Do Engineers Have Social Responsibilities? By Dr. Mark Manion Associate Professor of Professional Ethics Philosophy Program Director

1ProfessionalismWHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL?

Originally, one who professed adherence to monastic vows of a religious order.*a free act of commitment to a specific way of life*allegiance to high moral standards*skill, knowledge, practice of an art

WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL?

Today, it is one who is duly qualified in a specific field*special theoretical knowledge or education*appropriate experience*knowledge and skills vital to the well-being of a large potion of society*Professional organization and a code of ethic*special social sanction

2Models of ProfessionalismBusiness Model

*professional status provides economic gain

*monopoly provides for high pay

*self-regulation avoids government regulation

3MODELS OF PROFESSIONALISMSocial Contract Model

Professionals are guardians of the public trust

Professions are social institutionsthey are organized by some act of society and are granted special powers in return for socially beneficial goods and services (Licensure)

An implicit, unstated agreement exists between professional and society

Society may subsidize training of professionals

4The Implicit Contract Between Society and the Engineering Profession Society agrees to:*allow a certain autonomy- freedom of self-regulation- freedom to choose clients*social status- respect from society, titles*high remuneration- reward for services- attract competent individuals

Society grants the professions the autonomy to define their own norms of behavior and action because it values their knowledge and the discretion to use it towards some socially recognized endsSociety gives professions and professionals special powers not granted to ordinary citizens to perform their socially defined roles

5The Implicit Contract Between Society and the Engineering ProfessionProfessionals agree to:*provide a service- for the public well-being- promote public welfare, even at own expense*self-regulation- enforce competence- enforce ethical standards6The Implicit Contract Between Society and the Engineering ProfessionClients place their trust not only in individual professionals but also in the professional organization and they trust professionals because the exercise of professional discretion at the individual level is governed by rules which are prescribed and enforced by the groupBy developing codes of professional ethics a profession can be said to have acknowledged an organizational responsibility to evaluate individual behavior according to group norms (BER of NSPE)The professions presumptive preference for self-regulation as an alternative to increased public control requires that they assume greater internal control over their affairs. This means that the profession of engineering has a strong responsibility to make sure that technology is produced that is good and beneficial to society, and technological goods should be distributed fairly and justly among all members of our society7The Implicit Contract Between Society and the Engineering ProfessionSelf regulation places the burden of proof collectively on the organization to ensure that individual members are technically competent to perform their duties according to high ethical standards and that engineers have genuine concern for how technology impacts society, both negatively as well as positively To voluntarily claim the benefits of a profession a member of that profession is obligated to follow the rules and norms of that professionIf not, they would be taking unfair advantage of a voluntary cooperative practice

8Principle of Proportionate CarePrinciple of Due Care:

All things being equal, one should exercise due care to avoid contributing to significantly harming others

Principle of Proportionate Care

When one is in a position to contribute to greater harm or when one is in a position to play a more critical part in producing harm than is another person, one must exercise greater care to avoid so doing

If doctors fail to do their job with technical competency or ethical commitment, an individual may be harmed or killed

If engineers fail to do their job with technical competency or commitment to ethics, dozens, hundreds, even thousands may be harmed or killed

9Principle of Proportionate CareTo the extent that the engineers, due to their special knowledge of technology, and the fact that technology could be risky and dangerous, could harm society, they must exercise due care in the practice of their profession. The more engineers are in a position to harm society, the more they should be held to a higher ethical standardSociety requires this in order to ensure the safe and reliable design, development, and deployment of technological systems and artifacts10Principle of Proportionate CareThere is a direct relationship between their ability to cause harm and the need to hold engineers to the highest of ethical standardsPotential to cause harmLevel of Ethical StandardHigh Level of HarmHigh Level of Ethics