Ethics

1
Ethics

• By Professor Wilmer Arellano

2
Overview

• Definitions
• Engineering Ethics Example
• Ethical Dilemmas
• The Code Model
• Ethical theories
• Obligation of the Engineer
• Links of interest
• Review

3
References

• This presentation is based mainly in information
  found in the following Websites
• http//www.sinclair.edu/about/gened/values/code/in
  dex.cfm (No longer available)
• http//caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/80130/
• Alternate approach
• http//www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/fram
  ework.html
• Some definitions were found in
• http//encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Ethical
  dilemma, and in
• http//www.hyperdictionary.com

4
References

• Excerpts from the book Engineering Design, a
  Project Based Introduction, second edition by
  Clive I. Dym and Patrick Little. John Wiley and
  Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25687-0
• http//www.ieee.org/portal/index.jsp?pageIDcorp_l
  evel1pathabout/whatisfilecode.xmlxslgeneric.
  xsl
• http//w3.fiu.edu/enc/Academic20Misconduct.htm

5
Ethical Dilemmas

• A microprocessor manufacturer company finds that
  its most popular newly introduced product, under
  certain circumstances might produce errors

6
Ethical Dilemmas

• A student, has a 15-page biology report to type.
  She goes to the computer labs after her night
  class and finds no available terminals. Glancing
  around the room, she notices a group of guys
  hovering around some PCs in the corner of the
  room. As she discreetly walks by, she notices the
  men are playing video games and checking out
  images of partially naked women.

7
Ethical Dilemmas

• What should a professor do if he/she finds
  plagiarism in a report?
• Fail the student for the course?
• Fail the paper but allow the student to remain in
  the course, on the condition that she signs an
  acknowledgment of the plagiarism that will remain
  in his/her file until graduation?
• Give the student the opportunity to rewrite the
  paper, and penalize the final grade by a full
  letter?

8
Ethical Dilemmas

• A Company must decide were to dispose of a
  slightly hazardous waste,
• by dumping it into a canal under South Florida
  Water Management District or
• by a very expensive truck transportation system.
• A nearby city (Sweetwater) takes its drinking
  water supply near this canal.
• Your research shows that with the amount of waste
  you plan to put into the canal,
• the average concentration of the waste in the
  canal will be 8 parts per million (ppm).
• The EPA limit for this material has been set at
  10 ppm.
• At the 8-ppm level, supposedly we expect no
  health problems, and
• Consumers would not be able to detect the
  compound in their drinking water.
• The decision is on your hands and as you already
  have a connection to the canal so you could even
  do it unnoticed.

9
Definitions

• Most dictionary definitions agree on moral as
  "principles of right and wrong."
• Most dictionary definitions agree on Ethics is
  defined as a "system of morally correct conduct."
• An ethical dilemma is a situation that often
  involves an apparent conflict between moral
  imperatives.

10
Important

• An ethical dilemma is a situation that often
  involves an apparent conflict between moral
  imperatives.
• Legal issues are solved by the courts of law.
• We dont analyze safety we just follow safety
  measures

11
Engineering Ethics ExampleThe Fifty-Nine-Story
Crisis

• This is the case involving William J. LeMessurier
  (pronounced LeMeasure), one of the leading
  structural engineers and designers in the world.
  He served as the structural consultant to a noted
  architect, Hugh Stubbins, Jr., for the design of
  a new New York headquarters for Citicorp
• LeMessuriers conceptual design for Citicorp was
  similar to other skyscrapers in that it used the
  tube concept in which a building is designed as a
  tall, hollow tube that has a comparatively rigid
  or stiff tube wall.

12
Engineering Ethics Example

• Top ten banking groups in the world ranked by
  tier 1 capital Figures in U.S. dollars, and as at
  end-2004
• Citigroup 73 billion
• JP Morgan Chase 69 billion
• HSBC 67 billion
• Bank of America 64 billion
• Credit Agricole Group 63 billion
• Royal Bank of Scotland 43 billion
• Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group 40 billion
• Mizuho Financial Group 39 billion
• HBOS 36 billion
• BNP Paribas 35 billion
• Tier 1 capital is the core measure of a bank's
  financial strength from a regulator's point of
  view. It consists of the types of financial
  capital considered the most reliable and liquid,
  primarily Shareholders' equity.
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tier_1_capital

13
Engineering Ethics Example

• The ethics problem arose soon after the building
  was completed and occupied.
• LeMessurier received a call from an engineering
  student in New Jersey who was told by a professor
  that the buildings columns had been put in the
  wrong place.

14
Engineering Ethics Example

• The students questions sufficiently intrigued
  LeMessurier that he reviewed his original design
  and calculations to see just how strong the wind
  bracing system would be.
• He found himself looking at a case that was not
  examined under then-current practice and building
  codes.

15
Engineering Ethics Example

• Practice at the time called for wind force
  effects to be calculated when the wind flow hit a
  side of a building dead on, that is, normal to
  the building faces.
• However, the calculation of the effect of a
  quartering wind, under which the wind hits a
  building on a 45-degree diagonal and the
  resulting wind pressure is then distributed over
  the two immediately adjacent faces (see Figure
  9.6), had not been called for previously.

16
Engineering Ethics Example

• LeMessurier considered several options,
  reportedly including driving into a freeway
  bridge abutment at high speed.
• He also considered remaining silent, as he tried
  to reassure himself that his innovative rooftop
  mass damper actually reduced the probabilities of
  such failure to the fifty-year level.

17
Engineering Ethics Example

• On the other hand, if the power went out, the
  mass damper wouldnt be there to help. So, what
  did LeMessurier actually do?
• He first tried to contact the architect, Hugh
  Stubbins, who was away on a trip.
• He then called Stubbins lawyer, after which he
  talked first with his own insurance carrier and
  then with the principal officers of Citicorp, one
  of whom studied engineering before choosing to
  become a banker.
• While some early consideration was given to
  evacuating the building, especially since
  hurricane season was just over the horizon, it
  was decided instead that all of the connections
  at risk should be redesigned and retroactively
  fixed

18
Engineering Ethics Example

• In return for getting a professional
  engineering license and being regarded with
  respect, youre supposed to be self-sacrificing
  and look beyond the interests of yourself and
  your client to society as a whole. And the most
  wonderful part of my story is that when I did it
  nothing bad happened.
• William J. LeMessurier

19
Ethical Dilemmas

• Ethical dilemmas can be analyzed using two
  decision-making models
• Codes of ethics and conduct that govern the
  practice of professions and institutions like
  companies and schools (The Code Model"). If a
  code of ethics and conduct deals with the
  situation addressed in the ethical dilemma, then
  the code may sufficiently resolve the issue.
• Ethical theories from Western philosophy (The
  Ethical Theory Model").
• A code may not address a particular situation
  central to an ethical dilemma.
• The ethical dilemma may be too complex for it to
  be resolved using a code.
• Finally, the ethical principles underlying the
  code are inadequate and need to be reconsidered.

20
ETHICAL ANALYSIS

• Recognize Ethical Issues
• An ethical issue is one in which an action or
  belief can harm/benefit yourself or others.
• Make a distinction between Ethics and Law, Safety
  or any other non ethical issue.
• Identify and Understand the stakeholders
• Who will be harmed or benefited by a particular
  course of action?
• Put yourself in the shoes of each stakeholder,
  understand each stakeholder perspective.
• How would each stakeholder want you to resolve
  the dilemma?

21
Code Model

• Apply the code of ethics and conduct a brainstorm
  to evaluate the issue
• If the issue is resolve it is the end of the
  story.

22
IEEE Code of Conduct

1. to accept responsibility in making engineering
   decisions consistent with the safety, health and
   welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly
   factors that might endanger the public or the
   environment
2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest
   whenever possible, and to disclose them to
   affected parties when they do exist
3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or
   estimates based on available data
4. to reject bribery in all its forms
5. to improve the understanding of technology, its
   appropriate application, and potential
   consequences

23
IEEE Code of Conduct

• 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
• to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of
  technical work, to acknowledge and correct
  errors, and to credit properly the contributions
  of others
• to treat fairly all persons regardless of such
  factors as race, religion, gender, disability,
  age, or national origin
• to avoid injuring others, their property,
  reputation, or employment by false or malicious
  action
• 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 DirectorsAugust
  1990

24
Theory Model

• Apply the code of ethics and conduct a brainstorm
  to evaluate the issue
• If the code does not directly and clearly address
  the issue, then the "ethical theory model" should
  be used to resolve the ethical dilemma.
• Present Options, apply various ethical theories
  to evaluate each option Do any of the ethical
  theories support or reject any of the three
  options?
• Consider only those ethical theories that
  directly apply to the dilemma.
• Choose the option that meets the criteria of the
  largest number of ethical theories that you've
  chosen to consider.

25
ETHICAL THEORIES (Most recommended)

• Which option will generate the greatest benefit
  (or least amount of harm) for the greatest
  number? (utilitarianism)
• Which option safeguards and/or promotes your own
  or your organization's best interests? (ethical
  egoism)
• Which option allows you to be willing to make
  your decision a rule or policy that you and
  others in your situation can follow in similar
  situations in the future? Have you or will you be
  using any person as a means to an ends without
  consideration for his/her basic integrity and
  dignity as a human being? (Kantian ethics)
• Which options respect the rights of individuals
  in society? (rights ethics)

26
ETHICAL THEORIES (Additional Theories)

1. Which option best reflects the laws of nature?
   (natural law theory)
2. Which option emphasizes genuine caring for
   others? (ethics of care)
3. Which option best reflects the social contract of
   obligations and duties individuals in a society
   have toward one another? (social contract theory)
   
4. Which option develops moral virtues and character
   in individuals and in the community? (virtue
   ethics)
5. Which option reflects the will and laws of a
   divine being? (religious ethics)

27
ETHICAL THEORIES (Additional Theories)

1. Which option assumes that an individual's
   beliefs, emotions and desires should decide what
   is ethical? (subjectivism)
2. Which option respects that ethical standards vary
   from culture to culture? (ethical relativism)
3. Which options respect an individual's right to
   justice? (ethics of justice)

28
ETHICAL THEORIES

• Choose, defend, and justify the best option based
  on the previous analysis.
• There are no right or wrong answers to ethical
  dilemmas there are only strong or weak
  arguments. If you have made a decision based on
  strong reasoning, then you should be able to
  defend that decision.

29
ETHICAL THEORIES

• Ask yourself the following questions
• Could you defend your decision to the stakeholder
  who has lost the most or who has been harmed the
  most?
• If you told someone you respect why you chose
  this option, what would that person say?
• Could you defend your decision in a letter
  addressed to your most inflexible detractor?

30
THEORY MODEL EXAMPLE

• In 1994/95, it was discovered and widely reported
  that the latest version of the Intel Pentium chip
  had flaws.

31
THEORY MODEL EXAMPLE
32
THEORY MODEL EXAMPLE
33
Example FIU and Plagiarism

• What should a professor do if he/she finds
  plagiarism in a report?
• Fail the student for the course?
• Fail the paper but allow the student to remain in
  the course, on the condition that she signs an
  acknowledgment of the plagiarism that will remain
  in his/her file until graduation?
• Give the student the opportunity to rewrite the
  paper, and penalize the final grade by a full
  letter?

34
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT/CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

• This Code of Academic Integrity was adopted by
  the Student Government Association on November
  28, 2001 and reflects the values articulated in
  the Student Code of Standards.
• Pledge
• As a student of this university
• I will be honest in my academic endeavors.
• I will not represent someone else's work as my
  own.
• I will not cheat, nor will I aid in another's
  cheating.
• 1.02 Plagiarism The deliberate use and
  appropriation of another's work without any
  indication of the source and the representation
  of such work as the student's own. Any student
  who fails to give credit for ideas, expressions
  or materials taken from another source, including
  internet sources, is guilty of plagiarism. Any
  student helping another to plagiarize may be
  found guilty of academic misconduct.
• http//w3.fiu.edu/enc/Academic20Misconduct.htm

35
(No Transcript)
36
Annie and the Computer" York College of
Pennsylvania

• Annie, a nontraditional student, has a 15-page
  biology report to type. She goes to the computer
  labs after her night class and finds no available
  terminals. Glancing around the room, she notices
  a group of guys hovering around some PCs in the
  corner of the room. As she discreetly walks by,
  she notices the men are playing video games and
  checking out images of barely-clad women.
  Thoroughly disgusted and frustrated, Annie thinks
  there must be a way to make the campus computers
  available only for legitimate coursework purposes

37
Annie and the Computer" York College of
Pennsylvania

• Recognize the ethical issues What are the
  ethical issues in the ethical dilemma?
• An ethical issue is one in which an action or
  belief can harm/benefit yourself or others. The
  harm can be psychological, emotional, or
  physical. It is arguable which harm has more
  weight and status.
• Possible ethical issues
• 1.) Annie is psychologically harmed by having to
  view partially naked women
• 2.) Annie is harmed by not being able to get on a
  computer terminal and do her project
• 3.) The men benefit (psychological or emotional
  benefit) by playing the games.

38
Annie and the Computer" York College of
Pennsylvania

• Recognize the stakeholders Who will be harmed or
  benefited by a particular course of action?
• Annie,
• the men,
• future students using the lab (they most likely
  would be affected by the outcome of this ethical
  dilemma).
• How would the stakeholders want the dilemma to be
  resolved?
• Solution Next Slide

39
Annie and the Computer" York College of
Pennsylvania

• Conveniently, York College of Pennsylvania has a
  Code of Conduct in its Student Handbook. Point
  22 of the code states one should not violate the
  College's Information Systems Policy by engaging
  in inappropriate or illegal use of college
  computers and network resources. Points 2 and 6
  of the college's Information Systems Policy
  Statement are particularly relevant to the
  ethical dilemma. Point 2 states that all users
  should be considerate, not monopolize computers,
  or waste computer time. Point 6 states that
  computers are to be used for instructional
  purposes and not for private or personal use.
  Game playing is permitted if it is an
  instructional exercise and if it is not
  dominating resources needed by others.

40
Ethics and Senior Design

• Does your project pose an ethical dilemma?
• Does your project help to solve an ethical
  dilemma?
• How could flaws in your design create an ethical
  issue?

41
Senior Design Examples

• Intelligent Wheel Chair
• Historically, people with disabilities have been
  faced with environmental, architectural, and
  attitudinal barriers. Each of these categories of
  barriers has impinged on choice. For example, the
  environment was much more limiting 20, 30, and 50
  years ago than it is today. At one time these
  barriers prevented some children who used
  wheelchairs from getting an education and
  prevented some adults from accessing jobs. As
  these barriers have been addressed through
  legislation, the choices available to individuals
  with disabilities have been expanded. However,
  many barriers still exist.
• http//www.worksupport.com/Main/proed9.asp

42
Senior Design Examples

• Silicon Valley Programmer Indicted For
  Manslaughter
• Program Error Caused Death by Robot
• by Mabel Muckraker
• Special to the Silicon Valley Sentinel-Observer
• Silicon Valley, USA
• Article 1 of The Case of the Killer Robot
• Jane McMurdock, prosecuting attorney for the city
  of Silicon Valley, announced today the indictment
  of Randy Samuels on charges of manslaughter.
  Samuels was formerly employed as a programmer at
  Silicon Techtronics Inc., one of Silicon Valley's
  newest entries into the high-tech arena. The
  charge involves the death of Bart Matthews, who
  was killed last May by an assembly-line robot.
• http//onlineethics.org/cases/robot/article-1.html

43
Senior Design Examples

• Robot workers versus human workers
• The question whether it is ethically and morally
  responsible to manufacture robot workers - and
  androids - is one of the most frequently asked
  questions when it comes to robots and artificial
  intelligence.
• There are no easy answers here. The debate has
  been going for some time and there are several
  possible outcomes.
• http//www.links999.net/robotics/robots/robots_eth
  ical.html

44
Research Assignment

• Research Document has been updated

45
Links of Interest

• http//www.onlineethics.com/
• http//www.nspe.org/ethics/codeofethics2003.pdf
• http//www.niee.org/
• http//www.sinclair.edu/about/gened/values/code/in
  dex.cfm

46
Review

• Definitions
• Engineering Ethics Example
• Ethical Dilemmas
• The Code Model
• Ethical theories
• Obligation of the Engineer
• Links of interest
• Review

47

Questions
Answers