Lecture-1:

Introduction to
Ethics

Scientific Ethics and

Safety
ENGR / SCI 304 Sherif H. El-Gohary , Phd
Assistant Professor,Biomedical Engineering
shamdy@zewailcity.edu.eg
Quote

“A perfect value consists in doing

without witness all that we could have
done in front of the entire world”

- Nobel Laureate Gabriela Mistral

What do you
expect?
Ethical Dilemma
Course Requirement
Assessment Type Percentage

Attendance & Participation 10-15%

Assignments 10%

Midterms 30%

Project 5%

Final Exam 35-30%

Poster 10%

Total 100%
Aristotle:

Happiness is a virtuous activity of the soul

Moral virtue is a mean (or balance)

It is he who knows the whatness of the

thing who has understanding in the
highest degree
Measure of Success

The measure of success is how much new we

learn and if we can notice any change in the
attitudes (sensitivity) to the problems of
professional ethics.
 Definition
Єθοσ [ethos]
• Greek word for custom or habit, the characteristic
conduct of an individual human life.
A Dictionary of Philosophical Terms and Names

Why is Ethics important?

• Ethics is a requirement for human life. It is our
means of deciding a course of action.
Sense of Life Objectives. The importance of philosophy

10
Morality and Ethics
• Concerns the goodness of voluntary human
conduct that affects the self or other living
things
• Morality (Latin mores) usually refers to any
aspect of human action
• Ethics (Greek ethos) commonly refers only
to professional behavior
Why study ethics?
• When students enter the professional
world, they will be expected to follow an
explicit or implicit ethical code.
• To responsibly confront moral issues
raised by technological activity
• How to deal with ethical dilemmas in
their professional lives?
• To achieve moral autonomy
What Is Ethics?
Josephson Institute of Ethics
Ethics refers to standards of
conduct . . . that indicate how one
should behave based on . .
.principles of right and wrong. As
a practical matter, ethics is about
how we meet the challenge of
doing the right thing
What Are Ethics?

Ethics can be defined broadly as

a set of moral principles or values.

Each of us has such a set of values.

We may or may not have considered

them explicitly.
Need for Ethics

Ethical behavior is necessary for a society

to function in an orderly manner.

The need for ethics in society is sufficiently

important that many commonly held
ethical values are incorporated into laws.
Illustrative Prescribed
Ethical Principles

Trustworthiness Respect

Responsibility Fairness

Caring Citizenship
Why People Act Unethically
The person’s ethical standards are different
from those of society as a whole.

The person chooses to act selfishly.

In many instances, both reasons exist.

Forms of ethics

 Descriptive ethics (what morals people follow)

 Metaethics (what is good? etc)
 Normative ethics (what should we do?)
 Applied ethics (how do we apply ethics to work and
lives?)
 Moral psychology (the biological and psychological
bases)
Moral Theory
Moral Philosophy include the sub-disciplines:
1. Normative ethics
Which is the study of moral standards, general
principles, concepts, values, and theories.
2. Applied ethics
Which is the study of ethical dilemmas, choices,
and standards in various occupations, professions,
concrete (particular, not general) situations, and
the application of moral theories and concepts in
particular contexts. Such as “medical ethics” have
mentioned above.
3. Meta-ethics
Which studies the nature and justification of
moral standards, values, principles, and theories
and the meaning of moral concepts and terms.
Such as “is morality objective?” and “why should
we obey moral obligations?”
Different or similar…
Ethics Morals
What is it? The rules of conduct recognized in Principles or habits with
respect to a particular class of respect to right or wrong
human actions or a particular conduct. It defines how things
group, culture, etc. it defines how should work according to an
thing are according to the rules. individual’ ideas and
principles.
Source Social system/ external Individual / internal
Why we do it? Because society says it is the right Because we believe in
thing to do. something being right or
wrong.
What if we don’t do We will face peer/ societal Doing something against one’s
it? disapproval, or even be fired from morals and principles can have
our job. different effects on different
people, they may feel
uncomfortable, remorse,
depressed etc.
Flexibility Ethics are dependent on others Usually consistent, although
for definition. They tend to be can change if an individual’s
consistent within a certain beliefs change.
context, but can vary
How Ethical Decisions are
Made
• Throughout your life, you will face many
ethical problems

• Adopting a consistent ethical standard can

help you with big or small moral problems
Feelings and Opinions

Some people base their ethical standards on

whether or not the act “feels” right
The Greatest Good

Some people feel that an action that creates

the greatest good for the greatest number of
people is a sound basis for making ethical
decisions.
The Golden Rule

• Others base their ethical standards on the

Golden Rule, which states:

“Do unto others as you would have

them do unto you.”
How Ethics works inside..

Good or
Taken Bad,
Decided by Leads to Series of together Right or
Character Conduct
of a man of a person Actions Considered As wrong,
Moral or
Immoral

By which
we can
Known as
Judge
Moral
again
Judgement

Moral
Standards Requires
Sources of Ethical Norms
Fellow Regions of
Workers Country

Family Profession
The Individual
Conscience
Friends Employer

The Law Religious Society at

Beliefs Large
Practical Ethics
• Engineering ethics
• Ethics of science
• Bioethics
• Medical ethics
• Environmental ethics
• Public ethics
• Media ethics
• Political ethics
27
Our Central question: Is
Morality “Objective”?
• About 65 million years ago an asteroid collided with
the earth, and this led to the extinction of the
dinosaurs.
• There is a prime number between 123,456 and 654,321.
• All the shots fired at John F. Kennedy the day he
was killed were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald.
• Saddam Hussein will be executed before Jan. 1, 2009.
• On Wednesday, 5th of November, 2008, Mr.
Thirkill wore odd socks during his Philosophy class.
“Objective”
• Note two things about these sentences:
• Each of these sentences is either true or
false.
• The truth or falsity of these sentences does
not depend at all on who makes the claim,
when the claim is made or where the claim
is made.
• When a sentence has these properties, we’ll
say that it makes an objective claim.
Some sentences are not
“objective”
• Example of a sentence that
isn’t true or false:
• “Please pass the ketchup.”
• “Go to hell!”
 Some sentences are not
“objective”
• Examples of a sentences I’m the
whose truth depends on oldest

who makes them or when

/ where they are made:
• “I’m the oldest person I’m the
in this room.” oldest

• “It’s raining.”
The Appeal and the Puzzles
of the View that Morality is
Objective
• The Appeal: It would make sense of the fact that we often talk
and act as though moral claims are correct or incorrect, and
that we sometimes seem to think that people (including people
in different cultures) have moral views which are mistaken.
Capital No! Capital
punishment is punishment is
right (in some always wrong.
cases).
Ethical Choices

What you find is that the tough ethical

choices are not between good and evil, but
rather between two goods:

• Truth versus Loyalty

• Individual versus Community
• Short-term versus Long-term
• Justice versus Mercy
Good manners
 Always say your full name.

In a business situation, you should use your full

name, but you should also pay attention to how others want
to be introduced.
 A handshake is still the professional standard.

Not only does this simple gesture demonstrate that

you’re polite, confident and approachable, it also sets the tone
for any potential future professional relationship.
 Watch your language.

Verbal and written communications are often much less formal than in times
past, but be careful to choose your words wisely. Of course, derogatory, rude or
offensive language is unacceptable, but so is slang. While it may be commonplace
in our society, it’s never acceptable in a professional atmosphere.
 Don’t yell and scream at others.

Compassion and empathy will serve you much

better to earn respect.
 Be on time.

We’re all busy. Being punctual shows others that you value
their time. Being late doesn’t mean that you’re busier than other
people; it just means that you’re inconsiderate.
 Don't cross your legs.

Both men and women

do it, but it can be distracting and
even too sexy for a professional
setting. Crossing your legs is bad
for your circulation because it
increases the pressure on your
veins.
 Ladies – don’t wear revealing clothing.

Let others see your skills, not private body parts.

 Don’t gossip.

It’s so hard sometimes to resist engaging in a little

“harmless” gossip. It’s natural to be curious and interested in
what other people are doing, but talking about someone who
is not present is disrespectful.
 Don’t eavesdrop.

Everyone is entitled to private conversations, in person or

over the phone. The same goes for e-mail; don’t stand over
someone’s shoulder and read their e-mails.
 No phone during meetings.

When you’re in a meeting, focus on the meeting

discussion. Don’t take calls, text or check e-mail. It’s
disrespectful to the other attendees, not to mention, extremely
annoying. It also makes meetings last longer because the
participants keep losing focus.
 Always say “Please” and “Thank you.”

This should go without saying, but even in a very

casual professional atmosphere, this basic form of courtesy is
still imperative. Today, sending a thank you e-mail is perfectly
acceptable, but a handwritten thank you note is always a nice
touch.

Please Thank you

 CONCLUSION

The role of ethics in society can’t be overestimated because

improvement in terms of this sphere has no boundaries. It deals
particularly with entrepreneurship and business. Business ethics as
never before should interfere in the business relationship of modern
businessmen. Improving of the ethical standards of business should be
provided by the appropriate education and upbringing. That is why in
any business schools and universities it is important to treat the study
of business ethics and education of future entrepreneurs with all
responsibility.
HOW ETHICAL ARE YOU?

•Quiz time
•Quiz rules:
• Do not put your name on this quiz
• Do not put your name on this quiz
• Do not put your name on this quiz

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1-CALLED IN SICK WHEN
NOT ILL?

49
2- TAKEN OFFICE SUPPLIES
FROM AN EMPLOYER FOR
PERSONAL USE?

50
 3- TAKEN ANYTHING
VALUABLE FROM AN
EMPLOYER FOR PERSONAL
USE?

51
4- MISSTATED FACTS ON A
RESUME/JOB
APPLICATION?

52
5- SHIFTED BLAME TO A CO-
WORKER FOR SOMETHING
YOU DID?

53
6- BEEN UNDERCHARGED
OR RECEIVED TOO MUCH
CHANGE FROM A CASHIER
AND NOT TOLD THEM?

54
7- DOWNLOADED MUSIC
FROM AN INTERNET SITE
WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT?

55
8-“CHEATED” ON YOUR TAX
RETURN (NOT DECLARED
INCOME OR OVER-
REPORTED DEDUCTIONS?

56
9- SWITCHED PRICE TAGS TO
GET A LOWER PRICE ON
SOMETHING YOU WANTED
TO BUY?

57
10- LIED TO FRIENDS OR
FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT
THEIR APPEARANCES TO
AVOID HURTING THEIR
FEELINGS?
58
 11- KNOWING YOU HAD
LITTLE CHANCE OF
GETTING CAUGHT, DRIVEN
MORE THAN 20 MPH OVER
THE SPEED LIMIT OR RAN A
RED LIGHT?

59
12- LIED TO YOUR SPOUSE,
PARTNER, SIGNIFICANT
OTHER, AND/OR PARENT,
ABOUT THE COST OF A
RECENT PURCHASE?
60
13- LIED TO YOUR SPOUSE,
PARTNER, SIGNIFICANT
OTHER, ABOUT YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH
ANOTHER PERSON?
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1. 63% 2. 63% 3. 16%
4. 18% 5. 13% 6. 50%
7. 37% 8. 17% 9. 12%
10. 71% 11. 71%
12. 32% 13. 28%
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