copyright baylor university 20061 egr 1301 engineering ethics

Copyright Baylor University 2006 1

EGR 1301Engineering Ethics


Introduction

Steven Eisenbarth, Ph.D. Associate Dean of

Engineering and Computer Science

Baylor University


Rules that Govern Human Interaction

Etiquette – codes of behavior and courtesy Law – system of rules established by statutes or custom

(as in common law) Morals – accepted standards of right and wrong

Some are universal (e.g., lying or killing) Some are not (e.g., polygamy and divorce)

Ethics – general and abstract concepts of right and wrong behavior culled from philosophy, theology and professional societies.


Overlap May Lead to Conflicts

What is legal is not always moral.

What is moral is not always legal.

Sometimes even moral principles collide with each other. More on this later.


Ethics Example— Speed Limits

Moral question?

Conceptual question?

Applications question?

Factual question?


Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

Factual Issues – arises when there is uncertainty about morally relevant facts.

Applications Issues – result when it is unclear if a particular act violates a law, rule or policy.

Conceptual Issues – arise when the morality of an action is agreed upon, but there is uncertainty about how it should be codified.

Moral Issues – are involved if the issue can only be resolved by making a moral decision.


Other Examples

Untreated industrial waste discharges Housing development over toxic waste site Are theses examples of:

Moral question? Conceptual question? Applications question? Factual question?


Emmanuel Kant

Sought to establish the ultimate principle of morality. Motivation behind the act important not the results

achieved by the act. An action is moral if one could will the action be a

universal law. Respect for persons. Persons should never be an means to an end but an end in

themselves. Critical of Utilitarian theories because they tended to

devalued human worth.


John Stewart Mill

Greatly influenced by the writing of Jeremy Bentham. Utilitarianism – “The greatest happiness principle”. Moral activities are those that create the most good for the

most people. Best cost/benefit ratio. Requires assessment of the results of actions not the

motives of the actor. Happiness defined as intellectual as well as sensual

pleasure. Human dignity implies that intellectual pleasure is to be

preferred to sensual pleasure.


Rights Analysis

Similar to Utilitarianism. Maximize “rights” rather than “happiness” Two type of rights:

Liberty rights Welfare rights

All “rights” are not of equal importance. Greater weight give to “most important” rights Select action the infringes the least on the rights of

those involved.


Christian Ethics

Love God with heart, soul, mind and strength. Love neighbor as self. Moral law as civil restraint. Moral law as a spiritual mirror. Moral law as a spur to good deeds. One seeks God’s grace in all life’s actions


Moral Principles: Conflicting Guidance

What is best for society is not necessarily best for everyone in society. Example – where to build an airport Example – Stalin murdering 20,000,000 Russians,

ostensibly to make Russia better for the remaining 200,000,000 people.

Engineers generally use cost/benefit analysis which is more utilitarian.

Which moral theory is more prevalent in American public policy? In American personal ethics?


Canon of Engineering Ethics

1. Protect public safety, health and welfare.2. Perform duties only in area of competence.3. Be truthful and objective.4. Avoid conflicts of interest.5. Reject bribes and gifts that would interfere with

your engineering judgment.6. Provide honest value to one’s employer.7. Protect employer’s or client’s confidential

information.

8. Protect the environment.


Which of Canons Applies

Engineers get paid to testify as expert witnesses by the hour, whether their side wins or loses. Lawyers can work for a contingency. Why? What canon applies.

When an engineering goes to work for a competitor of his current employer, what canon applies?


Engineering as a Profession

Profession are defined by statue and regulated by State Boards Doctors must pass medical exam to obtain license and practice

medicine. Lawyers must pass Bar exam to practice law. Engineers may or may not be licensed.

In Texas engineering is regulated by the Engineering Practice Act.

This Act includes as section on “Professional Conduct and Ethics”.


Resource Allocationand the Value of Human Life

Why we can’t put infinite value on human life in engineering work?

What value on their lives (on average) do Americans put?

What are the two critical principles in deciding what is an acceptable level of risk in engineering work? Voluntary or involuntary Who takes risk and who gets reward


From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chernobyl_Disaster.jpg


Assignment

Browse the Texas Board of Professional Engineers Website http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/

Locate the Texas Engineering Registration Requirements http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/eng_req.htm

Locate the Texas Laws and Rules http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/downloads.htm#general Download a copy of the Law and Rules Document Read Subsection C: Personal Conduct and Ethics

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