An Introduction to Engineering Ethics
for
Mechanical,
Industrial, and Manufacturing
Engineers
1
Objectives
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Provide motivation for the topic.
Introduce terms, concepts, principles.
Give examples.
Present basic skills of ethical decision making.
Provide practice in confronting ethical dilemmas.
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Engineering Ethics: Overview
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Engineering Ethics Cases
Basic Terms and Concepts of Engineering Ethics
Some Ethical Principles
Codes of Engineering Ethics
Confronting Ethical Dilemmas
In-Class Exercise
Some Philosophical Questions
3
Engineering Ethics Cases
How some engineers made ethical choices …
and what resulted.
4
A. Ernest Fitzgerald:
“Blowing the Whistle” on Government Waste
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IE consultant
Hired in 1965 as deputy to assistant secretary of USAF for
financial management
Projects
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Minuteman missiles
F-111 fighter/bomber
C-5A transport
Found and reported widespread
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Waste
Failure to meet specifications
Failure to meet deadlines by contractors
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Fitzgerald (continued)
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Came to be shunned by associates
Reassigned to trivial tasks
Personal life investigated to discredit him
“RIF-ed” in 1969
Unable to find work as consultant.
Finally exonerated and reinstated in 1973 with help of influential
senator
Continued his work into the 1980s
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$286.75 for a simple plastic toilet pan
$8,832 for a $30 pulley puller
etc.
6
William LeMessurier:
Citigroup Tower
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Structural engineer
Participated in design of Citicorp Tower, New York
City
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5th highest building in NYC
Innovative design
Cantilevered on 9-story stilts over rebuilt St. Peter's
Lutheran Church
Incorporated mass damper
Designed to code requirements to withstand
perpendicular winds
Built with bracing structure bolted joints (instead of
welded, as designed)
Images from Wikimedia
Commons
7
LeMessurier (continued)
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Engineering student asked about quartering winds.
LeMessurier
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turned to consultants
did calculations
found load limit would be exceeded by quartering winds occurring every
16 years
Met with associates, insurers, lawyers, owners, NYC building
department
Settled out of court
Critical joints welded at cost of $12.5 M (exceeded insurance
coverage)
8
Other Cases
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Convair/DC-10 (swallowing the whistle)
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Ford Pinto
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Challenger disaster
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Bhopal
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Common Situations
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Falsify data?
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Accept bribes, gifts, kickbacks?
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Take credit for another’s work?
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Work on military projects?
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Work for a company or on projects that harm the environment?
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Work for an unethical organization?
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Summary
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Not a question of engineer’s technical competence.
Not a question of technical accuracy.
Ethical dilemma involving the conflict of ethical principles,
conflict of goods.
Engineers made ethical decisions.
But they were vulnerable and some suffered greatly.
10
Basic Terms and Concepts of Engineering
Ethics
Some ethics definitions and principles.
11
Moral - adj. 
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Of or concerned with the judgment of the goodness and
badness of human action and character; pertaining to the
discernment of good and evil ...
Being or acting in accordance with standards of goodness
or with established codes of behavior, especially with
regard to sexual conduct. (American Heritage, 1976)
seeking the good, avoiding the bad
12
Morals - n. 
Rules of habit or conduct ... (American Heritage, 1976)
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Ethical - adj. 
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Of, pertaining to, or dealing with ethics ...
In accordance with the accepted principles of right and
wrong ... (American Heritage, 1976)
Synonyms: moral, virtuous, righteous
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Ethics - n. 
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The study of the general nature of morals ...
The rules or standards governing the conduct of members
of a profession ... (American Heritage, 1976)
… or those of an any individual or group.
May also extend to the general nature of value, whether
moral or non-moral (in which case, it may be called
axiology).
15
Value - n. 
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"... that which makes anything worth possessing or
realizing.“ (Mead, Types and Problems of Philosophy)
Types of value
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moral/ethical (+ right, - wrong)
non-moral, natural, metaphysical (+ good, - evil)
Classifications of non-moral value
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intrinsic (ends)
extrinsic, instrumental (means)
16
Ethical Principle
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A rule, law, or standard of goodness or morality (i.e., of
value) against which action, or the result of action, is to be
judged.
A basis for ethical (moral) decision making.
An ethic.
A maxim.
Ethical principles are sometimes loosely referred to as
“values”.
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Teleological Ethical Principles:
Some Ends That Are Candidates for the Highest Good
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pleasure
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happiness
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self-realization, self actualization
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nature
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beauty
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truth
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knowledge
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human welfare
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communion with God
18
Deontological Ethical Principles:
Some Possible Rules to Live By
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Do not kill.
Do not steal.
Tell the truth.
“To thine own self be true.” (Polonius to Laertes in Hamlet, I,iii)
“In duty believe, not in the hope for results …” (Bhagavad Gita)
Act as if the maxim from which you act were to become the
universal law of nature. (Kant’s maxim of universality)
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Jesus,
Sermon on the Mount)
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Principles of Virtue:
Some Candidate Virtues
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Wisdom
Courage
Self-control, Temperance, Prudence
Justice, fairness
Faith
Hope
Love
Honesty, Truthfulness
Trustworthiness
Loyalty
Tolerance
Competence
20
Engineering Ethics - n. 
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The examination of ethical issues in engineering.
The field of study which results from that examination.
21
Goals of Engineering Ethics
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Help foster moral autonomy.
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Ability to arrive at reasoned moral (ethical) views.
Based on responsiveness to ethical principles (i.e.,
principled).
Help individuals to reason more effectively about ethical
issues.
Help engineers do what is right.
22
Ethical (Moral) Dilemma
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A situation in which
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either
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two or more ethical principles (or applications of a single
principle) come into conflict
or the applications of ethical principles are unclear
and it is not immediately obvious what should be done.
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Confronting Ethical Dilemmas
1.
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6.
Summarize the apparent dilemma.
Gather the relevant facts, including technical ones.
Identify the ethical principles or applications in conflict.
Rank or weight the ethical principles by importance.
Identify/develop alternative courses of action.
Evaluate the alternative courses of action with respect to the
principles.
Note the parallel with
7. Talk with others.
engineering analysis
and design!
8. Choose the best course of action.
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An engineering code of ethics may be helpful.
Keep a written record in a secure place.
Codes of Engineering Ethics
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Rationale for Engineering Ethics Codes
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Inspiration and guidance.
Support
Deterrence & discipline
Education and understanding
Notice to others
Protection of the status quo
Promotion of business interests (?)
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Scope and Form
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Purpose:
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Based on small set of commonly held principles.
Short enough so that
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inspire
encourage
support
not a basis for punishment
people will read.
omissions don't promote loopholes.
important points not buried in details.
Long and detailed enough to offer real assistance.
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Typical Engineering Ethics Code Principles
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Truth, honesty, trustworthiness
Respect for human life, welfare
Fair play (justice)
Openness
Competence
Community
Respect for environment
Respect for democratic process
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Engineering Code Of Ethics
Endorsed by IIE (and formerly by ASME)
The Fundamental Principles
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and
dignity of the engineering profession by:
1. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of
human welfare;
2. Being honest and impartial, and serving with fidelity the
public, their employers and clients;
3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the
engineering profession; and
4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their
disciplines. [ASME’s code of ethics omits this one.]
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Engineering Code of Ethics
(continued)
The Fundamental Canons
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 issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful
agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
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 continue their professional development throughout their careers and
shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under
their supervision.
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Questionable Elements of a Code of Ethics
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Matters of professional courtesy.
Matters of public image.
Standards of compensation.
Constraints on criticism of other engineers.
Constraints on association with "disreputable" persons or
organizations.
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Application of Ethics Codes
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Can't tell what to do in specific situations.
Even if the engineer chooses not to follow the ethical
course, awareness helps because
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admission helps preserve personal integrity.
in the long run, ethical behavior may prevail.
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Limitations to Ethics Codes
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Vague, general language.
Conflicting principles.
Unclear priorities.
Cannot serve as final moral authority.
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Confronting Ethical Dilemmas
1. Summarize the apparent dilemma.
2. Gather the relevant facts, including technical ones.
3. Identify the ethical principles or applications in conflict.
4. Rank or weight the ethical principles by importance.
5. Identify/develop alternative courses of action.
6. Evaluate the alternative courses of action with respect to
the principles.
7. Talk with others.
8. Choose the best course of action.
In-Class Exercise: Confronting An Ethical
Dilemma
1. Summarize the apparent dilemma. e.g.,
Tough assignment Bill, an engineering student, is struggling to pass a course
and now the instructor has made a difficult, time-consuming assignment.
Bill’s grade in the course and, in fact, his success in completing his degree,
depend on doing well on this assignment. The instructor expects the
students to work independently, but Bill is aware that many of his classmates
are working in small groups, dividing up portions of the assignment among
themselves, and sharing answers. Bill doesn't think he can complete the
assignment correctly on time by himself.
But for the exercise, use your own dilemma.
In-Class Exercise: Confronting An Ethical
Dilemma
2. Gather the relevant facts, including technical ones. e.g.,
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Bill has a low C in the course, so far.
If he does poorly on this assignment, he will likely get a C- or worse in the course.
Prior to this, Bill has done all his own work in this course.
But in other courses, he has a regular study group.
His study group is pressuring him to share in this work.
The instructor has explicitly stated that she expects the students to work individually
on the assignment.
The syllabus has a statement of academic honesty, including the prohibition of
turning in another's work as one's own.
Not all students are working on the assignment in groups.
etc.
In-Class Exercise: Confronting An Ethical
Dilemma
3. Identify the ethical principles or applications in conflict.
e.g.,
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human welfare (especially that of Bill and his group)
loyalty (e.g., to the group)
honesty, truth
respect for elders, respect for authority
justice
courage
Do not steal.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and
shall not compete unfairly with others.”
Summary of Some Ethical Principles
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pleasure
happiness
self-realization, self actualization
the greatest good for the greatest
number
nature
human welfare
communion with God
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Do not kill.
Do not steal.
Tell the truth.
“To thine own self be true.”
“In duty believe, not in the hope for
results …”
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“Act as if the maxim from which you act
were to become the universal law of
nature.”
“Do to others as you would have them do to
you.”
Wisdom
Courage
Self-control, Temperance, Prudence
Justice, fairness
Faith
Hope
Love
Honesty, Truthfulness
Trustworthiness
Loyalty
Tolerance
In-Class Exercise: Confronting An Ethical
Dilemma
4. Rank or weight the ethical principles by importance. e.g.,
(1)Do to others as you would have them do to you.
(2)justice
(3)“Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with others.”
(4)honesty, truth
(5)Do not steal.
(6)respect for elders, respect for authority
(7)human welfare (especially that of Bill and his group)
(8)loyalty
(9)courage
In-Class Exercise: Confronting An Ethical
Dilemma
5. Identify/develop alternative courses of action. e.g.,
(a)Work with the group, do part of the assignment, and turn
in the whole assignment under Bill's name.
(b)Work with the group, do part of the assignment, and turn
in the whole assignment, but indicate which parts Bill did
and which others did (but don't identify them by name).
(c)Do as much of the assignment as possible and turn that in
under Bill's name.
(d)etc.
In-Class Exercise: Confronting An Ethical
Dilemma
6. Evaluate the alternative courses of action with respect to
the principles. e.g.,
Alternative
(a)Work with the group, do part of the assignment, and turn in the whole
assignment under Bill's name.
Considered with respect to the principle
(1) Do to others as you would have them do to you.
If Bill tried to do the whole assignment himself (like some are doing), he would
not want to be penalized for doing poorly when other students who only do
part of the assignment and turn in others' work get full credit.
In-Class Exercise: Confronting An Ethical
Dilemma
7. Talk with others. e.g.,
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friends in the class
friends not in the class
other professors
academic advisor
parents, other relatives
pastor, priest, rabbi, ...
In-Class Exercise: Confronting An Ethical
Dilemma
8. Choose the best course of action. e.g.,
(c) Do as much of the assignment as possible and turn that
in under Bill's name.
IE 380
The Responsible Engineer (3)
The idea of responsibility and the ethical responsibilities of
the engineer. Introduction to value, ethics, and ethical
systems. Engineering as value creation and the ethical
ramifications of engineering. Codes of engineering ethics.
Recognizing and addressing ethical dilemmas in
engineering. Examination of the individual, social, and
environmental effects of engineering and technology.
Baccalaureate Core Course (Synthesis, Sci/Tech/Soc)
Spring term 2011, TR 1400-1520
Some Philosophical Questions With Practical
Implications
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What decisions do we make that do not involve value
judgment?
Is value (good/evil, right/wrong) objective or subjective?
Is value (good/evil, right/wrong) absolute or relative?
Does ought or obligation have any basis in reality? Where
does obligation come from?
Is there such a thing as unconditional obligation?