INTRODUCTION TO

MORAL AND ETHICS

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MORAL AND ETHIC
Morals and ethics are both used in the plural and are often
regarded as synonyms, but there is some distinction in how
they are used.
Ethics in Engineering Practice

Definition of morals
Beliefs based on what someone’s
conscience suggests is right or wrong,
rather than on what is legal or illegal.
Morals often describes one's
particular values concerning what
is right and what is wrong.

E.g. It would go against my morals

to help you cheat on the test.
Ethics in Engineering Practice

Definition of Ethics
A concept or study of morality within a
context established by

Cultural values,
Professional values,
Social norms, and
Accepted standards of behavior.
While ethics can refer broadly to moral
principles, one often sees it applied to
questions of correct behaviour within a
relatively narrow area of activity.

E.g. Our class had a debate over the ethics

of genetic testing.
In addition, morals usually connotes an element
of subjective preference, while ethics tends to
suggest aspects of universal fairness and the
question of whether or not an action is responsible.
 Ethics in Engineering Practice

Definitions in relation to Ethics

 Values
 Beliefs which guide direct and motivate opinions, attitudes, and moral
obligations.

 Ethics
 The study of good and bad, of moral duty, and moral obligation.

 Ethical Standards
 Principles of conduct, how people ought to behave in a certain
situation.
Ethics in Engineering Practice

Ethics versus Profit

 Engineering is an inherently dangerous occupation.

 For example:

 A big project should expect some loss of life and

injuries.
 Small projects sometimes experience shortcomings
and people get hurt.
 Spending money to prevent random occurrences is a
waste of time and budget.
 Ethics in Engineering Practice

Responsibility of engineering companies

Create an ethical environment

Promotes, expects, and rewards ethical
behavior.
Conducts all external dealings in an ethical
manner.
What are the different between Code of Professional
Conduct and Code of Ethics?
What is Code of Ethics?

 The Engineer’s Code of Ethics

represents the collective stance and the
shared
conviction of the Fraternity of Engineers.

 These codes serve as a framework for

ethical judgment for a professional
engineer.

 The codes also express the rights,

duties, and obligations of the members
of the profession.
 The sanctity of the Code amounts to an Honour Pledge which when
breached brings shame and dishonour to both the transgressor and
the profession.

 There is no legal enforcement; so a professional cannot be arrested

for violating its provisions

 Although violating the code of ethics may result in expulsion from a

professional society, expulsion from a society generally will not result
in an inability to practice engineering
What Makes Code of Professional Conduct differ than Code of Ethics?
 The BEM’s Code of Professional
Conduct represents the “Law”and when
broken, investigation and disciplinary
processes follow; akin to the legal
procedures of the “Court”.

 Should the respondent registered

engineer be found to have indeed
“broken the law”, his act unbecoming of
a registered engineer will be
CRIMINALIZED!
Importance of Codes
Codes of ethics state the moral responsibilities of engineers as
seen by the profession
and as represented by a professional society. Codes of ethics
play at least eight
essential roles:
 Serving and protecting the public
 Guidance
 Inspiration
 Shared standards
 Support for responsible professionals
 Education and mutual understanding
 Deterrence and discipline
 Contributing to the profession’s image
Fundamental Thrusts of Code of Ethics

The Engineer’s Code of Ethics is a constellation of noble

ideals binding the following into a virtuous paradigm of
what a Professional Engineer and his upright bearing
should be.