ME-302 Ethical & Legal Dimensions

of Engineering

Course Instructor:
Dr. Ahmad Nawaz

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 Lecture 7

Ecology and various Spiritual Concepts

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Learning Objectives

 Deep Ecology
 Deep Ecology and Engineering Ethics
 Ecofeminism
 The Gaia Approach
 The Judeo-Christian Tradition
 Asian Religions
 Animistic Religions
 The Point of Discussion
 Benefits of Experimentation
 Highlights of Engineering experiments
 Questions
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Deep Ecology

 This in a way was an extension of transcendentalism.

 This movement was formalized with the writings of Norwegian

philosopher Arne Naess, who proposed two fundamental
values :
I. Self-realization
II. Bio-centric equality

Note: it became the basis for the evolution of environmental

ethics.

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Continued

 These values defy rational justification and rely more on

connecting deeply with ecology.

 Self realization relates to the recognition of oneself as member

of greater universe, not just as single individual or a member of
particular community.

 As per Naess, this can only be achieved through reflection and

contemplation. Reflecting in terms of how it would affect us and
contemplating the affect of an action on long term.

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Continued

 Bio-centric equality, follows self-realization and calls for

understanding oneself a one with other creatures in the world.

 We cannot regard ourselves as superior and should accept that

all creatures have equal rights to flourish

 We can eat and use other creatures only to the extent it is vital
for our survival. For a deep ecologist, collecting material wealth
is considered unethical.

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 Deep ecology and Engineering
Ethics

 Engineers should focus on developing sustainable societies for

the greater good of the human being.

 Using of resources should be restricted to the extent it is

considered very essential to meet vital needs

 Engineers should respect the fact the other life whether human
or non human has a value in itself and engineers as individuals
have no right to reduce its richness for materialistic benefits.

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Ecofeminism
 Ecofeminism as a term emerged in 1980’s

 Its basic premise relates to constructing environmental ethic by

incorporating the problem of patriarchy into our thinking about
humans and nature

 In simple words, Ecofeminism, which is also called as

ecological feminism, that examines the connections between
women and nature.

 According to one of the proponents, Ecofeminism is “the potion

that there are important connections – historical, symbolic or
theoretical between domination of women and domination of
non-human nature”
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Continued

 Patsy Hallen, an influential American philosopher, believes that

because science is our chief means of understanding the
environment, there is a need to make it more feminine.
 It emphasizes the ethics of caring, as opposed to the male
oriented ethics of justice.
 It aims at nurturing the feelings of having care for Mother Earth
 It is an alternative approach to environmental morality – a
simple caring for the living and non-living environment which in
a way brings us a step closer to the environment
 It should be noted that Ecofeminism is not gender specific, all
people regardless of gender can have a caring attitude towards
our environment.

.
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The Gaia Approach

 In Greek mythology, Gaia means nurturing the goddess earth

It is largely the idea of a contemporary biologist, James
lovelock, who suggested that earth should be viewed as a single
organism, Mother nature, which lives like any other organism.

 The Gaia hypothesis postulates the idea of preserving earth like

a living organism

 It restricts humans from destroying other creatures that co-

exist with humans in the mother earth.

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The Judeo-Christian Tradition

 Human beings are different from rest of the nature

We are the only creatures with a developed language
Humans have a domination over all other animals

 Lynn Whites’s 1967 essay, “ The Historical roots of Our

Ecological Crisis” best described the influence of Judeo-
Christianity on human use of natural environment , which led to
a severe ecological crises.

 A medieval historian, White (1907-1987) also strongly believed

that Judeo-Christianity traditions were largely responsible for
exploitative attitude of humans on nature leading to the ecologic
crises. Because of the fact that it never restricted humans from
destroying plants and killing animals.

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Asian Religions
 Taoist and Confucianism traditions in China and Zen Buddhist in
Japan. Both these religions consider whole world in its organic
sense , with nothing existing in isolation and everything
connected to each other.

 Buddhism has main tenet principle as the principle of ‘ahimsa’,

“do not destroy life”.

 Buddhism teaches compassion for all of life including trees,

forests and wildlife.

 Such oneness does not hinders development. Taoism

encourages technological advancements as long as it is in
harmony with nature. In Japan, The Zen Buddhist movement
also stresses oneness with nature.
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Continued

 But unfortunately in both China and Japan, the presence of

environmentally enlightened religion does not seem to have
prevented the massive destruction and disregard for
environmental equality.

 The other major religion in Asia is Hindu tradition. Hindus

believe that god resides in all creatures and thus prohibit eating
meat. The doctrine of ahimsa is also shared by Hindus which
advocates not destroying life.

 The central tenets of Hinduism require care and compassion for

animals and nature but this does not seems to be the reflection
in their practical Experience like Japan and China.

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Animistic Religions
 Most ancient religions, including Polynesian and Native American
religions are animistic and recognize the existence of spirits with
nature.
 In such religions, spirits do not take human form and are simply
within tree or the sky.

 In many animistic religions killing of animals like deer or bear

requires proper appeasement.

 Cutting down a tree requires an explanation to that spirit (tree)

for cutting it.

 Some modern environmentalists have looked upon animism with

admiration and have believed that such wisdom doesn’t exists
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 Modern Pantheism
 It is considered to be an updated version of both
transcendentalism and animism.

 Under modern pantheism, ecology is viewed as the scientific

revelation of God.

 According to Harold Wood, modern pantheism offers three

approaches to achieving oneness with god – the way of
knowledge, way of devotion and the way of works.

 Way of knowledge relates to studying nature deeply, and being

observant with what nature possesses, Way of devotion relates
to celebrating the parts of nature as a way of being and
communion with nature
 The way of works denotes acting in the best interest of the ecosystem.
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The Point of Discussion

The Possibilities:

Stop worrying about environmental ethics. Abandon any attempt to

develop and environmental ethic and just adopt some ideas based
on inner feelings. Adopt that environmental ethic which makes
most of sense to us based on understanding of the world and our
own evaluation of ethics.

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 Experimentation

 Experimentation plays an important role in all projects that are

a matter of concern. Engineering projects in totality can be
viewed as experiments.

 Even in engineering projects, preliminary tests or simulations

are conducted out to make sure that the best prototype is
prepared and taken further for making it a reality.

 More specifically, from the time it is decided a project is to be

pursued into reality , experimentation starts.

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Continued

 The experimental tests conducted serve as basis for more

detailed designs.

 Like for example, before a road construction begins, researchers

in civil engineering labs might be asked to prepare different
samples of the aggregates to see which is well suited in terms of
the strength of the material used and proposed road load

 Or Engineers at a beverage company might be asked to come up

with special design of the bottles and conduct experiments to
find out which one is the best for the grip.

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Benefits of Experimentation

I. Coming up with the best version of the product by trying

various iterations.

II. Utilizing experiments as a means to seek feedback and

carrying out further improvements

III. Technically, it may seem a perfect product but it might vary

when executed behaviorally. Experiments help find out
behavioral usage flaws For eg. The design of a water bottle
may seem perfect with respect to its engineering specifications
but might be a pain when holder for long by the person using
it.

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 Continued
 Often in engineering, it may not be known what the possible
outcomes are.

 Like even after a dam is built, it may not serve the purpose for
which it was built , however the damage to the region might
have already been done Like failure of a nuclear test is not just
a failure, it may have a far reaching impact of the area as well
as the life surrounding it.

 The classic example is of Nano car – designed to fulfill the

dream of millions of Pakistanis to own up their own car – but the
fire out bursts were unexpected and unpredictable.

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Highlights of Engineering
experiments

 Like all projects, engineering projects are also carried out in

partial ignorance. Uncertainties can be found in the abstract
model used for design calculations or in the characteristics of
the material purchased for execution of the projects etc.

 Sometimes, engineers have to bypass the exploration and

laboratory testing for the sake of moving the projects ahead,
and have to rely on their knowledge and wisdom to make things
work out in the field.

 Like other experiments, outcomes in case of engineering

projects as well are uncertain.

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 Continued

 Engineering experiments are an ongoing process. They are even

carried out after a product leaves the factory.

 Constant monitoring can help a great deal in carrying out

further improvements in designing of the products

 To monitor is about making periodic improvements to identify

the unintended side effects and it should not be restricted within
the factory as ultimate purpose of a product is solved when it
delivers value to the society at large, thus their feedback is
essential.

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Questions???

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