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UNIT II

ENGINEERING ETHICS

Common to all Branches

07G004 Professional ethics and Human Values

Prepared by

R.SENTHIL KUMAR Associate Professor/EEE

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ENGINEERING ETHICS

What is EE? The study of the moral issues and

decisions confronting individuals andorganisations engaged in engineering The study of related questions about the

moral ideals, character, policies andrelationship of people and corporationsinvolved in technological activities

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SENSES OF ENGINEERING ETHICS

EE has several senses or meanings 4 senses of Engg. Ethics

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SENSES OF ENGINEERING ETHICS-IThe activity of understanding moral values,resolving moral issues and justifying moral

judgments

Engineering Ethics, accordingly, is theactivity and discipline aimed at understandingmoral values that ought to guide engineering

practice, resolving moral issues inengineering and justifying moral judgmentsconcerning engineering

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SENSES OF ENGINEERING ETHICS-II

To mark a contrast between moralquestions and questions of a political, legaland social nature.

Engineering ethics in this sense would referto the set of specifically moral issuesrelated to engineering and attributes to theright or wrong decision making process.

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SENSES OF ENGINEERING ETHICS-III

Is a set of beliefs, attitudes and habits that aperson or group displays concerning morality

This sense of engineering ethics id purely afactual matter about what engineers andothers believe about moral problems inEngineering and helps in the examination ofaccepted conventions in engineering to see ifthey are clear ,justified and sufficiently

comprehensive.

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SENSES OF ENGINEERING ETHICS-IV

Ethics is that which is morally correct Forexample peoples actions and principles ofconduct may be either ethical (right ,good ,or

permissible) or unethical

In this usage engineering ethics amounts to aset of justified moral principles of obligation,rights and ideals that ought to be endorsedby those engaged in engineering.

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ENGINEERING AS AN ETHICAL PROFESSIO What is a Profession?

special expertise shared moral values

dependent public self-regulation promote and protect right actions

The responsibility to be ethical The right to be ethical

Values embedded in technology

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So Why Bother With Ethics??

Special knowledge Involved in decision-making Engineering pervades society

BOTTOM LINE: Practicing engineers aremore apt to get into trouble as a result ofa failure to properly anticipate and handleethical problems rather than as a result ofa traditional engineering problems!

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Variety of moral issues

Quality products Conservation of

resources Pride in work Public safety

Timeliness GOOD

BUSINESS

Shoddy products Waste, fraud, greed

Abuse of expertise Guilt, fear Lack of safety Cutting corners

poor design rushed testing

DISASTERS!

ETHICAL BEHAVIOR UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR

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Ethics will be THE issue of the 21st Century

Modern recipe for disaster: Highly intelligent engineers and scientists

Advanced technologies Unethical decisions

Remember Cherynobyl, Challenger, Robert Morris

computer virus, Mars Lander.....