Engineering Ethics

Engineering applies technical knowledge to

solve human problems.

Engineering is a technological activity that uses

professional imagination, judgment, integrity,
and intellectual discipline in the application of
science, technology, mathematics, and practical
experience to design, produce, and operate
useful objects or processes that meet the needs
and desires of a client.

Today engineering is seen as a profession

which refers specifically to fields that
require extensive study and mastery of
specialized knowledge and a voluntary and
abiding commitment to a code of conduct
which prescribes ethical behaviour.

The academic discipline of ethics, also

called
moral
philosophy,
involves
arranging, defending, and recommending
concepts of right and wrong behaviour.

three general subject areas:

In engineering, codes of conduct, developed to

regulate the behaviour of the practicing
engineer, ----------examples of normative ethics

Theories of normative ethics

Virtue ethics
Virtue - habit or disposition to perform the right action under given circumstances

Less emphasis on learning rules, and instead stresses

the importance of developing good habits of
character.

Duty theories
- Foundational principles of obligation

Fidelity: the duty to keep promises.

Reparation: the duty to compensate others when we harm them.
Gratitude: the duty to thank those who help us.
Justice: the duty to recognize merit.
Beneficence: the duty to improve the conditions of others.
Self-improvement: the duty to improve our virtue and intelligence.
Non-maleficence: the duty to not injure others.

Consequentialist theories

- a kind of cost-benefits analysis to ultimately decide whether or not an

action is ethical or unethical.

- requires that counting or estimating both the good and bad

consequences of an action

Three subdivisions

 Ethical Egoism: an action is morally right if the consequences of that

action are more favourable than unfavourable only to the agent
performing the action.
Ethical Altruism: an action is morally right if the consequences of that
action are more favourable than unfavourable to everyone except the
agent.
Utilitarianism: an action is morally right if the consequences of that
action are more favourable than unfavourable to everyone.

The very first canon cautions engineers in the

fulfilment of their professional duties, to hold
paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public. -----National Society for Professional
Engineers (NSPE)

accept responsibility in making engineering

decisions consistent with the safety, health and
welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly
factors that might endanger the public or the
environment. ---- Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE)