Engineering Ethics
Motivation, Context, Models, and
Theories
Ethics and the Law
 Following the requirements of the law
provides protection from prosecution
 Since engineering work utilizes new
technology before experience and laws can
catch up, ethics seeks to go beyond the
dictates of current law
 Ethical behavior provides protection from
civil suits, from damage to reputation, or
from loss of professional licensure and
encompasses ways engineers should
conduct themselves in their practice
Ethics and Accreditation 1
 TAC outcome i. An engineering
technology program must
demonstrate that graduates have an
ability to understand professional,
ethical and social responsibilities
 EAC outcome f. Engineering programs
must demonstrate that their students
attain an understanding of
professional and ethical responsibility
Ethics and Accreditation 2
 CAC outcome e. The program enables
students to achieve an understanding
of professional, ethical, and social
responsibilities
 ASAC outcome f. Applied science
programs must demonstrate that
graduates have an understanding of
professional and ethical responsibility
Ethics and Registration
 To become a registered professional
engineer in Indiana, part of the
examination may be designed to test the
applicant's knowledge and understanding of
the ethical, economic, and legal principles
relating to the practices of professional
engineering.
 The take-home part III of the principles &
practice examination requires a score of 88
and generally covers ethics and Rule 11 Rules of Professional Conduct
Ethics and Technical Societies
 Each technical society for the various
engineering disciplines requires a
member to subscribe to the code of
ethics of the society.
 Each society publishes its own code of
ethics which are particularly useful to
guide members when the only
options are unsatisfactory e.g. ASCE,
ASME, IEEE, NSPE, IIE, SME, AIChE
Three Ethical Models
 Malpractice, or Minimalist, Model
 Reasonable-Care, or Due-Care, Model
 Good Works Model
Malpractice, or Minimalist,
Model
 This is a minimalist model in which
the professional is concerned only
with meeting standards and
requirements of the profession and
any other laws or codes that apply.
This model looks to find fault when
problems or accidents arise from
someone's failure to meet a
requirement.
Reasonable-Care, or Due-Care,
Model
 A model of engineering practice in
which the engineer is expected to
take reasonable precautions or care
in the practice of his profession. The
model strives to prevent harm, and it
appeals to a "standard of
reasonableness as seen by a normal,
prudent nonprofessional."
Good Works Model
 A model of engineering practice in
which engineers go beyond the basics
of what is required by standards and
codes and do what they "ought" to do
to improve product safety, social
health or social well-being.
Ethical Theories Based on
Philosophical Scholarship
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Utilitarianism
Duty Ethics
Rights Ethics
Virtue Ethics
See Fleddermann, Engineering Ethics, pp 33-38
Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
 Considers a balance of good & bad
consequences for everyone affected
(society)
 Actions are good that serve to
promote human well-being
 Cost-Benefit analysis is an application
 Consideration of most benefit to the
most people outweighs needs of a
few individuals
Duty Ethics
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
 There are duties that should be
performed (e.g.. Duty to treat others
fairly or not to injure others)
regardless of whether these acts do
the most good or not.
Rights Ethics
John Locke (1632-1704)
 People have fundamental rights (like
life, liberty, & property) that others
have a duty to respect.
Virtue Ethics
 Actions are considered right if they
support good character traits
(virtues) and wrong if they support
bad character traits (vices)
 Closely tied to personal honor
Codes of Ethics Commonly Hold
 Engineers and technologists have a
duty to hold the heath and safety of
the public as a primary concern.
Usually the first cannon of any code.
 Other duties are summarized in order
of importance with most important
first e.g. Safety is more important
than conflict of interest.
ASME Ethics Code
 1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety,
health and welfare of the public in the
performance of their professional duties.
 2. Engineers shall perform services only in the
areas of their competence.
 3. Engineers shall continue their professional
development throughout their careers and shall
provide opportunities for the professional and
ethical development of those engineers under
their supervision.
 4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for
each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest or
the appearance of conflicts of interest.
ASME Ethics Code
 5. Engineers shall build their professional
reputation on the merit of their services and
shall not compete unfairly with others.
 6. Engineers shall associate only with reputable
persons or organizations.
 7. Engineers shall issue public statements only
in an objective and truthful manner.
 8. Engineers shall consider environmental
impact in the performance of their professional
duties.
 9. Engineers shall consider sustainable
development in the performance of their
professional duties.
References
 Fleddermann, Charles B, Engineering
Ethics, 2nd Ed., 2004, Pearson Prentice Hall,
Upper Saddle River, NJ, Chapter 3.
 ASME PPC, Ethics, referenced from:
http://www.professionalpractice.asme.org/
engineering/ethics/index.htm
 NSPE Code (detailed) referenced from:
http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-code.asp,
True-False quiz referenced from:
http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-test.asp