall auf der Welt. Wir sehen uns persönlich unserer Berufsgruppe, ihren Mitgliedern und der Allgemeinheit, der wir dienen, verpflichtet, und setzen uns mit diesem Ethik-Kodex die höchsten ethischen und beruflichen Verhaltensregeln und kommen überein: 1. technische Entscheidungen verantwortlich und übereinstimmend mit der Sicherheit, Gesundheit und Wohlfahrt der Öffentlichkeit zu treffen, und umgehend Umstände aufzudecken, die Öffentlichkeit oder Umwelt gefährden könnten, 2. echte oder vermutete Interessenkonflikte wann immer möglich zu vermeiden, und sie betroffenen Parteien offenzulegen, wenn sie existieren, 3. auf der Basis verfügbarer Daten vertrauenswürdige und realistische Feststellungen oder Abschätzungen zu treffen, 4. Bestechung in jeder Form zurückzuweisen, 5. das Verständnis von Technologie, ihrer sachdienlichen Anwendung und ihren möglichen Folgen zu verbessern, 6. unsere technische Qualifikation zu pflegen und zu verbessern und technologische Aufgaben für andere nur zu übernehmen, soweit wir durch Ausbildung oder Sachkenntnis dafür qualifiziert sind, oder nachdem wir einschlägige Beschränkungen vollständig offenlegten, 7. ehrliche Kritik fachlicher Arbeit zu suchen, anzunehmen und anzubieten, Irrtümer einzugestehen und zu korrigieren, und die Mitwirkung anderer angemessen zu würdigen, 8. mit allen Menschen redlich umzugehen, ohne Ansehen von Rassenzugehörigkeit, Religion, Geschlecht, Behinderung, Alter, oder nationaler Herkunft, 9. zu vermeiden, andere Menschen, ihr Eigentum, ihren Ruf oder ihr Arbeitsverhältnis durch unwahres oder böswilliges Verhalten zu verletzen, 10. Kollegen und Mitarbeiter in ihrer beruflichen Entwicklung beizustehen und sie zu unterstützen, diesen Ethik-Kodex zu befolgen. THE IEEE CODE OF ETHICS IS TRANS-NATIONAL IN NATURE.

IEEE Code of Ethics-preamble We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:

IEEE Code of Ethics -I 1 to accept responsibility in making decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment;

IEEE Code of Ethics -II 2 to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;

IEEE Code of Ethics-III 3 to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;

IEEE Code of Ethics-IV 4 to reject bribery in all its forms;

IEEE Code of Ethics-V 5 to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potential consequences;

IEEE Code of Ethics-VI 6 to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;

IEEE Code of Ethics-VII 7 to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;

IEEE Code of Ethics-VIII 8 to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin;

IEEE Code of Ethics-IX 9 to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action;

IEEE Code of Ethics-X 10 to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics. [Approved by the IEEE Board of Directors August 1990; revised in 2006]

You were taking notes, weren’t you? Time for a quiz!

Engineering Ethics A Peek Beyond PHIL 1104 Rajeev Bansal