phil3910 ethics, technology and …2014)-lect01-a.pdfethics deals exclusively with human relations...

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ore, w

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Singapore

2014

Trimester‐3

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urthy, Consultant, Singapo

PHIL3910 : Lecture 01

PHIL3910 : ETHICS, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERINGLecture – 1 :

(Aug‐Dec)

Copyright: Dr. N. KrisLecture 1 :

Introduction, Asian Values and Ethics

Professor N. KrishnamurthyConsultant: Safety, Structures, and

Computer Applications Website: www.profkrishna.comE‐mail: [email protected]

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Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

(1) Understand the nature and impact of human values when making design decisions, in particular in engineering, in the context of a complex multi‐national technological and

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 organizational setting.

(2) Appreciate critically the technological and organizational complexity of contemporary technology and the ethical implications of its usage for practicing engineers.

(3) Understand the key moral frameworks of engineering ethics and their application to specific ethical dilemmas

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris and their application to specific ethical dilemmas

encountered in engineering practice.

(4) Effectively communicate one's understanding of impact of human values and technology design in both verbal pre‐sentation and essay format, interact effectively with peers in group tasks, & solve problems in diverse community groups.

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Course Content

The course covers:

The basic concepts and moral frameworks of engineering ethics

The techniques of normative analysis of technology and

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q y gyengineering practice

Effective writing and oral communication skills

The complexity of technology and its implications on market and corporate organization, and,

The ethical implications of the complexity of technology and

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris

of the organizations which design, construct, and operate the technology.

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Text book and Complementary Readings – a 1. Poel, Ibo Van De, and Lamber Royakkers, Ethics, Technology and

Engineering – An Introduction, Wiley‐Blackwell, UK, 2011, 364p.

Complementary Readings:

1. Delatte Jr., Norbert. Beyond Failure, ASCE Press, 2009.

2 Gratton Lynda Asia and the West Differences? – The four reasons why it's a

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2. Gratton, Lynda, Asia and the West Differences? – The four reasons why it s a tough question, http://lyndagrattonfutureofwork.typepad.com/lynda‐gratton‐future‐of‐work10/10/asia‐and‐the‐west‐differences‐the‐four‐reasons‐why‐its‐a‐tough‐question.html, 2010.

3. Hitchcock, David I., "The United States and East Asia: New Commonalities: And Then, All Those Differences", Proceedings of a Conference Held on 28 March 1997 at Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan, as Part of the First Shizuoka Asia‐Pacific Forum: The Future of the Asia‐Pacific Region (FSAPF).

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Asia Pacific Forum: The Future of the Asia Pacific Region (FSAPF).

4. Inoguchi T and Edward Newman, “Introduction: 'Asian Values' and Democracy in Asia”, Proceedings of FSAPF.

5. Khong, C.O., Asian Values: The Debate Revisited, Proceedings of FSAPF.

6. McLean, George F., Confucian Harmony and Technical Progress: Suggestions from Kant, Retrieved July 2014 from: http://www.crvp.org/book/Series03/III‐11/chapter_xvi.htm

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Text book and Complementary Readings – b 9. Milner, Anthony,What's Happened to Asian Values?, Faculty of Asian

Studies, Australian National University, 2002.

10. Pitta, Dennis A., Hung‐Gay Fung, and Steven Iseberg, "Ethical issues across cultures: managing the differing perspectives of China and the USA", Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 16, No. 3, 1999, Pp. 240‐256, MCB Univ. Press,

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 11. Sen, Amartya, 'Human Rights and Asian Values," The New Republic, July 1997

12. Shen, Vincent, Confucianism and Science – A Philosophical Evaluation, Retrieved July 2014 from: http://www.crvp.org/book/Series03/III‐11/chapter_ix.htm

13. Tang, James T.H., "A Clash Of Values? Human Rights In The Post‐Cold War World", Proceedings of FSAPF.

14.UNESCO Publishing, Engineering Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for D l t 2019 43 52 184 196

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Development, 2019, p. 43‐52, 184‐196.

15.UN‐Habitat, Asian Development Bank, and Global Dharma Center, Human Values and Ethics in the Workplace, 2005, 26p.

16.West, Jonathan P., Loo See Beh and Meghna Sabharwal, SAGE/ASPA, "Charting Ethics in Asia‐Pacific HRM : Does East Meet West, Ethically?", Review of Public Personnel Administration, SAGE/ASPA, April 2013.

17.Wikipedia, Asian Values, Retrieved July 2014: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_values

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ScheduleSession* Date (2014) Topics Study Material

1 Aug 25 (Mon) Introduction, Asian Values and Ethics Ref. (2) to (11), (15)

2 Sep 1 (Mon) The Responsibilities of Engineers Text. Chap. 1, Ref. (1), (12)

3 Sep 8 (Mon) Codes of Conduct Text. Chap. 2, Appendices

4 Sep 15 (Mon) Normative Ethics Text. Chap. 3, Ref. (13), (14)

5 Sep 22 (Mon) Normative Argumentation Text. Chap. 4

6 Sep 29 (Mon) The Ethical Cycle Text Chap 5

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6 Sep 29 (Mon) The Ethical Cycle Text. Chap. 5

Mid-term Test

Oct 2 (Thu) 1.30 to 2.30pm, (Will cover Lectures 1 to 5)Text and References of Lect.1 to 5

Break Oct 6-11 -

7 Oct 13 (Mon) Ethical Questions in the Design of Technology Text. Chap. 6

8 Oct 20 (Mon) Designing Morality Text. Chap. 7

Essay Oct 24 (Fri)Submission of Individual Essay, hard copy in bin by 5pm; MS-Word soft

copy of same, by midnight

9 Oct 27 (Mon) Ethical Aspects of Technical Risks Text. Chap .8

10 Nov 3 (Mon) The Distribution of Responsibility in Engineering Text Chap 9


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10 Nov 3 (Mon) The Distribution of Responsibility in Engineering Text. Chap. 9

Proj. Rep Nov 5 (Wed)Submission of Project Report, hard copy in bin by 5pm; MS-Word soft copy

of same, by midnight

11 Nov 6 (Thu)** Sustainability, Ethics, and Technology, Revision Text. Chap. 10

12 Nov 17 (Mon) Group Project Presentations

Finals Dec 2 (Tue) 9.30 to 11.30am ALL

* Lectures, 3.30pm to 5.30pm, tutorials 5.30pm to 6.30pm, generally on Mondays. ** - 12 noon-3pmLecturer may move Tutorial to the middle or beginning of the lecture as context may require.Lectures may extend into the Tutorial as needed to compensate for last session project presentations.

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Assessment

No. Assessment Item Marks Dates

1.Tutorial participation, with individual written mini-essays

10%In class, after every tutorial

% O

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 2. Mid-term test 20% Thu, Oct 2

3. Individual essay 20% Fri, Oct 24

4.Group project report and presentation

20%Report Wed Nov 5, Presentation Nov 17

5. Final Examination 30% Tue, Dec 2

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris 5 a a at o 30% ue, ec

Must get minimum 50% total

Individual pass/fail does not apply7

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Marking Rubrics

ItemEssayFor 20

Pr.RepFor 15

1. Format, strictly according to specifications 2 1.5

2.Well organized structure and presentation: Introduction,

conclusion, Section and sub-section headings etc. to guide the readers with charts and graphics as necessary

2 1.5

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guide the readers, with charts and graphics as necessary.

3.Exposition of source material, i.e., account of what

happened, stakeholders, and their ethical problems raised in the case

2 1.5

4.Identification of the moral values of stakeholders, conflicts

between stakeholders, and conflicts between moral values 3 2

5.Identification of different solutions to the conflicts and re-

lated arguments presented in the source material, as well as your choice of the best solution and arguments for it

3 2

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris as your choice of the best solution and arguments for it

6Evaluation of all moral arguments according to relevant

ethical theories, human values, and code of ethics 3 2

7. Properly referenced (Harvard style preferred) 1 18. Original ideas, innovative solutions 2 1.5

9.Language: Well-structured sentences and paragraphs,

introductory and concluding sentences in paragraphs, few or no grammatical errors or typos

2 28

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Some Ground Rules

Having your personal complete (legal) copy of the text book is an absolute necessity.

We will not be able to cover its 364 pages in class or through slides, and hence there will be a lot of self‐study

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 involved.

Tutorial discussion questions will be set from the text book and sharing text books will not be allowed.

Essay topic will be selected from the text book, and it will be unfair to share the book during the writing of the essay.

C l t di ill l b i d di

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Complementary readings will also be required reading, as

some questions will be set from them.

You will need to form project groups of four (or five if absolutely necessary to include left overs or newcomers) on the first day of class.9

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Ethics and Religion

Religion generally confines itself to the relationship between humans and the Almighty.

Ethics deals exclusively with human relations

Most religions also recognise need for humans to relate to th i t bl d i f hi (‘f i ’ ‘ i ht’

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one another in a stable and progressive fashion (‘fair’, ‘right’, ‘positive’ and other such terms being contextual).

They have therefore segments devoted to inter‐society and intra‐society relations, and imposed commandments such as: “Thou shalt not steal.”

They also prescribed heavy penalties for not following the d t lth h i ft lif

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris commandments, although in after‐life.

Some religions direct their adherents to live in a certain way as a path to God, even addressing secular concerns such as politics and war, which latter would go against the conventional injunction not to kill.

Hinduism is often described as a ‘Way of Life’.

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Timeline for Professional Ethics

Hinduism, c4000BC

Judaism, c2000BC

Babylon, 1800BC

We will not discuss religious or spiritual aspects which deal with the Almighty or prophets (Blessed be their

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Buddhism, 535BC

Confucianism, 500BC

Christianity, 30AD

Islam, 622 AD

names!)

We will only focus on professional ethics aspects built into the religious commandments

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Guilds 17th Century

Industrial Revolution 19th Century

Professional Societies Today

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ProfessionalEthics inHinduism,c4000BC

At highest level, Hinduism considered to be “way of life”, based on Dharma, the virtue which holds world together.

‘Dharma’ covers natural universal laws of right living which enable humans to be contented and happy, and save th l f d d ti d ff i

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themselves from degradation and suffering. It is the moral law that guides all facets of one's life.

10 Rules of Dharma:

(1) Patience, (2) Forgiveness, (3) Self control, (4) Honesty, (5) Sanctity, (6) Sense control, (7) Reason, (8) Knowledge,

(9) Truthfulness, and (10) No anger.

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris ( ) , ( ) g

‘Karma’ principle emphasises reaction to every act (done knowingly), and urges followers to accept responsibly.

Duty to family, employer, State, and one’s profession is held paramount – even in war.12

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ProfessionalEthics in Judaism, c2000BC

Judaism (religion of the Jews) has Ten Commandments, including:

6. You shall not kill.

8. You shall not steal.

[or injure, at work]

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Additionally, the Talmud (sacred book of the Jews) has many b ( f )

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet … anything of your neighbor’s.

MOSES


injunctions on business (same for engineers):

Not make exaggerated or misleading claims

Not speak disparagingly even if truthfully about rival’s products or claims, unless to protect the customer

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Professional Ethics of Babylon, 1800BC

Hammurabi, ruler of Babylon (1795‐1750 BC) had 282 laws engraved on a black stone.

A few:

218.

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 If a physician make a large incision with the

operating knife, and kill him, or open a tumor with the operating knife, and cut out the eye, his hands shall be cut off.

229.

If a builder build a house for some one, and does not


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construct it properly, and the house which he built fall in and kill its owner, then that builder shall be put to death.

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Professional Ethics in Buddhism, 535BC

Panch‐Shila (Five Virtues):

No killing – No stealing – No lying [+ 2 more: No lust, no drugs]

Noble Eight‐fold Path (“Middle Way”):

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g ( y )RIGHT …

(1) Understanding,

(2) Thought,

(3) Speech,

(4) Action, Applied to

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris ( ) ,

(5) Livelihood,

(6) Effort,

(7) Mindfulness, and

(8) Concentration.

ppprofession

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Profes. Ethics in Confucianism, 500BC

K'ung Fu Tzu, known by other names, commonly written as ‘Confucius’, was born in 551 B.C. in China and died about 479 B.C., propagated moral ethics (without mentioning ‘GOD’.)

Ethical teachings – social harmony is the greatest goal:

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 Adoption of ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc.

Love within the family (parents/children)

Righteousness and justice Honesty and trustworthiness Benevolence, humaneness towards others

– highest Confucian virtue

WATERWEDDINGYIN‐YANG

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Loyalty to the State (= employer)

“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.”

“Given the modernization of China, engineering ethics must be introduced.” – Fei Guo, S.E.‐U. in China, 2009 ‘Science and Technology in Society’ Conf. in DC (USA).

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ProfessionalEthics inChristianity, 30AD

Christianity has Ten Commandments (almost same as Judaism, following from Moses), including:

6. You shall not kill.

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet … anything of your neighbor’s

Additionally the Bible of the Christians notes:

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Additionally, the Bible of the Christians notes:

“Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” – The Apostle James

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ProfessionalEthics in Islam, 622AD

Islam also has ‘Prohibitions’ similar to the Ten Comman‐dments of Abraham / Moses, and some more, of which the following are relevant for professional ethics:

Not to kill a human being premeditatively

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 Not to steal

Not to cheat in measuring or weighing in selling or purchasing

Not to scandalize people, especially women

Not to backbite others, exposing to those who do not know some shameful doing

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris know, some shameful doing

Not to lie deliberately or testify falsely

Not to conceal a testimony in a litigation

Not to deliberately hinder a good cause 18

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Professional Ethics for Guilds

As civilizations grew, developed, and spread, different groups of artisans and craftsmen, tradespeople, and professionals organised themselves into ‘Guilds’:

To share their experiences, T di i t th i ti

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To disseminate their expertise,

To protect bereaved families from poverty, and

To protect themselves from exploitation, sickness, or misfortune.

Guilds may be treated as forerunner of today’s unions.

By 1600s, guilds developed their own regulations.

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris By 1600s, guilds developed their own regulations.

Theories of duties, rights, and ethics were developed.

But by the 1800s, guilds fell into disfavour, as opposing free trade and hindering technological innovation, technology transfer, and business development.

Industrial Revolution forced the machine age on society.

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Professional Ethics in 19th Cent.

Industrial revolution of the 19th century brought the ‘work ethic’, which the West called the ‘Protestant Work Ethic’.

The idea of work as a ‘calling’ had been replaced by the concept of public usefulness.

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 Economists warned of the poverty and decay that would

befall the country if people failed to work hard.

Moralists stressed the social duty of each person to be productive.

Schools taught, along with the alphabet and the spelling b k th t idl di

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris book, that idleness was a disgrace.

Accountability, honesty, and integrity typically are three of the main components that lead to ethical business [and professional] practices.

Professionals seriously started formalising their ethics.

http://www.coe.uga.edu/workethic/hir.html

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Asian vs. Western Culture

Western European culture

Values are abstract, private, and subjective,

Facts are concrete, public, and objective

This view is simplistic and fallacious …

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p

How does this compare with Asian view of values? – NK


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Asian Values and Democracy in Asia [Inoguchi] – a

From: "Asian Values" and Democracy in Asia, by Inoguchi and Newman, Ref. 6

This question is so politicized, contested and methodologi‐cally dubious as to make it illusory.

N th l id tif t i lt l t it

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Nevertheless, one can identify certain cultural traits.

Group orientation – the interests of the community are felt to come before those of the individual.

• East Asians believe that whatever they do or say, they must keep in mind the interests of others.

• The individual tries to balance his interests with those of


family and society.

• Asian people are less selfish and accept that cohesion and stability of society are more important – [than those in the liberal, atomized West] and logically prior to – the rights of individuals.22

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Asian Values and Democracy in Asia [Inoguchi] – b

Group orientation is also associated with values such as:

Self‐effacement,

Self‐discipline, Personal sacrifice to the greater good

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 • This is integral to perceptions of public morality, harmony

and social dynamism.

Respect for family ties and the elderly,

Frugality, Filial piety, H d k d

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Hard work, and

Teamwork

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Asian Values [Milner] – a

[Ref. 9] By 1998 following the Asian financial crisis, ‘Asian Values’ were discredited as false and outmoded.

'Anglo‐Saxon Free Market values' came into favour.

Proponents of Asian values:

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 1. Cited the following features:

Stress on the community rather than the individual,

Privileging of order & harmony over personal freedom

Refusal to compartmentalize religion away from other spheres of life,

Particular emphasis on saving and thriftiness,

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Insistence on hard work,

Respect for political leadership,

Belief that government and business need not necessarily be natural adversaries, and

Emphasis on family loyalty. 24

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Asian Values [Milner] – b

Proponents of Asian values (Contd.):

2. Insisted Asia must be evaluated within its values and not on the basis of liberal‐democratic West

3. Criticised certain 'Western values', especially:

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 Excessive stress on the individual rather than the

community,

Lack of social discipline, and

Too great tolerance for eccentricity and abnormality in social behaviour.

4 Suggested the West might well learn from 'Asian values‘

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris 4. Suggested the West might well learn from Asian values

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Asian Values [Milner] – c

West’s Reaction:

1. There are no coherent ‘Asian Values’, as evidenced by: Long‐standing religious divisions Recent major social/cultural Western transformations

l ll d k

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 2. Many Asian values are equally Western: E.g. Hard work

3. Culture may not be a factor in economic change.4. Many Asian leaders use argument of ‘Values’: To defend their non‐liberalism and not people’s beliefs When it suits them to become capitalistic

5. There is no unanimity on Asian Values in the region.


6. The Values Agreement has been of little use; ASEAN as the representative group has had little impact.

7. Supporters use double standards, arguing for supporting elders and not flaunting wealth, but behaving differently.

Hence Western capitalism has triumphed!26

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Asian Values [Milner] – d

Milner’s Counter‐Arguments supporting Asian values:

‘Asian Values’ have a long history and wide support.

Hard work, thrift, filial piety, and national pride continue to be foundation for economic success in Asia.

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 After the financial crisis, ‘re‐Asianisation’ is taking place.

Culture still matters; many respondents to surveys affirm:

‘Orderly society' and 'harmony‘, ignored by Americans

Loss, due to Western influence, of “family values, individualism, selfishness, lack of cultural values,


permissiveness, secularisation, and uncaringness.”

Some adjustments may be necessary to the time‐honoured ways of Asian culture, but changes must be within the local cultural framework.

E.g. Chinese capitalism, avoiding large corporations27

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Asian Values [Milner] – e

Milner’s Counter‐Arguments (Contd.):

To quote Madhubani, “Efforts by Asians to rediscover Asian values are not only or even primarily a search for political values.”

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 They involve a desire to reconnect with their

historical past after this connection had been ruptured both by colonial rule and the subsequent domination of the globe by a Western worldview.

Many new initiatives such as in the arts

KishoreMahbubani(born 24 Oct 1948, S’pore) is currently Professor in Practice of

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Many new initiatives such as in the arts,

fashion, language, literature, etc. reinforce resistance to the powerful European and American discourses that have been seeking hegemony in Asia since beginning of high‐colonialism in the nineteenth century.

Public Policy and Dean of the Lee KuanYew School of Public Policy at NUS28

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AsianValues (Amartya Sen)–a

From: "Human Rights and Asian Values," The New Republic, 14‐21 July 1997 [Ref. 9]

Some relatively authoritarian states (such as South Korea, Singapore, and post‐f Chi ) h h d f t t f

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reform China) have had faster rates of economic growth than many less authoritarian ones (such as India, Costa Rica or Jamaica).

Counter‐Example: Botswana, the fastest‐growing African country (and one of the fastest growing countries in

Amartya Kumar Sen, (b. 3 Nov. 1933) is an eminent Indian econo‐mist and philosopher. Currently Prof. of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris one of the fastest growing countries in

the world), has been an oasis of democracy in that unhappy continent.

Much depends on the precise circumstances.

Philosophy at Harvard University. In 1998 received Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to work on welfare economics.

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Asian Values (Amartya Sen) – b

Economic policies and circumstances that led to success of east Asian economies cover "helpful policies," such as:

Openness to competition,

Use of international markets,

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 High level of literacy and education,

Successful land reforms, and

Public provision of incentives for investment, exporting, and industrialization.

These policies are not inconsistent with greater democracy, or t i d b th l t f th it i i

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris sustained by the elements of authoritarianism.

Indian experience shows that faster economic growth needs friendlier economic climate, not harsher politics

Political and civil rights give people the opportunity to draw attention forcefully to general needs and to demand appropriate public action, especially during disasters.

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Asian Values (Amartya Sen) – c

Asia is where about 60% of world's population lives.

East Asians – Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam

Southeast Asia – Mix between Sinic and Indian, though Indian culture itself has similar values

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 Even within regions, and countries, variations exist

Shared common features:

Treatment of the elderly more supportive in Asian countries than in the West.

Scepticism of freedom and liberty

Emphasis on order and discipline

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Emphasis on order and discipline

Claim of political freedom and democracy as a fundamental and ancient feature of Western culture is arguable:

Aristotle supported the value of personal freedom, but in his exclusion of women and slaves failed to defend the equality of that freedom for all.

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Asian Values (Amartya Sen) – d

Also questionable is the distinction between:

(1) value of toleration of diverse beliefs, commit‐ments and actions of different people; and

(2) the toleration offered to some must be

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 reasonably offered to all (except when tolerance

of some will lead to intolerance for others)

Arguments for some tolerance can be seen plentifully in earlier Western writings, without being supplemented by arguments for universal tolerance.

Roots of modern democratic and liberal ideas lie

PLATO

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Roots of modern democratic and liberal ideas lie

in constitutive elements rather than as a whole.

Conversely, championing of order and discipline can also be found in Western classics.

Plato or St. Augustine are as authoritarian as Confucius

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St AUGUSTINE

CONFUCIUS

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Asian Values (Amartya Sen) – e

Strength of Asian values lies in their diversity:

Much of contemporary authoritarian interpretation of Asian values concentrates on Confucianism, to the neglect of this diversity.

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 Buddhist tradition attaches great importance

to freedom

Earlier Indian thinking relating to Buddhist thoughts (Hinduism) allow much room for volition and free choice

Confucius is also democratic: "When the [good] way prevails i t t k b ldl d t b ldl Wh t t h l t th

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris in state, speak boldly and act boldly. When state has lost the

way, act boldly and speak softly."

Confucius placed the family before State in loyalty.

Indian writing is not only voluminous, but also displays a variety of views on freedom, tolerance, and equality.

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Asian Values (Amartya Sen) – f

There is plenty of evidence that Western governments have tended to give priority to the interests of their own citizens engaged in commerce with the Asian countries and to the pressures generated by business groups to be on good terms ith th li t i A i

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with the ruling governments in Asia.

British were famous for ‘Divide and Rule’ policy – NK No “clash of civilizations’ between the East and West.

Our ideas of political and personal rights have taken their particular form relatively recently, not necessarily as "traditional" commitments of Western cultures

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris traditional commitments of Western cultures.

There are important antecedents of those commitments, but those antecedents can be found plentifully in Asian cultures as well as Western cultures.

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Ethical Issues across Cultures (Pitta) – a

[Ref. 8] Cultural conflict

Newspapers contain stories highlighting the domestic unethical behavior of managers. The behavior includes:

Illegal campaign contributions;

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g p g ;

Bribery;

Knowingly selling defective goods;

Hiding information; and

Other troubling acts.

These instances represent individual or organizational mis‐

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris These instances represent individual or organizational mis

conduct; there is an ethical framework that is not followed.

The more serious problem entails two different ethical standards meeting in a business transaction.

This situation is characterized as a cultural conflict.35

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Ethical Issues across Cultures (Pitta) – b

Six questions according to Kluckholn and Strodtbeck (1961) :

(1) What are society's assumptions about the essential goodness of people? Essentially good, bad or both?

(2) What does e society emphasize in interpersonal relations,

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( ) y p p ,free to act as individual or consider group before acting?

(3) What is value of personal space in society? In some socie‐ties, people feel comfortable standing close to one ano‐ther. In others, people are uncomfortable standing close.

(4) What does the society assume about the relationship of d t ? T li i h t d i t it?

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris man and nature? To live in harmony or to dominate it?

(5) What is the role of change in society? Does culture value stability, reserving the status quo? Progress and change?

(6) Finally, what is society's orientation toward time: past, present or future?

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Ethical Issues across Cultures (Pitta) – c

Chinese people are diligent yet they tend to be content with their lot. They do not believe in one God but believe in sages. This contrasts with US view of one God and importance of organized religion in the country.

Chi b li th t thi h ld b i h d

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Chinese believe that everything should be in harmony, and they take a long‐term view of things. Americans believe in efficiency and effectiveness. Competi‐tion and action that will contribute to the end result are regarded as critical and important. Americans value desired end result, which may disrupt relations & normal patterns.

Chi l tt h i t t h f li f

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Chinese people attach importance to human feelings, prefer

to work in groups to accomplish a common goal. They believe that ``rule of man'' is more important than ``rule of law'‘. Americans, a diverse people from various races and cultures gain their identity through their individual achievements and behaviors, although relationship does play a role.

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Ethical Issues across Cultures (Pitta) – d

Chinese culture is built on subtlety.

Chinese do not usually want to confront each other even if there is disagreement.

Outspokenness is not the norm and direct questioning is

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PHIL3910 : Lecture 01 viewed as rude.

Chinese do not easily reveal true feelings to other people. Outsiders have to be insightful in their listening. Courtesy is important in Chinese culture; it is the leading virtue among righteousness, ethics and honor.

Those who lose face at the hands of another seek revenge

Copyright: Dr. N. Kris Those who lose face at the hands of another seek revenge.

Chinese give hints to others about what they really want. Chinese people value silence, which is considered to be important in daily activities; silence is reserved for reflection and careful thinking.

• [Study the rest of the article for more differences. – NK]

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Competencies and Ethical Issues in Engineering

Moral competencies ... Ability to: Sensibility … Recognize social and ethical issues; Analysis skills … Analyze moral problems; Creativity … Think out different options for action; J d t kill Gi l j d t

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Judgment skills … Give a moral judgment; Decision‐making skills … Reflect on different ethical theories Argumentation skills … Morally justify one’s actions


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The EndLecture 01


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phil3910 ethics, technology and …2014)-lect01-a.pdfethics deals exclusively with human relations...

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