ENGINEERING ETHICS

UNIT - 2

IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS
Ethics - study of characteristic of morals
Also deals with moral choices made by a
person with each other
3 reasons - develop - ethical skills with
equal importance to technical skills
1. good ethical behavior
2. good ethical judgment
3. good ethical course of action

Good ethical behavior

Leads to good consequences both
for
individual & society
Effects may occur immediately or
little later
If good effect happen immediate
- reward
for returning a wallet. Effect received later is
trust & respect earned from colleagues.
Even though unethical behavior gives
benefits - long run - sufferings.

Good ethical judgment

Certain persons - scientists &
engineers
make decision crucial to society - they
need good judgment.
Increased specialization of
professionals
- lead to narrow focus.
When important decisions are to be made
- professionals have to communicate
their ideas clearly.

Good ethical course of action

Happiness occurs only after choosing a
good course of action from reasoning and
follow upon issues. Simply doing good.
People tend to find more satisfaction
in
understanding why they do what they do.
Good ethical thought and action provides
ultimate human happiness.

Need to study engineering ethics

Engineering ethics - rules & standards
governing the conduct of engineers &
organization.
It is a body of philosophy emphasizing the
way the engineers & technologists should
conduct themselves in professional

Continues
Why engineering students should study
engineering ethics
 In past several cases have been
witnessed
causing disaster so engineers must learn
their professional responsibilities.
Ethics office - every one know to solve a
problem but we must know to solve
ethically

Senses of engineering
Ethics have several meaning of senses -
activity. Area of inquiry, set of beliefs, morally
correct behavior & engineering ethics have
various senses.
1. Sense of expression:
Engineering ethics - activity & discipline to
understand moral values to guide engineering
practice. Such practice should resolve moral
issues & justify judgments

Continues
Engineering ethics is set of
moral problems &
issues related to engineering
Engineering ethics follow
currently accepted
codes & standards enclosed by various group
of engineers & engineering society (emission
norms)
It is set of justified moral
principles, right
endorsed by those engaged in engineering
Discovering such principles & applying them
to situations is the goal of engineering ethics

Continues
2. Morality:
What is to be done to the given situation
by choosing right or wrong by what is
good or bad for the people, policies.
3. Moral reasons:
Moral reasons requires - respect other
people & ourselves, to care for our own &
others good.

Continues
Respecting person
Being fair
Respecting rights
Keeping promises
Avoiding unnecessary offence & pain
Avoiding cheating & dishonesty
Help others with own will

Variety of moral issues

Engineering product/project - undergo -
various stages - concept - design -
manufacture- testing - sales - services.
Engineers carry out task as per norms at
all stages. But still sometime lead to
unsafe or less useful & moral
disagreement among engineers.

Global
Family
environmen
t

1.Engineering firm related issues

Engineers - employed in firm - work
towards expectation of firm - to achieve
objective of firm
Employee - should give first priority to
benefits of firm then ones own benefits to
achieve goal of firm - employee work
collectively with colleagues.

2.Clients / customer related issues

Product output - must meet/ satisfy end
user
Customer requirement must be given
highest priority & should met.
Engineer must know customer
requirement & incorporate it in product
design & manufacture.

3.Other industries/competitors
Competitive world- should produce better
product than others.
So to be on top certain professional ethics
has to be followed
Engineers have to consider safety, health,
welfare of customers
Eg: Maggie

4.Law, Government
Engineers should know and respect rules
& regulations of government
Sincerely obey without exception.
They should practice all other laws,
policies & regulations

5.Engineering professional society

Various codes of ethics - set by engineers
- professional society - Institute of
engineers (India) - ASME (American
society of mechanical engineers) - IEEE
These codes reflect norms and guidance

6.Global Environment
Role of engineers - direct impact on
environment, quality of life of public.
Engineers should produce product that
are
safe to public & environment.
No case they should involve unethical
issues
Should totally commit for protection of
environment.
7.Family
Engineers are humans - have their own
family
Have to satisfy the needs of family
members
They cannot take any decisions for their
own benefits at the cost of public, clients
or employers.

Types of Inquiry
Inquiry & Enquiry are same
It is an act of asking information
Engineering ethics combines inquiries to
values & meanings and facts
There are 3 types of inquiry to solve
engineering problems

1. Normative inquiry
This seeks to identify value that
should
guide individual & group
Engineering ethics involve
inquiries to
identify & justify & guide groups & individual
Some normative questions:
Which particular law &
organizational
procedures affecting engineering practice.
How far does obligation of
engineers to
protect public safety.
Caution dangerous practices of employers.

2. Conceptual inquiry
Seek to clarify important concepts or
ideas expressed by words or by questions
& statements.
Safety means - level risk involved
What is codal specification, engineers
should protect the safety, health and
welfare of public.
What is bribe?

3.Factual inquiry
Provides facts needed for
understanding and
resolving value issues.
Wherever possible the researchers
attempt to
conduct factual inquiries using proven
techniques.
It provides info such as business
relatives,
engineering practice, effectiveness of
professional societies.
It provides reason for moral problem and also
alternative way for it
Moral Dilemmas
Dilemma - a situation to be made a
choice
made between two / more alternatives
Vagueness (unclear):
An individual unable to distinguish
between
good/bad, right/wrong, in a particular
situation.
Eg: accepting a gift would mean
taking a
bribe or not.
Applicable more to a new entrant of a
job
New engineers may not attempt to ask his/
her colleague & get clarified.

Conflicting reasons
For a situation one reason may
appear convincing &
also other reason may appear equally convincing.
As it ends up with conflicting
moral principles.
These leads to moral dilemmas.
Eg: promises to visit friend,
family member suddenly
falls ill have to stay back. Cant keep promise.
Conflict between obligation to
keep promise & duty
to take care of family member.
Can be solved by apology phone call to friend

Disagreements
Reasonable & responsible
individuals may
disagree how to interpret, apply & balance
moral reasons in particular situation
Proper analysis - decision ranked
Select best ranked under existing situation

Steps to solve moral dilemmas

Vagueness, conflicting reasons,
disagreement need several steps for solving.
1. Relevant moral factors & reasons are
identified. Clarity among duties, rights,
goods is found. For this some professional
codes may be referred.
2. All facts agreeable to moral are
gathered
3. Based on situation the facts/morals are
ranked

Continues
4. Trace full conclusion, choose alternative
course of action to resolve dilemma.
5. Discuss with colleagues or other persons
suggestion
6. A carefully reasoned judgment is arrived
at by weighing all moral factors &
reasons

Moral Autonomy
Autonomy means self - determining or
independent.
Children should be adequately
educated
about the needs and rights of others to
decide as autonomy.
Important skills required for engineers:
Proficiency in recognizing moral problems
and issues in engineering.

Continues
Skills in understanding and
clarifying the
arguments which are against of moral
issues.
Ability to form consistent view
points based
upon consideration of relevant facts.
To think and make alternative
solutions
under difficult situation.
Be sensitive to genuine difficulties of others

Theories
No theories, laws can solve ethical
problems
But they can provide frameworks for
understanding
To solve ethical problems engineers
must
learn basic knowledge of ethical theories.
1. Kohlbergs theory
2. Gilligans theory

Kohlbergs theory (Lawrence

Kohlberg)
3 levels of moral development
1. Pre conventional level
2. Conventional level
3. Post conventional level

Pre conventional level

Most primitive level
Directly benefits oneself
Individuals are primarily motivated by:
1. Desire to avoid punishment
2. Unquestioning defense to power
3. Desire to satisfy their own needs
Level of all children & few adults
These persons never manage to go beyond
this level

Conventional level
Economy of ones family, group or society
is final standard of morality.
This practice is adopted by all without
any
critics
Individuals at this level are motivated to
please others & satisfy expectation of
social unit
Done without any self interest

Continues
Importance is given to loyalty & close
identification with others.
As per Kohlbergs most of the adults never
mature beyond this level

Post conventional level

This level is attained when
individual
accepts standard of right or wrong as a
set of principles.
These individuals are autonomous as
they
think of themselves & dont assume
always right.
Same time they also seek reason & line by
general principles.

Continues
For this level of development golden rule
is Do unto others as you would have them
do unto you.
Their motivation is to do what is morally
reasonable to maintain their moral
integrity, self respect.

Continues
AGE LEVEL SUBSTAGE
1.Avoid
0-9 1 punishment
2. Gain reward
1.Gain approval
and avoid
10-20 2
disapprovals
2. Duty
1.Agreed upon
rights
21+ 3
2. Personal moral
stands

Gilligans theory (Carol Gilligan)

Gillis is a women.
Gilligan charged Kohlbergs studies
are
distorted by a male bias.
Men have tendency to solve moral
problems by applying moral principles.
Women try harder to preserve personal
relationships with all people involved in a
situation.
Continues
Gilligan recasted Kohlbergs 3 level of
development as 3 stages of growth
towards caring.
1. Gillis pre conventional level
2. Gillis conventional level
3. Gillis post conventional level

Gillis pre conventional level

It is similar to Kohlbergs level
Person is pre - occupied by self -
centered reasoning
Conduct is viewed in selfish manner
Act as what is good to oneself.

Gillis conventional level

Occupied by a mind of not hurting
others.
Willingness to sacrifice ones own
interest
to help others
True with women who are trapped by
cultural stereotype.
So women will be always willing to give
interest to serve need of others

Gillis post conventional level

Individual capable of making
balanced
decisions between caring others & pursuing
self interest.
Aim to balance ones own need
with need for
others while maintaining relationships with
mutual caring
Women were thinking more about
the caring
thing to do rather than things that rules allow.
Gillis theory is based on psychological results
than morals

Continues
Stage Goal
Goal is individual
1
survival
Transition is from selfishness to responsibility to
others
Self - sacrifice is
2
goodness
Transition is from goodness to truth
Principle of non -
3 violence
Do not hurt others or self

Kohlberg Gilligan
Based on study on both men
Based on study on men
and women
Men give importance to Keep personal relations with
moral rules persons
Women give attention to
Ethics of rules and rights circumstances leading to
situation rather than rules
Justice Reason
Fact Emotion
Right or wrong Relationships
Less caring More caring
Present focus Future focus
Independence Dependence
Shying away from decision
Taking a commanding role
making

Consensus & Controversy

Consensus - agreements
Controversy - disagreements
People exercise moral autonomy all
will not
end up with same conclusion on issues.
There are possibly for difference in
opinion
among various people exercising more
autonomy.
Practicing autonomy is not as precise as
maths.

Continues
So there shall be moral disagreements
which is natural & common.
So there is a need to have adequate
tolerance to bear with disagreements.
Engineers must not simply agree without
giving room for disagree on valid reasons.

Models of professional roles

Profession of engineering is aimed at
promoting the public good, safety, health &
welfare.
General models to engineers are:
1.Saviour:
Engineers hold the key to create an
utopian
(everything is perfect) society.
It has to be achieved through
technological
development which leads to material wealth.
Engineer - savior - rescue society from
poverty, inefficiency.

Guardian
Engineers cannot provide - best place &
harmony.
But they know best direction in which the
technology should develop.
Accordingly they take steps based on
priority to determine best interest of
society.

Bureaucratic(administrative) servant
Management makes decision about
direction of technological development.
Engineer needs to be a servant -
receive &
translate direction of management to
achievements.
Engineer - loyal person of organization -
skill is to solve problem of management
within limits.

Social servant
Engineer provide service to others &
society.
The society expresses its interest
directly.
Engineer must receive the society needs &
perform the same to full satisfaction.

Social enabler & catalyst

Engineer provide service to society but
management is ultimate power.
Engineers play vital role beyond
performing orders.
Engineers need to help management &
society & their own needs & take informed
decisions.

Game player
They are neither servants nor masters
They play economic game rules in a given
time
Engineers aim should play successfully
within organization but at same time
enjoying both pleasure of technology at
work & winning & moving ahead in a
competitive world.

Theories about right action

Utilitarianism theory
Duty ethics theory
Right ethics theory
Virtue ethics theory

1.Utilitarianism theory
Balance between good and bad
This approach weighs cost &
benefits
Right actions - produce greatest
satisfaction
To analyze an issue one has to:
1. Identify course of action
available to us
2. Find who - affected by each
action & what
benefits or losses will be derived from action.
3. Choose action - produce greatest benefits &
less harm

2.Duty ethics theory

Duties that should be performed
regardless that lead to most good.
Performing duty is a fundamental
action.
Right actions - honest, keep promises, fair,
show kindness, respect.

First condition:
Principle duty is to show respect
to people.
People deserve respect because
they have
capacity for autonomy & exercise good will.
Autonomy means governing our own
lives
in universal moral principles.
Good will is effort to do what is
right.
Second condition:
Duties bind on us only if they are applicable
to all

Third condition
1. Fidelity - duty to keep promise
2. Reparation - duty to compensate
others when
we have them.
3. Gratitude - duty to thank those
who help us
4. Justice - duty to recognize
merit
5. Beneficence - duty to recognize
in equality &
improve condition
6. Self improvement
7. Non - malfeasance - duty not to injure others

3.Right ethics theory

1. Right to access truth:
Have right to know about the truth & to be
informed about matters which may
significantly affect our choice.
2. Right to privacy:
we have right to act, believe & inform
whatever we choose as long as it doesnt
violate rights of others.

Continues
3. Right not to be injured:
we have right not to be harmed or injured
unless we knowingly do something which
may harm or cause injuries.
4. Right what is agreed:
we have right to get what has been
promised by those whom we willingly
entered into an agreement or contract.

4.Virtue ethics theory

Virtue - moral distinction &
goodness.
It is about determining what kind
of people
one should be.
Actions are right if one is good
characterized
Actions are wrong if one is bad
characterized
It is closely related too personal character

Aristotles theory of golden mean

Tendency to act at proper balance between
extreme of conduct, emotion, desire & attitude.
Macintyres theory of virtue
-Actions aimed at achieving common good &
social good such as social justice, promotion
of health, creation of useful & safe
technological products & service.

Self interest
Ones personal good includes
actions taken
to improve ones status & upgrading financial
level.
It should not degenerate into
egoism or
selfishness. Society get maximum benefits
when:
1. Individual pursue personal good
2. Individual organization pursue max profit
This improve economy of country.

Customs
1. Ethical pluralism
2. Ethical relativism
1. Pluralistic society - various culture lead to
tolerance for different customs, beliefs &
outlooks. There exists ethical pluralism.
Many moral attributes appear to be
reasonable - cannot accept fully ones moral
perspective. Individual or group allow
variation in application of moral values.

Continues
Actions are morally right when they
are
approved by law.
Wrong when violate laws
Thus deciding factor is law.
But laws are not always based on morals.
Ethical relativism gives importance to
culture.

Religion
Moral commitment & religious
belief tied up
in several positive ways
Religion plays major role in
molding our
moral views.
Different religion - Hinduism,
Buddhism in
Asia, Christianity in western countries, Islam
in middle east.
Link between moral & religious belief exists
in all religion

Continues
All religion insists tolerance
& moral concern
for others.
Each religion have different
level of moral
standards.
Some religion standards set
below what is
acceptable.
Do not recognize equal rights
to women.
In such cases conflict arises
between religions.
So religious views must be morally scrutinized.

Uses of ethical theories

1. Resolving moral dilemmas:
i. Theories help to identify reasons which have
caused a dilemma.
ii. Provides reasonable & sensible info to solve
dilemmas
iii. Strengthen our ability to reach balanced
judgment during moral arguments.
iv. Interact with colleagues.

Continues
2. Justify moral obligation:
theories can be used to justify obligation of
engineers & others involved in technological
development.
3. Relating professional & ordinary morality:
i. Make engineers to follow law to reduce illegal
consideration
ii. Follow professional society & codes of
ethics
iii. engineers directly involve in safety of public.