INTERNAL ASSESSMENT TEST II ANSWER KEY

GE6075 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN ENGINEERING

PART A
1. State the theories about right action.
Right actions are the ones that produce the greatest satisfaction of the preferences of the affected
persons.
2. Mention the models of professional roles.
Saviour,Guardian,Bureaucratic Servant,Social Servant,Social Enabler and Catalyst,Game Player
3. Self-interest generally refers to a focus on the needs or desires (interests) of the self. A number of
philosophical, psychological, and economic theories examine the role of self-interest in motivating
human action. State the significance of Self Interest.
4. What is meant by ethical egoism?
Ethical egoism is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to do what is in their own
self-interest.
5. State the importance of ethical codes.
A well-written code of conduct clarifies an organization's mission, values and principles, linking them
with standards of professional conduct.
6. What is mean by engineering as experimentation?
A test under controlled conditions that is made to demonstrate a known truth, to examine the validity
of a hypothesis, or to determine the efficacy of something previously untried.
7. Differentiate scientific experiments and engineering projects.
The Scientific Method The Engineering Design Process
State your question Define the problem
Do background research Do background research
Formulate your hypothesis, identify Specify requirements
variables
Design experiment, establish procedure Create alternative solutions, choose the best one and
develop it
8. Define ethical conventionalism.
Conventionalism is the philosophical attitude that fundamental principles of a certain kind are
grounded on (explicit or implicit) agreements in society, rather than on external reality.
9. What do you understand by balanced outlook on law?
A balanced outlook on law A Balanced Outlook on Law emphasis the necessity of law and regulation
and their limitations in governing engineering practice.
10. Mention some universally accepted ethical principles.
Respect for the dignity of persons is the most fundamental and universally found ethical principle
across geographical and cultural boundaries, and across professional disciplines.

PART B

11. a) Briefly explain the three main levels of moral development, developed by Laurence
Kohlberg.
This theory is a stage theory. In other words, everyone goes through the stages sequentially
without skipping any stage.

 Pre-Conventional Moral Development

 Conventional Moral Development
 Post-Conventional Moral Development
Stage 1 - Obedience and Punishment
Especially common in young children, but adults are capable of expressing this type of
reasoning.
Stage 2 – Naively egotistical
At this stage of moral development, children account for individual points of view and judge
actions based on how they serve individual needs.
 Stage 3 - "good boy-good girl" orientation,
This stage of moral development is focused on living up to social expectations and roles.
Stage 4 – Law and Social Order
At this stage of moral development, people begin to consider society as a whole when making
judgments.
Stage 5 - Legalistic Social Contract
At this stage, people begin to account for the differing values, opinions, and beliefs of other
people. Stage 6 – Universal ethical Principles
Kolhberg’s final level of moral reasoning is based upon universal ethical principles and
abstract reasoning.
Or
b) Discuss in detail about Self-interest, Customs and Religion.
Self-interest is being good and acceptable to oneself. It is pursuing what is good for oneself.
It is very ethical to possess self-interest.
As per utilitarian theory, this interest should provide for the respect of others also.
Duty ethics recognizes this aspect as duties to ourselves.
Then only one can help others. Right ethicist stresses our rights to pursue our own good.
12. a) Explain with examples the various ethical theories available for “right of action”.
Several ethical theories have been developed over different times, each of them stressing
certain ethical principles or features.
1. Utilitarian Theory
The term Utilitarianism was conceived in the 19th century by Jeremy Bentham and John
Stuart Mill to help legislators determine which laws were morally best. They suggested that
the standard of right conduct is maximization of good consequences. Good consequences
mean either ‘utilities’ or the ‘balance of good over evil’.
2. Duty Ethics
The duty ethics theory, proposed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) states, that actions are
consequences of performance of one’s duties such as, ‘being honest’, ‘not cause suffering of
others’, ‘being fair to others including the meek and week’, ‘being grateful’, ‘keeping
promises’ etc.
3. Rights Theory
Rights are entitlement to act or to have another individual act in a certain way. Minimally,
rights serve as a protective barrier, shielding individuals from unjustified infringement of their
moral agency by others.
4. The Virtue Theory
This emphasizes on the character rather than the rights or duties. The character is the pattern
of virtues (morally-desirable features).
Or
b) Briefly discuss about Industrial standards and its effects on engineering products and practice.
Industrial standards are important for any industry. Specification helps in achieving
interchangeability. Standardization reduces the production costs and at the same time, the
quality is achieved easily.

13. a) What do you mean by Learning from past? Discuss with examples.
CASE STUDY: THE CHALLENGER
What happened?
The orbiter of the Challenger had three main engines fuelled by liquid hydrogen. The fuel was
carried in an external fuel tank which was jettisoned when empty. During lift-off, the main
engines fire for about nine minutes, although initially the thrust was provided by the two
booster rockets.
Or
b) How can engineer become a responsible experimenter? Highlight the code of ethics for
Engineers.
Although the engineers facilitate experiments, they are not alone in the field. Their
responsibility is shared with the organizations, people, government, and others.
The engineer, as an experimenter, owe several responsibilities to the society, namely,
1. A conscientious commitment to live by moral values.
2. A comprehensive perspective on relevant information. It includes constant awareness of the
progress of the experiment and readiness to monitor the side effects, if any.
3. Unrestricted free-personal involvement in all steps of the project/product development
(autonomy).