Professional Ethics

MTPE-102
Introduction to Social Sciences,
Ethics, and Scientific Method
BS Mathematics Semester 2
Week 1
Miss Ayesha Shakoor
ayesha.shakoor@numl.edu.pk
Class Rules
Imperative

• Dress code (NUML website - student handbook)

• Attendance (100% - student’s responsibility)
• Entry into class (5-10 mins max.-otherwise
absent)
• Use of electronic devices (when asked to)
• Take notes (20 minutes - 1 key takeaway)
• Create a Google account (with YOUR name)
• Whatsapp (YOUR name + dp)

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Where can I?...
Imperative

• Google Classroom (assigning of assessments,

submission of assessments, feedback on
assessments)
• Google Meet (class platform if not on campus)
• LMS (course pack, attendance, slides,
recordings, videos, handouts)
• Whatsapp (information regarding class
preparation, class link, coordination)

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Introduction
Imperative

• Install Canva
• Join team (invite link)
• Fill in details on the template

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Introduction
Imperative

• Install Google Sheets

• Join excel sheet via Google email ID
• Fill in details on the columns

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Class Representative
Imperative

• Class representative duties:

– Makeup class coordination
– Collection of course project write up
– Group leaders’ grievances
– Fee payment confirmation
– Maintaining class lists (whatsapp, submission of
milestones, fee defaulters)
– Creation of groups (whatsapp)

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Groups
Imperative

• Strength: ?
• 5-6 groups
• Group formation
• 4-5 members (max)
• Write your name in the column you want to
• Will stay fixed for the entire semester
• Group leader

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Marking Scheme
Imperative

Item Percentage
Class participation 5
Assignments (milestones) 10

Quiz 5

Mid term exam 30

Final term exam 50
Grand total 100

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Course Weight Division
Imperative
Week Topics Assessment

1
Introduction to Ethics

2
The cultural context Milestone (M) 1

3 Discussion M1, Simulation (S)

Personality and moralization
1
4 Role and status Milestone (M) 2
5 Discussion M2, Simulation (S)
Social order & Social control
2
6 Institutions and associations Milestone (M) 3
7 Discussion M3, Simulation (S)
Family
3,
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Course Weight Division
Imperative
Week Topics Assessment

8 Religion Milestone (M) 4

9 Discussion M4,
Education
Simulation (S) 4
10
Contemporary moral issues Milestone (M) 5

11 Discussion M5,
Contemporary moral issues
Simulation (S) 5
12 Submission Project write-
Simulation Exercise
ups
13 Project Presentation

14 Presentation/ feedback
Project (if)/Revision/Wrap-up
session
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Course Materials
Imperative
• James Rachels: The elements of moral philosophy, 9th
ed., McGraw-Hill
• James Rachels: The right thing to do, 2nd ed., McGraw-
Hill
• Diversity and Consensus: Contemporary Moral Issues,
Lawrence M. Prentice Hall
• Case studies (based on true events)
• Movies (students will be expected to come up with
movies, too!)
• News + movies integration

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Introduction
What is Ethics?

• Heinz Dilemma
Heinz’s wife is really sick, and if not treated quickly,
she will die. But the medicine required to cure her is
insanely expensive, as the pharmaceutical company
wants to make a profit out of its sale. Heinz does not
have enough money to buy the medicine. His wife
needs it, so he steals it. Was Heinz correct to steal
the medicine? Why?

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Introduction
What is Ethics?

• Baby Theresea – baby without brain – organs

volunteer – deteriorated organs – should they
have been divested before she died? – parents’
decision? – benefits? – life? – who’s best interest?
– killing justified, especially to save another? -
• The case of the co-joined twins –terminate or
not? – fused spines – forced to chose – Catholic
faith – who should decide? What the decision
should be?

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Introduction
What is Ethics?

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Introduction
What is Ethics? – Critical thinking

• What ethical dilemmas have you faced?

• What ethical dilemmas can happen in your
field?
• What do all ethical dilemmas have in
common? Different?

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Introduction
Social science and common sense
Sociology
Researchers/ academics
Respected body of knowledge
Objective methods to obtain
concrete data/facts
Careful records of observations
Accumulation of verifiable data
Information is tested
Quantifiable/statistical
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Common Sense
Anyone/everyone
Personal experiences
Opinions/assumptions, stories
Rumors, legends, what we read
Conversations, stereotype
What we see superficially
What it seems to be
16
Introduction
Social science and common sense

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Introduction
Scientific observation

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Introduction
Scientific observation

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Introduction
Scientific observation

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Introduction
Scientific observation - characteristics

• Obtained using the senses (qualitative)

• Descriptive of exact qualities (quantitative)
• Numerical values (if possible) – accurate
• Systematically recorded – detailed and
complete
• Repeatable (context or time)

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Introduction
Scientific observation - characteristics

• Obtained using the senses (qualitative)

• Descriptive of exact qualities (quantitative)
• Numerical values (if possible) – accurate
• Systematically recorded – detailed and
complete
• Repeatable (context or time)

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