Introduction to Engineering
Ethics – 2
Engineering Ethics
Agenda
 Review Ethics I
 Introduce resources for ethical decisions in
engineering
References
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Challenger Hand-Out
NSPE Code of Ethics
NSPE Cases Handout
Martin and Schinzinger Code of Ethics: Introduction to
Engineering Ethics, p. 1 – 22.
Defining Ethics and Engineering Ethics
 Ethics - synonyms for “morally correct” or
justified - set of justified moral principles of
obligation, rights, and ideals
 Ethics - particular beliefs or attitudes
concerning morality
 Ethics - area of study or inquiry – an activity
of understanding moral values, resolving
moral issues, and justifying moral judgments
Engineering Ethics
The study of the moral values, issues,
and decisions involved in engineering
practice. The moral values take on
forms including responsibilities, ideals,
character traits, social policies, and
relationships desirable from individuals
and corporations engaged in
engineering.
Ethics and Practicing Engineering
Global
Environment
Industry &
Other Firms
Engineering
Firm
Engineer
Manager
Colleagues
Engineering
Profession
Law,
Government
& Public
Family
Clients or
Consumers
Engineering Code of Ethics
Some professional organizations have
addressed the complexity of moral issues
in their fields by developing codes of
ethics
Professional codes of ethics consist
primarily of principles of responsibility that
delineate how to promote the public good.
Roles of Codes
Shared Standards
Positive Support to Act Ethically
Guidance Concerning Obligations
Motivation
Education
Deterrence and Discipline
Professional Image
NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers
Preamble
I. Fundamental Canons
II. Rules of Practice
III. Professional Obligations
Fundamental Canon
Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:
1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public.
2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.
3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
manner.
4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees.
5. Avoid deceptive acts.
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically,
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and
usefulness of the profession.
Example:
The Challenger Explosion
Mission 51-L
NASA
January 28, 1986
The skies were clear and the sun shone on the cold
freezing morning of January 28, 1986. Kennedy
Space Center in Florida was busy preparing the
launch of the 25th space shuttle into space. Mission
51-L, the 10th flight of Orbiter Challenger. This was
one of the most publicized launches because it was
the first time that a civilian, a school teacher, was
going into space. The launch of Challenger had
been delayed five times due to bad weather, January
28 was the coldest day that NASA had ever
launched a shuttle. The time had come, at 11:38 AM
Eastern Standard Time, Challenger left Pad 39B at
Kennedy. Seventy three seconds into flight, the
Orbiter Challenger exploded, killing all seven of its
crew.
The Explosion
CNN Online Archive
3 Seconds
CBS News.Com Interactive Challenger Disaster
59 Seconds
CBS News.Com Interactive Challenger Disaster
64.7 Seconds
CBS News.Com Interactive Challenger Disaster
Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle
Challenger Accident
(In compliance with Executive Order 12546 of February 3, 1986)
In view of the findings, the Commission
concluded that the cause of the Challenger
accident was the failure of the pressure seal in
the aft field joint of the right Solid Rocket
Booster. The failure was due to a faulty
design unacceptably sensitive to a
number of factors. These factors were the
effects of temperature, physical dimensions,
the character of materials, the effects of
reusability, processing and the reaction of the
joint to dynamic loading.
(Source: The Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger
Accident Report, June 6, 1986 p.40, p.70-81)
Solid Rocket Motor Joint
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~mgravell/
O-Ring
CBS News.Com Interactive Challenger Disaster
http://www.jlhs.nhusd.k12.ca.us/Classes/Social_Science/Challenger.html/C
hallenger.html
Discussion Points
Interested Parties
The section of the NSPE Code of Ethics
that may be helpful
Consequences of potential actions
Obligations or correct action
Issues or points of conflict
Questions To Think About
How does the implied social contract of
professionals apply to this case?
What professional responsibilities were
neglected, if any?
Should NASA have done anything
differently in their launch decision
procedure?
Summary
Defined ethics and engineering ethics
Tried one approach to developing a wellreasoned response to a moral dilemma
Introduced the NSPE Engineering Code of
Ethics
Tried application of the Code of Ethics to
engineering cases
Assignment – Ethics Case Analysis
 Using one of the case studies in your course
packet (or another case from the NSPE
website):
 http://www.onlineethics.org/cases/nspe/
 Go to the website and read the full version of
the NSPE case and discussion.
Assignment –
Ethics Case Analysis (Cont)
Do a short written report on the case that
includes:
a) Identifying the Case by number and title
b) Identifying the Issues and Points of Conflict
c) Listing the Interested Parties
d) List the main Code of Ethics References
used by NSPE
e) List at least two available Actions and likely
Consequences
f) State the NSPE Conclusion