Engineering Ethics

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Engineering Ethics
Dr. Pete Parker
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Bribery Equation
OG PLR AEB
Opportunity for Graft Plethora of Legal
Requirements Number of Architects, Engineers
Builders
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Ethics The study of the characteristics of
morals. The moral choices that we make in our
relationships with others.
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Ethics Codes
Most professional societies have a Code of
Ethics which their members, by joining, state
that they will support.
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Membership Application
American Institute Of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Institute of Electrical And Electronic Engineers
(IEEE)
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.)
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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
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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
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Uses
Cost - benefit analysis When some project will
hurt some and help others, can use utilitarianism
to help decide.
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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.
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Respect for Persons
Duty Ethics
(Immanuel Kant)
As rational beings, have certain moral duties
These duties are listable in some sense Be
honest Dont cause suffering to other people Be
fair to others .
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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.
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Respect for Persons
Virtue, Duty and Rights Ethics Focus on the
individual Guide for individual
behavior Difficult to apply to large scale
problems
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So what does all this have to do with conflict of
interest?

• Provides bases for many professional codes

• Provides a beginning point for resolution

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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.
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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.
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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
professionals judgement less likely to benefit
the customer or client than the customer or
client is justified in expecting.
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Conflict of interest vs Conflict of commitment
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Types of Conflict of Interest
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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.
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Solving Ethical Problems
Clearly state the problem
Identify stakeholders
Identify the issues
Factual issues
Conceptual issues
Ethical issues
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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
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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
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Some helpful reading ( thats 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 Engineers Responsibility to
Society A. Gunn, P. A. Vesilind Thompson
Learning