ENGR 1181
Engineering Ethics
College of Engineering
Engineering Education Innovation Center
ENGR 1181
Review of Goals
•
•
Introduce and Define Ethics
Develop a Process for Responding to Ethical
•
Problems
Understand the Role of Engineering Codes of
Ethics
•
Practice the Process on Engineering Cases
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Defining Ethics
• Discussion Question:
 So how would you define ethics?
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Available Definitions Ethics
Ethics can be defined as:
1. synonyms for “morally* correct” or justified; set of “justified”
moral principles of obligation, rights, and ideals
2. particular beliefs or attitudes concerning morality
3. area of study or inquiry – an activity of understanding
moral values, resolving moral issues, and justifying moral
judgments
*Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behavior")
ENGR 1181
How Are Ethics and Law Related?
Parking in A
space with C
sticker while
taking
roommate
to emergency
room
Illegal &
Ethical
Illegal &
Unethical
Cheating on
an Exam
Coming
to Class
Legal &
Ethical
Legal &
Unethical
Selling an
outdated
textbook to an
unaware student
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How Are Ethics and Law Related?
Illegal &
Ethical
Illegal &
Unethical
Legal &
Ethical
Legal &
Unethical
ENGR 1181
Ethics Specifically for Engineering
• Engineering ethics is the study of the moral
values, issues, and decisions involved in
engineering practice.
•
Why should ethics be important to you as an
engineer?
ENGR 1181
Ethics and Practicing Engineering
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What resources are available to help you
make ethical decisions?
• Codes of Ethics - Professional organizations
address complex moral issues in their fields by
developing codes of ethics.
– Example: NSPE Code in pre-reading
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Engineering Code of Ethics
Professional codes of ethics consist primarily of
principles of responsibility that delineate how to promote
the public good.
One example is NSPE’s
• Fundamental Cannons
• Rules of Practice
• Professional Obligations
ENGR 1181
Roles of Codes
• Shared Standards
• Positive Support to Act Ethically
• Guidance Concerning Obligations
• Motivation
• Education
• Deterrence and Discipline
• Professional Image
ENGR 1181
Review - Developing a Well-Reasoned
Response to a Moral Dilemma
• Moral dilemmas are situations in which two or
more moral obligations, duties, rights, goods, or
ideals come into conflict with one another.
• How does one decide whether a response is wellreasoned? What criteria apply? Can we reliably
judge?
ENGR 1181
Responses can be judged on
whether the response:
1.
Addresses each of the issues and points of ethical
conflict presented in the case or problem;
2.
Considers each interested party’s legitimate
expectations;
3.
Recognizes the consequences (positive and
negative) of acting and specifically describes and
incorporates them into the decision; and
4.
Describes the duties or obligations, which are
grounded in moral considerations.
ENGR 1181
In-Class Exercise 1
• Materials:
– On-line Case Statement (EEIC website)
– Worksheet (handout),
– NSPE Code of Ethics (on upcoming slide)
• Large Group Discussion for First Case
ENGR 1181
Case Summary
• Chris Jackson, environmental engineer, Z-Corp,
• Z-Corp factory currently discharging lead (and arsenic)
to city treatment system.
• Z-Corp is anticipating a major expansion
• Chris is instructed to scale up the current process.
• Chris knows the diluted lead will be absorbed by the
city's sewage sludge and ultimately end up on farmers’
fields
• Chris is considering becoming a whistleblower which
could lead to disastrous consequences for him
personally and for Z-Corp.
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NSPE Code of Ethics
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.
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Worksheet
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In-Class Exercise 2
Small Group Discussion: Cases 2(a-d)
– Using the case assigned to your group, fill out the inclass discussion worksheet and write any comments on
the back.
– After all groups have completed this exercise, teams will
report their findings to the class.
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Review Class Results
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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
ENGR 1181
Follow-up
•
In this course - Ethics cases will be used as a basis for oral
presentations later in the term.
– Steps include:
•
Team picks three cases of interest to submit to GTA.
•
GTA assigns case to Team
•
Team submits completed Worksheet and draft presentation plan
(including draft visuals) to GTA
•
GTA gives feedback
•
Team does Oral Presentation on their Ethics Case
•
In the future – You will take an ethics course as part of your
General Education requirements and you will encounter the topic
in one of your major classes.