2015 International Conference on Behavioral, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Computing (BESC 2015)
Research on Ethical Issues in Engineering Practice
and Its Countermeasures
Jiadi Fu DiYu
School of Marxism School of Marxism
Wuhan University of Technology Wuhan University of Technology
Wuhan, China Wuhan, China
whutjd@163.com whut_yudi@126.com
Abstract- Engineering ethics is essentially a practical ethics.
It exists in all aspects of the conceptual design to proj ect
implementation. This article sorts out the maj or ethical problems
in the practice of engineering, including security, effectiveness
evaluation, ecological and ethical issues, public rights, conflict of
interest issues; and points out the causes of these problems: the
uncertainty of engineering practice, the complexity of
engineering practice, bounded rationality of practice subj ect.
Finally, the strategy on ethical issues in engineering practice are
proposed: firstly, launching the engineering ethics education and
improving the quality of engineers; secondly, establishing
coordination mechanism of interests and information disclosure
mechanism in engineering practice; thirdly, instilling ethics into
engineering practice; fourthly, increasing the legislation and
regulation of engineering practice.
Keywords-Engineering practices; ethical issues; engineering
ethics
I. INTRODUCTION
Engineering refers to: the human, through the organized
form, make a large-scale construction or reconstruction
activities by the project approach. The engineering usually had
a profound impact on a region and a country's social life,
dramatically improving the local economic, cultural and
ecological environment, and which are scientific, technical,
economic, regulatory, social, cultural, environmental and other
factors of integration, selection and optimization[1].In
engineering design, decision-making, implementation, and
operation management will be involved in cross-application of
multiple disciplines knowledge; the combination of different
technologies, the involvement of various social groups, as well
as the allocation of benefits, costs and risks makes engineering
activities everywhere permeated with the ethical factors and
human values. The ethical factors and human values are the
important parts of engineering ethics. Engineering ethics is
essentially a practical ethics, which are objective, widespread;
and each project from concept design to project
implementation includes ethics component which cannot be
split.
Researches on engineering ethics has conducted extensive
research and made a series of new developments. First, in
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Guanjian Qiu
School of Politics and
Administration
Wuhan University of Technology
Wuhan, China
gjqiu@whut.edu.cn
terms of definition, researches on engineering ethics concepts
have achieved consistent identity. Engineering ethics refers to:
the engineering group regards the public health and safety,
environmental protection and sustainable development as a
core value, in the face of a variety of engineering ethics
conflict can make rational choices, has practical wisdom which
can deal with all kinds of complicated engineering problems;
Engineering ethics is also to adjust ethics of the relationship
between engineering and technology, engineering and society,
which must comply with the ethical principles in the
engineering areas[2]. Engineering ethics, the academic circles,
can be divided into special and general engineering ethics, or
divided two types of micro-and macro-engineering ethics[3].
Engineering ethics, by ethicist John . ladexi, is broken down
into "micro-ethics" or "macro-ethics", depending on whether to
stress the relationship between engineers and customers,
colleagues, employers, or emphasize the responsibility of
engineers to society. In other words, the "micro" considers the
relationship between individuals and within the engineering
profession; while macro-engineering ethics applies to the
collective social responsibility of profession and social
decision-making about technology. Second, in terms of
engineering ethics education, academics focus on engineering
students ' ethic education in colleges and universities. Zhao
Yunhong [4],who was from the three dimensions of value
rationality, rationality and practical rationality, analyzes the
deeper reason behind it; basing on this, she proposed the
reform of contents and methods of engineering ethics education
in University. Third, in terms of research methods. Dong Qun
and He Jing's [5] research suggests that engineering ethics, as a
professional ethics or practice ethics, whose research methods
is through norms to achieve "a limited ethics of objective
reality" and then they came up with a method which is different
from traditional research approach of engineering ethics-­
narrative scenes, which provides new perspectives for the study
of engineering ethics. Fourth, Changing the research sight.
United States and the Netherlands, and Australia and other
Western countries, which are for engineering ethics focus,
gradually shift from micro-ethics to macro-ethics. Western
engineering ethics macro changes, from the engineers' point of
view, has been developed, accompanied by the ethical
responsibility of engineers from roles and responsibilities to
public liability.
 2015 International Conference on Behavioral, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Computing (BESC 2015)
This article will sort out the major ethical problems in the
practice of engineering, pointed out that the causes of these
problems, and put forward solutions to the problems. It not
only helps correct the current one-sided understanding of
engineering ethics in the engineering sector, but also for
effective control and supervision of the engineering activities
and is conducive to the engineering ethics education for
decision makers and participants of the project activities.
II. MAJOR ETHICAL PROBLEM OF ENGINEERING
PRACTICE
A. Security issues
Safety is the primary consideration in engineering practice
problems. Tn project design and implementation, the engineers
had to adhere to the "safe and harmless to humans' principle
fully taking works safety into account and making labor
protection measures. Security problems in the practice of
engineering include engineering safety and ecological security,
and mainly includes: first, the engineers should ensure the
design and construction safety in the process of engineering
construction, which refers to: the design must be meticulous in
accordance with the technical specifications and safety
regulations stipulated by the State, and then ensure project
safety and ensure design errors do not occur. During the course
of construction, management and technical personnel should
strictly implement the system of responsibility for production
safety, and adopt an effective measure to safeguard security
and prevent danger and fire prevention; engineers does not
violate regulations and does not compel workers to work at risk.
During the construction process, it should not lead to casualties,
endanger human health and cause property damage. Second,
the safety is reflected by the results and the quality of
engineering construction, which includes the safety of the
overall management, such as construction, installation,
transport ; and natural factors, such as flooding, landslides, and
the unexpected events, such as the outbreak of war, which
threaten to the safety of project; Third, the ecological safety.
Engineering-building arrangements should be made,
particularly in mining, large-scale construction projects such as
building reservoirs, to avoid or reduce the harm to the species;
after the completion of ecological reconstruction, engineers
should repair or creating a new ecosystem, and minimize or not
compromise its original ecological integrity, or even better, in
order to facilitate the development of productive forces, in
order to reduce harmful impacts to a minimum on the
environment, in order to ensure safety of life and the
environment[6].
B. The effectiveness evaluation problem
With the evolution of outlook of social development,
evaluation of utility theory is also improved, enriched and
developed. Efficiency estimation has developed from a single
economic evaluation, to the evaluation of economic, technical,
environmental and social aspects, but is still based on
economic evaluation and technology assessment. [t is a very
difficult thing for engineers to be honesty In the process of
effectiveness evaluation. First of all, technology assessment
reports on specific technical solutions, is always non-neutrality
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of value, that is, which may be under the influence of
conflicting political values. Secondly, except for defending
their position and interests for specific policies, but values,
which is the way that the individuals have not awareness, also
influence the collection, appraisal and interpretation of data,
and then has more subtle effects on the final recommendations.
In addition, even if engineers managed to get rid of their
prejudices on both political and economic interests, technical
complexity is also likely to cause report distortion.
Evaluation of current utility theory also has its drawbacks.
At the method level, the phenomenon, which is the
inconsistency and incompatibility of the independent
effectiveness evaluation method, the neglected effects of
different types of interdependence, is more pronounced. At the
procedural level, it is difficult to coordinate the timing of the
various independent evaluation, to be consistent with the
decision-making of planning cycle timely, it is difficult to be
reflected in each participating in the evaluation and decision­
making process. [n terms of value, efficiency and equity are the
most basic principles in human economic life. Project activities,
in a certain sense, are also an economic activity, and therefore
must adhere to efficiency and equity which is a basic measure
of value.
C. The ecological and ethical issues
Along with the deepening of natural change and expansion
of the scope of project activities, some new features about the
relationship between man and nature, have been emerging,
such as the burst of crisis of energy, resources and ecological
environment; it is urgent for the engineers to shift from solely
for the good of humanity to serve the sustainable development
of nature, and shoulder the important task of shaping a
sustainable future [7].Marxism holds that, in all human
activities, nature is always in the priority "without nature,
workers cannot create anything". Accordingly, because the
project activity is the interaction between human beings and
nature, and have a direct impact on the nature, environment,
ecology; so, the engineering ecological outlook is to consider
the rules of ecological constraints and the optimizing of
ecological environment. The main content of the modern
engineering concept includes the coordination and optimization
of engineering and ecological environment, eco-technology,
ecological construction. Engineering and technical personnel in
engineering activities should adhere to the principles of
ecological ethics, do not engage in and develop the engineering
which damage the ecological environment and have harmful
impact on the environment. Engineers in project activities
should be conducive to sound development of life and
ecosystems in nature and improve environmental quality. To
protect in the development, developed in the protection. In
engineering activities, human beings should treat and fear
nature, protect the ecological environment, then establish
friendly partnership between man and nature, and finally,
achieve ecological sustainability.
D. Public right
Engineering is a collective, and even the actIVIty of the
whole society. There is not only scientists and engineers of
division of labor and cooperation, as well as all levels of
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participation which include investors, policy-makers, workers,
managers, inspection experts and consumers involvement.
Therefore, in the decisions-making procedural matters, good
democratization of the decision-making process, pay attention
to the realization of the public rights. Views from stakeholders
and the requirement should be fully considered, repeated
consultations and achieved equitable; the different opinions,
which are from ecology, environment, culture, aesthetics and
other aspects ;Engineers, when they faced the problem of
ecological, environmental, cultural and other aspects, should
realize the maintenance of public rights as the premise, and
sometimes, could take the fonn of increased costs to avoid the
emergence of these problems [8].
The engineers, as the subject of engineering practice,
should take the initiative to safeguard the public's rights. The
Engineers, in the face of the employer's confidentiality, loyalty
and profits and public health, safety and welfare, must consider
the public interests frrstly[9]. The highest ethical obligation of
the Engineers is to promote the public health and safety. It is
required that the engineers should not only disclose
information, but also make its own efforts to secure an
adequate diffusion of information, so that those who are
affected by the project could have access to the project-related
information, finally, so as to enable them to make informed
consent. In particular, when this information will avoid a
disaster, the engineer's responsibility of promoting the
diffusion of infonnation would become greater[l 0].
III. ANALYZE
A. Security issues
In the practice of engineering, human limitations in
technical control can lead to serious, unforeseen engineering
risk. For example, the accident of the former Soviet Union's
Chernobyl nuclear power plant not only leads to a major
disaster in the former Soviet Union, and had hit in many
European countries.
This uncertainty is also reflected in project decision-making.
The ethical problems often have a kind of uncertainty, and
require the engineers, on the basis of ethical criteria and ethical
standards, to analyze specific ethical issues, and then draw
different conclusions; and then the engineers could chooses the
most appropriate option, so as to solve the ethical problems; in
brief, it is to choose between right and wrong. Whether the
problem of engineering ethics can be satisfactorily solved,
Ultimately it depends on the crucial step of engineering ethical
decision Whether the engineering ethical decision can be made
scientifically and rationally, it depends on the quality of
engineers. In addition to the uncertainty of product applications,
product materials and the technical level of design and produce
the products are also of uncertainty. Many large-scale projects,
in particular for public works, which is based on the analysis of
risk-benefit, got proved. As long as the project (product,
system, or risky activities) commitments have plenty of
benefits or profits, then we are willing to assume a certain level
of risk.
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B. The complexity and variability of engineering practice
Project is not an isolated, a purely technical activity but
open multidimensional, complex, in addition to issues
involving nature, science, technology, and are closely related to
human, social and spiritual values. Also, ethical questions are
involved in engineering decision.
Ethical risks of the engineering is of the complexity and
variability, because the development of projects are related to
the complex system of human-society-nature. Therefore,
project development and its application not only directly affect
economic development, environment, people's daily life, but
also were interlinked with political, military, security and other
issues. In terms of local ethic risk of engineering, from the
perspective of spatial logic, and it mainly affects individuals or
local interests; from the logical point of view, it mainly affects
temporary or short-term benefits. In respect of the overall risk
of engineering ethics, it is related to human-nature-society
systems, including the overall and long-term interests of social
politics, economy and culture, not only would affect certain
countries, but spread globally.
C. Bounded rationality of practice subject
Engineer as subjects of engineering practice, whose own
values and the way of thinking, would be affected by the
bounded rationality, such as utilitarian and technical rationality,
and infiltrated in the engineering practice. For example,
"modeling" which is the most commonly used in the
engineering practice, only considers quantifiable and
computational engineering data, and ignores the incalculable
social and human values such as ethics. The method of
"risk-benefit analysis", which is used in engineering decision
making process, only focused on the benefits and risk of costs
of engineering, while moral values and health costs are either
dismissed, either simply calculated in monetary terms.
Engineers under the bounded rationality, often make different
choices because of different strategies, and different choices
will lead to different results; engineers with different values
have different preferences for multiple selection strategies.
Engineers, facing complex project activities, can make a
rational choice, and when taking the maximum benefit of the
project into account, but also taking the social value of the
project into account, it is a perfectly rational State of
idealization; limited by various constraints, the engineer can
only follow the logic of bounded rationality, while engineer's
choices are not always rational, and often appears biased. As
the United States scholar Augustine observes: "most engineers,
who have trouble in ethical issues, are not because of their bad
character, but because they don't realize that the problems,
which they are facing, are a matter of ethical nature. The result
is that they made a bad decision and sullied his reputation, so
that the rest of his life necessitates[11]. "
IV. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION
A. Launching the education ofengineering ethics and
improving the quality of engineers
In the course of engineering ethics education, frrst of all,
one must focus on the analysis of the multiple ethical
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relationships in project, which include both micro-ethical D. Strengthening the legislation and management of
relationship, such as the ethical relationship between engineers engineering practice
and their clients, colleagues and employers of the relationship,
Firstly, it is required double legislation in engineering
which covers the macro-ethical relationship between
practice. On the one hand, establishing administrative law. The
engineering and nature-society-human, which also include
human behavior is constrained to what to do and what not to do;
meso-ethical relationship between engineering and political,
on the other hand, establishing ethics laws. Mankind would
economy - culture - national defense. Secondly, let the engineer
achieve self-awareness and self-restraint by the incentive of
master and comply with the ethical principles engineering, by
specific internal driving force. In real life, law enforcement
regulating the behavior of engineers, by letting projects achieve
depends on people's consciences drive; the effective
their maximum benefit and guarantee the sustainable
implementation of the law not only depends on the
development of the project itself, maintaining the engineer's
comprehensive rule of law itself, but the supervision system
career. Thirdly, in the specific education of engineering ethics,
has been refined. Secondly, the engineering practice also
the school education which is as a carrier, set up the ethical
stressed the role of the organization and management,
courses of engineering; schools had planned to make a training
meanwhile, more strict requirements are needed for
and education for the engineer in the knowledge of engineering
management. Project management includes the management of
ethics, enhancing their awareness of this issue, improving their
person, property, fund, time, etc.
knowledge and teaching ability of engineering ethics education,
cultivating the awareness of engineering ethics in professional
teaching; through the classroom teaching which is regarded as ACKNOWLEDGMENT
the most important means of engineering ethics education, the Financially supported by National Social Science Fund
school would launch the cooperation of production and study , (NO.I0BDJ029).
allowing engineers to learn engineering ethics in practice.
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