As a future mechanical engineer, Immanuel Kant's Deontological Ethics appeals to me

because of its emphasis on universal moral principles and a sense of duty. Deontological Ethics

provides a solid foundation for decision-making in engineering, where ethical issues are critical.

The emphasis on the intrinsic nature of acts, motivated by a sense of obligation, is completely

consistent with the ethical responsibilities inherent in engineering processes. The principles of

Deontological ethics emphasize respecting others around me and considering their well-being

because it is my responsibility as an engineer to maintain safety while increasing efficiency. This

ethical approach provides direction for navigating Ethical Dilemmas in the field by emphasizing

the principles of autonomy, duty, and adherence to the categorical imperative.

Ethical dilemmas are frequently encountered in Mechanical Engineering, particularly since

one aspect involves the design and safety of systems, components, or machinery. The conflict

arises when considering the relationship between cost and safety, where the pursuit of maximum

safety often conflicts with cost needed to implement safety regulations, and vice versa. A popular

scenario of an Ethical Dilemma in Mechanical Engineering is the Boeing 737 MAX scandal. As

written by Robert Prentice (2022) in an article, Boeing had to manufacture a new plane to reply to

Airbus’ A320 In order to avoid stretching the gap between their market shares.

This resulted in the Boeing 737 MAX which was promised to have more powerful and

fuel-efficient engines. Apart from being under budget with 2.5 billion dollars allotted rather than

the required 20 billion dollars, those powerful engines were designed to be mounted at the front of

the wings rather than below. When the design was simulated, it was discovered that it has the

tendency to pitch up, making it unsafe in certain scenarios. Rather than redesigning the project as

a whole, Boeing installed Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS, in which,

as discussed by Victoria Ontiveros (2021) for Harvard-Belfer Center, is a software designed to

improve air handling characteristics and decrease pitch up tendencies by automatically pushing

down the plane. Because of the negligence to duty by Boeing, two 737 MAX aircrafts, namely

Lion Air flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed on October 29, 2018, and March 10,

2019, respectively-with 346 people dead.

This ethical dilemma emphasizes how crucial it is for engineers to have a solid ethical

foundation, regardless of their area of expertise. For Harvard Business School-Online, Esther Han

(2023) emphasized that there are two main reasons why ethics is important in engineering: safety

and quality. First, considering the inherent risks in an engineering workplace, safety is paramount.

An engineer, being a key figure in the hierarchy, has an obligation to put people's safety first by

making investments in safety equipment and creating comprehensive safety plans to avoid

compromises. The second, quality, requires engineers to maintain a level of performance that is

commensurate with their competence. Because it is in line with their professional obligations,

engineers are essentially required to deliver, manufacture, and design at the highest possible

quality. In short, an Engineer’s duty is to prioritize the quality while steadfastly upholding safety

standards within the constraints of the shortest possible timeframe.

According to Schmidt (2013), professional societies distribute codes of ethics to which

engineers must adhere. This demonstrates that engineers, regardless of industry, must follow a set

of rules outlined in The Engineering Code of Conduct. These regulations define the fundamental

duties and responsibilities of the engineering profession. Within the framework of deontological

ethics, the emphasis on duty is clear, indicating that engineers have a moral obligation to follow

these prescribed regulations. The Engineering Code of Conduct, as a manifestation of

deontological principles, articulates professional standards while also emphasizing engineers'

ethical obligation to uphold their responsibilities with unwavering commitment and integrity,

regardless of outside factors.

In the Philippines, the Code of Mechanical Engineering Ethics is meticulously outlined by

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME), aligning with Section 9 of

Commonwealth Act No. 294, also known as the Mechanical Engineering Law (1938). Within this

code, Mechanical Engineers are designated as individuals holding the utmost regard for

intelligence within the professional sphere. This recognition underscores the imperative for

Mechanical Engineers to possess the requisite qualifications to guarantee the safety of the

workplace, its environment, and its workforce. The Code, thus, places a significant emphasis on

the responsibility of Mechanical Engineers to ensure the overall well-being and safety of the

professional environment they navigate.

Furthermore, the first principle articulated in the Code of Mechanical Engineering Ethics

takes the form of the Golden Rule, emphasizing the direct relationship between engineering and

deontological ethics. This fundamental rule states that "The mechanical engineer shall, in the

practice of his profession, be governed by the Golden Rule, the ideals of service to man and his

environment, and the indispensability of unwavering public confidence in his professional

competence, integrity, and humanity" (Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers [PSME], n.d.,

Code of Mechanical Engineering Ethics in the Philippines, Rule 1). The articulation of the Golden

Rule within the Code of Ethics is critical in the field of Mechanical Engineering. Given the

industry's broad scope, which includes design, manufacturing, and maintenance, it is critical to

consistently consider for whom our professional duties are performed, emphasizing the societal

aspect and environmental improvement.

 References:

Code of mechanical engineering ethics in the Philippines. (n.d.-a).

https://psme.org.ph/page/code_me_ethics_ph

Han, E. (2023, February 16). Why are ethics important in engineering?: HBS Online. Business
Insights Blog. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/ethics-in-
engineering#:~:text=Ethics%20are%20crucial%20in%20engineering,your%20company’s
%20culture%20and%20values.

Prentice, R. (2022, January 25). Engineering ethics and the Boeing scandal. Ethics Unwrapped.
https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/engineering-ethics-and-the-boeing-scandal

Republic of the Philippines. (1938). Mechanical Engineering Law, Commonwealth Act No. 294
(1938), § 9. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, 36(5), 205-210. Retrieved
from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1938/06/09/commonwealth-act-no-294/

Schmidt, J. A. (2013, November 5). Changing the paradigm for engineering ethics. Science and
engineering ethics. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24189836/