an introduction to engineering ethics - oregon state...
TRANSCRIPT
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An Introduction to Engineering Ethics
forMechanical,
Industrial, and ManufacturingEngineers
Part 1
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Objectives
● Provide motivation for the topic.● Introduce terms, concepts, principles.● Survey some ethical issues in engineering.● Give examples.● Present basic skills of ethical decision making.● Provide practice in confronting ethical dilemmas.
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Engineering Ethics: Overview
● Engineering Ethics Cases● Basic Terms and Concepts of Engineering Ethics● Some Ethical Principles● Ethical Dilemmas● Codes of Engineering Ethics● Confronting Ethical Dilemmas● InClass Exercise● Ethical Dilemma Assignment● Other Ethical Issues In Engineering● Some Parting Philosophical Questions
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Engineering Ethics Cases
How some engineers made ethical choices …and what resulted.
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William LeMessurier: Citigroup Tower
● Structural engineer● Participated in design of Citicorp Tower, New York City
● 5th highest building in NYC● Innovative design● Cantilevered on 9story 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
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LeMessurier (continued)
● Engineering student asked about quartering winds.● LeMessurier
● 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)
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A. Ernest Fitzgerald: “Blowing the Whistle” on Government Waste
● IE consultant● Hired in 1965 as deputy to assistant secretary of USAF for financial
management● Projects
● Minuteman missiles● F111 fighter/bomber● C5A transport
● Found and reported widespread● Waste● Failure to meet specifications● Failure to meet deadlines by contractors
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Fitzgerald (continued)
● Came to be shunned by associates● Reassigned to trivial tasks● Personal life investigated to discredit him● “RIFed” 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
● $286.75 for a simple plastic toilet pan● $8,832 for a $30 pulley puller● etc.
● Other, less spectacular cases like his in the US government
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Other Cases
● Convair/DC10 (swallowing the whistle)● Ford Pinto● Challenger disaster● Bhopal● Common Situations
● Falsify data?● Accept bribes, gifts, kickbacks?● Take credit for another’s work?● Work on military projects?● Work for a company or on projects that harm the environment?● Work for an unethical organization?
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Summary
● 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.
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Basic Terms and Concepts of Engineering Ethics
Some ethics definitions and principles.
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Moral adj.
● 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 ... (American Heritage, 1976)
● seeking the good, avoiding the bad
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Morals n.
● Rules of habit or conduct ... (American Heritage, 1976)
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Ethical adj.
● 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.
● The study of the general nature of morals ...● May also extend to the general nature of value, whether moral or non
moral (in which case, it may be called axiology).● The rules or standards governing the conduct of members of a
profession ... (American Heritage, 1976)● … or those of an any individual or group (e.g., engineering ethics).
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Value n.
● "... that which makes anything worth possessing or realizing.“ (Mead, Types and Problems of Philosophy)
● Types of value● moral/ethical (+ right, wrong)● nonmoral, natural, metaphysical (+ good, evil)
● Classifications of nonmoral value● intrinsic (ends)● extrinsic, instrumental (means)
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Ethical Principle
● 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
● pleasure● happiness● selfrealization, self actualization● nature● beauty● truth● knowledge● human welfare● communion with God
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Deontological Ethical Principles: Some Possible Rules to Live By
● 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
● Wisdom● Courage● Selfcontrol, Temperance, Prudence● Justice, fairness● Faith● Hope● Love● Honesty, Truthfulness● Trustworthiness● Loyalty● Tolerance● Competence
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Engineering Ethics n.
● The examination of ethical issues in engineering.● The field of study which results from that examination.
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Goals of Engineering Ethics
● Help foster moral autonomy.● 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.
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Ethical (Moral) Dilemma
● A situation in which● either
– 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.
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.
● An engineering code of ethics may be helpful.● Keep a written record in a secure place.
Note the parallel with engineering analysis and design!
Ethical Dilemma Assignment
● Individual thinking & writing assignment:1. Choose an ethical dilemma from the list of MIME Ethical Dilemmas (on
the Capstone website), but not the first one (“Tough assignment”).2. Apply the “Confronting Ethical Dilemmas” process.3. Write a short (≤ 2 pages) summary of your analysis.4. Turn in by next Monday at 5:00 PM in Dr. Funk's dropbox in DEAR 102.
● Graded P/N.● More details in next class meeting.
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Codes of Engineering Ethics
● e.g.,● Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) Code of Ethics● ASME Code of Ethics of Engineers● National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethics For
Engineers● others
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Rationale for Engineering Ethics Codes
● 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
● Purpose:● inspire● encourage● support ● not a basis for punishment
● Based on small set of commonly held principles.● Short enough so that
● 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
● 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 EthicsEndorsed by IIE (and formerly by ASME)
The Fundamental PrinciplesEngineers 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; and4. 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
● 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
● Can't tell what to do in specific situations.● Even if the engineer chooses not to follow the ethical course,
awareness helps because● admission helps preserve personal integrity.● in the long run, ethical behavior may prevail.
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Limitations to Ethics Codes
● Vague, general language.● Conflicting principles.● Unclear priorities.● Cannot serve as final moral authority.
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Engineering Ethics: Overview
● Engineering Ethics Cases● Basic Terms and Concepts of Engineering Ethics● Some Ethical Principles● Ethical Dilemmas● Codes of Engineering Ethics● Confronting Ethical Dilemmas● InClass Exercise● Ethical Dilemma Assignment● Other Ethical Issues In Engineering● Some Parting Philosophical Questions