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Lecture 1: Definitions & Aims

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Definitions

• Engineering:– The practical application of pure sciences (such as

mathematics, physics, chemistry etc.)– To benefit society, one’s employer & oneself:

• Elegant solutions to real-world problems:– Cost-effective, timely, user-friendly, environmentally sound

• Engineering activity produces benefits & costs:– costs may be distributed differently from benefits– Ethical issues arise from this uneven distribution

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Definitions (continued)

• Engineering ethics is the study of:– Moral issues & decisions confronting people &

organisations engaged in engineering– Related questions about the moral ideals, character,

policies & relationships of people & organisations engaged in engineering

• Morality involves concern for others, e.g. – People, animals, the environment– Fellow workers, managers, shareholders & the public

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Professions & professionalism

• Some characteristics of a profession:– Special knowledge, skills, judgement & discretion

• Important aspects of public good• Professional societies that set & enforce standards

• Important attributes of professionalism:• High standards of education & creativity• Accept responsibility to the public

• Cardinal principles of IEAust code of ethics:• To respect the inherent dignity of the individual• To act on the basis of a well-informed conscience• To act in the interests of the community

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Dimensions of Engineering

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• Safe access for the villagers• Humane condition for the chickens , space and

ventilation• Improve cleaning procedures• Safety, respect for environment , respect for

people • Efficiency

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Potential Moral Problems

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Potential Moral Problems

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Why study ethics?

• Self-interest (you just want to make as much money as possible):– to keep your job & stay out of gaol

• Tribalism (you care for your extended family):– to leave them a society and a world worth living in

• Civil society (you want to trust fellow citizens):– to understand how to behave ethically & to know

what you should expect of others

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How to be ethical

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Responsibility

• Obligations– Actions that are morally mandatory

• At an individual or Professional level

• Accountable– Being answerable for meeting particular obligations

• Integrity– Diligently try to do the right thing

• Blameworthy/Praiseworthy– Wrong doing is at issue– Right conduct is at issue

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Saving Citicorp Tower

•Objective to raise the height of TowerUnique design , gravity and wind load , wind bracesQuartering windsResultant force is 40 % largerCall to StanleyJoints bolted instead of welding Results of scaled model Probability of such winds (every 16 years)

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Saving Citicorp Tower (case)

• If we say Le was responsible !• He met his responsibilities (obligation)• He was responsible for doing so (accountable)• He acted responsibly (integrity ) • He is admirable (praiseworthy)

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The nature of ethical problems

• Micro-ethics:– Problems with mainly local impact, e.g:

• Inadequate quality control in a computer factory

• Macro-ethics:– Problems that affect society in a broad sense, e.g:

• Global warming

• Common features of ethical problems:– Vagueness or poorly defined boundaries– Moral dilemmas (conflicting moral obligations)– Matters of judgement rather than objective fact

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The nature of ethical problems

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The nature of ethical problems

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Objectives for studyingengineering ethics

• Goal - moral autonomy:– ‘the skill & habit of thinking rationally about ethical

issues on the basis of moral concern’• childhood learning augmented by adult learning & experience

• Underlying skills & proficiencies:– Recognise ethical problems in an engineering context– Comprehend & critically assess ethical arguments– Form consistent & comprehensive ethical viewpoints:

• While understanding ethical diversity & uncertainty