Engineering Ethics

Motivation, Context, Models, and

Theories
Ethics and the Law
ollowing the requirements of the law
provides protection from prosecution
Since engineering work utilizes new
technology before experience and laws can
catch up, ethics seeks to go beyond the
dictates of current law
Ethical behavior provides protection from
civil suits, from damage to reputation, or
from loss of professional licensure and
encompasses ways engineers should
conduct themselves in their practice
Ethics and Accreditation 1
TAC outcome i. An engineering
technology program must
demonstrate that graduates have an
ability to understand professional,
ethical and social responsibilities
EAC outcome f. Engineering programs
must demonstrate that their students
attain an understanding of
professional and ethical responsibility
Ethics and Accreditation 2
CAC outcome e. The program enables
students to achieve an understanding
of professional, ethical, and social
responsibilities
ASAC outcome f. Applied science
programs must demonstrate that
graduates have an understanding of
professional and ethical responsibility
Ethics and Registration
To become a registered professional
engineer in Indiana, part of the
examination may be designed to test the
applicant's knowledge and understanding of
the ethical, economic, and legal principles
relating to the practices of professional
engineering.
The take-home part III of the principles &
practice examination requires a score of 88
and generally covers ethics and Rule 11 -
Rules of Professional Conduct
Ethics and Technical Societies
Each technical society for the various
engineering disciplines requires a
member to subscribe to the code of
ethics of the society.
Each society publishes its own code of
ethics which are particularly useful to
guide members when the only
options are unsatisfactory e.g. ASCE,
ASME, IEEE, NSPE, SME, AIChE, SPE
Ethics Training for Continued
Licensure
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
encourages all state boards of engineering licensure to
institute a minimum professional development
requirement consisting of at least one (1) hour per year
on professional ethics for professional licensure which
would be reciprocal with other states. The one hour per
year should be based upon the fundamental canons of
professional conduct and other appropriate administrative
rules or regulations, and designed to demonstrate a
working knowledge of professional ethics.
ASCE Policy Statement 376 Approved by the National Engineering Practice
Policy Committee on March 8, 2007; Approved by the Policy Review
Committee on March 9, 2007; Adopted by the Board of Direction on April
24, 2007
Three Ethical Models
Malpractice, or Minimalist, Model
Reasonable-Care, or Due-Care, Model
Good Works Model
Malpractice, or Minimalist,
Model
This is a minimalist model in which
the professional is concerned only
with meeting standards and
requirements of the profession and
any other laws or codes that apply.
This model looks to find fault when
problems or accidents arise from
someone's failure to meet a
requirement.
Reasonable-Care, or Due-Care,
Model
A model of engineering practice in
which the engineer is expected to
take reasonable precautions or care
in the practice of his profession. The
model strives to prevent harm, and it
appeals to a "standard of
reasonableness as seen by a normal,
prudent nonprofessional."
ood Works Model
A model of engineering practice in
which engineers go beyond the basics
of what is required by standards and
codes and do what they "ought" to do
to improve product safety, social
health or social well-being.
Ethical Theories Based on
Philosophical Scholarship
&tilitarianism
Duty Ethics
Rights Ethics
Virtue Ethics
See leddermann, Engineering Ethics, pp 33-38
&tilitarianism John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
Considers a balance of good & bad
consequences for everyone affected
(society)
Actions are good that serve to
promote human well-being
Cost-Benefit analysis is an application
Consideration of most benefit to the
most people outweighs needs of a
few individuals
Duty Ethics Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
There are duties that should be
performed (e.g.. Duty to treat others
fairly or not to injure others)
regardless of whether these acts do
the most good or not.
Rights Ethics John Locke (1632-1704)
People have fundamental rights (like
life, liberty, & property) that others
have a duty to respect.
'irtue Ethics
Actions are considered right if they
support good character traits
(virtues) and wrong if they support
bad character traits (vices)
Closely tied to personal honor
Codes of Ethics Commonly Hold
Engineers and technologists have a
duty to hold the heath and safety of
the public as a primary concern.
&sually the first cannon of any code.
Other duties are summarized in order
of importance with most important
first e.g. Safety is more important
than conflict of interest.
ASME Ethics Code (11/5/2006)
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; they shall build their
professional reputation on the merit of their
services and shall not compete unfairly with
others.
3. Engineers shall continue their professional
development throughout their careers and shall
provide opportunities for the professional and
ethical development of those engineers under
their supervision.
ASME Ethics Code
4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for
each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest or
the appearance of conflicts of interest.
5. Engineers shall respect the proprietary
information and intellectual property rights of
others, including charitable organizations and
professional societies in the engineering field.
6. Engineers shall associate only with reputable
persons or organizations.
7. Engineers shall issue public statements only
in an objective and truthful manner and shall
avoid any conduct which brings discredit upon
the profession.
8. Engineers shall consider environmental
impact and sustainable development in the
performance of their professional duties.
9. Engineers shall not seek ethical sanction
against another engineer unless there is a good
reason to do so under the relevant codes,
policies and procedures governing that
engineers ethical conduct.
10. Engineers who are members of the Society
shall endeavor to abide by the Constitution, By-
Laws and Policies of the Society, and they shall
disclose knowledge of any matter involving
another members alleged violation of this Code
of Ethics or the Societys Conflicts of Interest
Policy in a prompt, Complete and truthful
manner to the chair of the Committee on Ethical
Standards and Review.
References
leddermann, Charles B, Engineering
Ethics, 2
nd
Ed., 2004, Pearson Prentice Hall,
&pper Saddle River, NJ, Chapter 3.
ASME PPC, Ethics, referenced from:
http://www.professionalpractice.asme.org/t
ransition/ethics/index.htm
NSPE Code (detailed) referenced from:
http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-code.asp,
True-alse quiz referenced from:
http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-test.asp