Engineering Ethics

Engineering Ethics Dr. Pete Parker

Bribery Equation: OG = PLR * AEB Opportunity for Graft = Plethora of Legal Requirements * Number of Architects, Engineers & Builders

Ethics • The study of the characteristics of morals. • The moral choices that we make in our relationships with others.

Ethics Codes Most professional societies have a “Code of Ethics” which their members, by joining, state that they will support.

Membership Application American Institute Of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Institute of Electrical And Electronic Engineers (IEEE)

AIChE Code of Ethics Members of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers shall uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the engineering profession by: being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity their employers, their clients, and the public; striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession; and using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare. To achieve these goals, members shall:

Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and protect the environment in performance of their professional duties. • Formally advise their employers or clients (and consider further disclosure, if warranted) if they perceive that a consequence of their duties will adversely affect the present or future health or safety of their colleagues or the public. • Accept responsibility for their actions, seek and heed critical review of their work and offer objective criticism of the work of others. • Issue statements or present information only in an objective and truthful manner.

Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, avoiding conflicts of interest and never breaching confidentiality. Treat fairly and respectfully all colleagues and co-workers, recognizing their unique contributions and capabilities. Perform professional services only in areas of their competence. Build their professional reputations on the merits of their services. Continue their professional development throughout their careers, and provide opportunities for the professional development of those under their supervision. Never tolerate harassment. Conduct themselves in a fair, honorable and respectful manner.

Ethics Codes Often difficult to find clear guidance from a code when problem complex. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

Ethical theories developed over time Our Western ethical theories are rooted in the Judeo-Christian religious thought, but also have a strong component from the early Greek philosophers, such as Socrates & Aristotle. Non-Western cultures have many similar ideas and constructs --- some have common heritage. (e.g. Islam shares a common heritage with both Judaism and Christianity through about the 4th century AD.)

Respect for persons • Moral theories are like scientific theories. • They attempt to supply a uniform set of definitions and link ideas and problems together in consistent ways. • Four major moral theories : • Utilitarianism • Duty Ethics • Rights Ethics • Virtue Ethics

Utilitarianism Great proponent: John Stuart Mill Those actions are good which serve to maximize human well-being. The greatest good for the greatest number Individual actions should be judged based on whether the most good was produced in a given situation

Concerns: Don’t (and probably can’t) truly know all costs and benefits. Measurement issues Minorities lose Uses: • Cost - benefit analysis • When some project will hurt some and help others, can use utilitarianism to help decide.

Respect for Persons Virtue Ethics (Aristotle is the hero here) Interested in determining what kind of people we “should” be Focus is on personal responsibility in areas such as honesty, responsibility, competence & loyalty.

Respect for Persons Duty Ethics (Immanuel Kant) As rational beings, have certain moral duties These duties are “listable” in some sense Be honest Don’t cause suffering to other people Be fair to others ….

Respect for Persons Rights Ethics John Locke --- the right to life, liberty and property Declaration of Independence / Thomas Jefferson --- the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness • Human beings have certain rights • Debate has been over what is included in this list. • Agreement on life & liberty. Others are in dispute.

Respect for Persons Virtue, Duty and Rights Ethics Focus on the individual Guide for individual behavior Difficult to apply to large scale problems

So what does all this have to do with conflict of interest? • Provides bases for many professional codes • Provides a beginning point for resolution

AIChE Code of Ethics Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and protect the environment in performance of their professional duties. Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, avoiding conflicts of interest and never breaching confidentiality.

Some possible examples You are are responsible for maintaining environmental records and notifying authorities of any discharges in excess of permit limits. Some data suggest non-compliance You are in charge of specifying the process control system for the new papermachine. One vendor would like to discuss the project over a game of golf (her expense) at the local, exclusive country club.

Conflict of Interest A conflict of interest exists for a professional when acting in a professional role, he or she is subject to influences, loyalties, temptations or other interests that tend to make the professional’s judgement less likely to benefit the customer or client than the customer or client is justified in expecting.

Conflict of interest vs Conflict of commitment

Actual Conflict truly exists between professional duties to client / customer and self-interest • Potential It is possible that a conflict will occur in the foreseeable future as a result of a current decision • Apparent Others may perceive a conflict where, in reality, none exists Types of Conflict of Interest

The IBM Approach Nor can they accept a gift or consideration that could be perceived as having been offered because of the business relationship. “Perceived” simply means this: If you read about it in your local newspaper, would you wonder whether the gift just might have something to do with a business relationship.

Solving Ethical Problems Clearly state the problem Identify stakeholders Identify the issues Factual issues Conceptual issues Ethical issues

Factual issues As in any complex problem, there can be disagreement as to the facts. Is global warming a fact? Conceptual issues Similar to factual issues, but are of conceptual nature. When is a gift a bribe? Was the gift meant as a bribe? Ethical issues If solving the first two don’t solve the problem, this may be the toughest.

Line Drawing (Casuistry) Draw a line, which represents a continuum of ethical responses to the type of problem at hand. At one end, place a problem statement (case) that is unambiguously ethically correct (morally acceptable). The positive paradigm At the other end, place a case that is unambiguously morally unacceptable. The negative paradigm

Line Drawing (Casuistry) Place current problem and other similar problems on the line If sample like positive paradigm, place near it. If sample like negative paradigm, place near it. Distance from either end indicates relative “nearness” to the positive or negative paradigm. Placement of problem will then help make decision

Some helpful reading ( that’s not too dense) Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases C. E. Harris, M. S. Pritchard, M. J. Rabins Wadsworth Publishing Engineering Ethics C. B. Fleddermann Prentice-Hall Hold Paramount: The Engineer’s Responsibility to Society A. Gunn, P. A. Vesilind Thompson Learning

Engineering Ethics