ETHICS IN ENGINEERING

San Francisco State University School of Engineering Spring 2004

Introduction What is Engineering Ethics?

The study of moral decisions that must be made by engineers in the course of engineering practice Correct answer to an ethical problem may not be obvious May require analysis using ethical theories

Engineering Ethics

Introduction
Why study engineering ethics?
Sensitize you to important ethical issues BEFORE you have to confront them Ethical issues can be very complex and involve conflicting ethical principles Goal is to train you to analyze complex problems and learn to resolve these problems in the most ethical manner

Engineering Ethics

Ethics and the Law

Engineering and business is governed by international, federal, state, and local laws Many laws are based on ethical principles and others on practical issues Engineers are minimally safe following laws Engineering ethics seeks to go beyond the dictates of the law Our interest is in solving conflict with ethics where there is no legal guidance
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Case Study: Ford Pinto

August 10, 1978
Designed to compete with foreign import models that had better gas mileage. Designing rushed to have it available to the public faster Ford knew that the gas tank would explode if hit at >20mph from rear Problem could have been avoided if a rubber bladder to cushion impact was installed that cost $5.08 Cost analysis showed that the cost of installing the part to be higher than the damage resulting from fatalities Ford eventually did recall the Pinto voluntary to try and save their reputation
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One Source of Ethical Issue: Lack of Knowledge

Engineering design is about creating new devices and products When something is new, many questions need to be answered
How well does it work? How will it affect people? What changes will this lead to in society? How well will this work under all conditions? Is it safe? If safety concerns exist, how bad are they? What are the effects of doing nothing?
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Case Study: The Space Shuttle Challenger January 28, 1986

An O-ring on one of the solid-propellant boosters failed The Challenger and her seven member crew were blown up 73 seconds after launch

Engineering Ethics

The Space Shuttle Challenger Engineering Ethical Issue The Challenger was launched in extremely cold weather An O-ring failed because of the cold Engineers recommended that the launch be delayed Management overruled the engineers Ethical issue or accident?

Engineering Ethics

The Space Shuttle Challenger Engineering Ethical Issue

NASAs budget was determined by Congress
Congress was becoming increasingly unhappy with delays and performance in the shuttle project

NASA billed the shuttle as reliable and inexpensive NASA was under pressure by competitor, European Space Agency Previous mission had been delayed numerous times by both weather and mechanical failures
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The Space Shuttle Challenger Engineering Ethical Issue

The O-ring temperature was predicted to be 29 degrees F. No data or experience existed below 53 degrees
Engineers knew that cold weather would increase problems with sealing of O-rings. Engineers recommended not to launch

With the available data, there seemed to be no correlation between temperature and corrosion Manager to Engineer:
Take off your engineering hat and put on your management hat.
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The Space Shuttle Challenger Engineering Ethical Issue

Should a launch have been allowed when there was no test data for the expected conditions?
Knowing that it is impossible to test for all possible operating conditions?

Should a product be released when it hasnt been tested over all expected operational conditions? When the data is inconclusive, which way should the decision go?

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Professionalism and Codes of Ethics

The engineering profession is more than a job or occupation
Requires sophisticated skills, use of judgment and exercise discretion The work is not routine and is not capable of being mechanized Membership in the profession requires extensive formal education, not simply practical training or apprenticeship Special societies or organizations are controlled by members of the profession to set standards Significant public good results from the practice of the profession
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Professionalism and Codes of Ethics

Codes of Ethics are resources that are available to an engineer to help find a solution Provides a framework for ethical judgment Codes serve as a starting point for ethical decision making Principles and standards accepted by the engineering practice
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Professionalism and Codes of Ethics

Codes of Ethics are found in individual societies
Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Relatively short code Deals with generalities

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

Longer and more detailed More explicit and covers more ground Leaves less to the imagination More useful for specific cases

Organizations and corporations have codes of ethics

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Understanding Ethical Problems

Ethical problems are like design problems
A device must be designed that meets criteria for performance, aesthetics, and price Apply a large body of knowledge to the solution of a problem Involves use of analytical skills There are many correct solutions Some solutions are better than others

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Understanding Ethical Problems

Ethical and moral theories
Utilitarianism
Cost-Benefit Analysis Produce the most utility balance between good and bad consequences

Duty Ethics
Duties should be performed regardless of whether these acts lead to the most good

Rights Ethics
Emphasizes that we all have moral rights and any action that violates these rights is ethically unacceptable The ultimate overall good of the actions is not taken into account

Virtue Ethics
Regards actions as right that manifest good character traits Regards actions as bad that display bad character traits Focuses on the type of person we should strive to be
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Utilitarianism
Emphasis on well-being of society as a whole, not of the individual Ignores needs of individuals Cost-Benefit analysis often used
Projects with the highest ratio of benefits to costs will be implemented

Can create problems, such as a nuclear disposal site

Benefits society with improved health care and plentiful electricity Could have adverse health effects to local population

Implementation depends greatly on knowing what will lead to the most good.
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Duty Ethics and Rights Ethics Similarity

Both achieve the same end Individual persons must be respected Good consequences for society as a whole are not the only moral consideration Dont always account for the overall good of society very well
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Duty Ethics
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
Formulated duty ethics Moral duties are fundamental

Actions that can be written down as a list of duties

Be honest Dont cause suffering to other people Be fair to others, etc.

Once duties are recognized, the ethically correct moral actions are obvious People have duties, one of which is to protect the rights of others
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Rights Ethics
Formulated by John Locke (1632-1704) Actions are good that respect the rights of the individual Humans have the right to life, liberty, and property People have fundamental rights that other people have a duty to respect

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Virtue Ethics
Interested in determining what kind of people we should be Defined as moral distinction and goodness Actions are considered right if they support good character traits Actions are considered wrong if they support bad character traits Closely tied to personal character
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Examining a Given Problem Which Ethical Theory to Use?

You dont have to choose Use all theories to analyze a problem from different angles Allows for different perspectives and to see the result each theory gives Frequently, the result will be the same even though the theories are different

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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques

Solving by Understanding Issues Completely understand all the issues involved
Factual issues Conceptual issues
ex. Bribe vs. gift

Moral issues

Factual issues can often be resolved through research to establish the truth Conceptual issues are resolved by agreeing on the meaning of terms and concepts Moral issues are resolved by agreement as to which moral principles are pertinent and how they should be applied
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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques

Solving by Line Drawing Drawing a line along which various examples and hypothetical situations are placed At one end is placed the positive paradigm and at the other end a negative paradigm Place the ethical problem on the completed line
NP P ex6 ex5 ex4 ex1
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PP

ex7

ex2,3
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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques

Solving by Line Drawing
P: A company proposes to dump toxic waste (5 ppm) into local lake. EPA limit is 10 ppm. Ex 1: At 5 CONCLUSION:harmless but was has unusual taste ppm chemical is Ex 2: Chemical can be removed using towns existing water treatment Dumping the toxic waste is probably a purchased by Ex 3: Chemical can be removed with new equipmentmorally acceptable company choice, since no humans will be harmed and the waste Ex 4: Chemical can be removed with new equip purchased by town levels are well below those that could cause harm. Ex 5: Occasionally, exposure can make people feel ill, but only for an hour However, since it is somewhat far from the positive Ex 6: At 5 ppm, some people get very ill, but only for a week with no longterm harmparadigm, there are probably better choices that can be made, and the company should investigate these Ex 7: Equipment can be installed at the plant to further reduce the level to 1 ppm alternatives NP Dump toxic levels of waste in lake
Water should be clean and safe

PP

P ex6 ex5 ex4 ex1 ex7 ex2,3

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Engineering Ethics

Ethical Problem Solving Techniques

Solving by Line Drawing
Intel proposed to sell a Pentium chip that had flaws Ex 1: There is a flaw in the chip, but it is normally undetectable and wont affect any customers applications. Ex 2: There are flaws in the chip, the customer is informed of them, but no help is offered CONCLUSION: Ex 3: A warning label says that the chip should not be used for The certain applicationsapproach taken by Intel in this case are sent out, and all flawed chips are replaced Ex 4: Recall notices wasnt the best ethical choice Ex 5: Replacement chips are offered only if the customer notices the problem
NP Sell defective product P ex5
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Product should be as advertised

PP

ex2

ex3

ex1,4
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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques

Solving by Flow Charting

Familiar because used in computer program development Developed as a series of consequences that flow from decisions Gives a visual picture of a situation and allows you to readily see consequences
Case Study: Disaster at Bhopal, India

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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques

Solving by Flow Charting
Case Study: Disaster at Bhopal, India
Wrong pipe was connected to MIC tank Plant maintenance was cut to save money A refrigeration unit, intended to cool down tank, stopped working 5 months before the accident and had not been repaired A high temperature alarm was improperly set so no warning was given A flare tower, designed to burn vapors, was not functioning A scrubber unit, intended to neutralize toxic vapors, did not activate until after the release of toxins A similar plant in West Virginia had total of 28 leaks over previous 5 years with no serious problems An internal Union Carbide memo warned of potential for a serious
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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques

Solving by Flow Charting
Union Carbide wants to build plant in Bhopal

Are safety laws in India as strict as U.S.? No Are local laws adequate for safe operation?

Yes

Design plant as in U.S.

Yes

Design according to local standards

No Decide on minimal standards that will ensure safety Build plant anyway and assume risk

Is this cost effective? No Invest elsewhere

Yes

Build plant

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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques Moral Conflict Problems

Problem exists with two conflicting moral values Solution can be obvious when one is more significant than the other When solution is not obvious, use the creative middle way
Middle ground that is acceptable to everyone

Use judgment for the best choice possible with the information available at the time
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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques Gifts vs Bribes

Definition of bribery
Money or favor offered or given to someone Intended to influence or persuade

Consequences
Illegal, subject to laws Anti-competitive and corrupts our free-market economic system

Gifts are usually of nominal value and are just a form of advertising
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Ethical Problem Solving Techniques Avoiding Bribery Problems

Look for company policy
All large corporations and small companies have very clear rules about what is acceptable Any deviation from this rule requires approval Other companies encourage social interaction and allow employees more discretion

New York Times Test

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Engineers and Safety

Design must comply with applicable lawws An acceptable design must meet the standard of accepted engineering practice Alternative design that are ptentially safer must be explored The engineer must attempt to foresee potential misuses of the product Both prototypes and finished devices must be rigorously tested
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Professional Success Impediments to Ethical Behavior

Many of the ethical situations that engineers face have obvious correct solutions The ethically correct course of action is known Rationale used in unethical behavior
Its not my problem If I dont do it, someone else will I cant foresee everything that will happen
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END

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