Professional Studies

Are Engineers Ethical?

 Survey of 1000 people rated
professions ‘high’ or ‘very high’
ethically as follows:
 Clergy 61%
 Medical doctors 48%
 Engineers 45%
 …………….
 Politicians 16%
 Car salesmen 6%
 1000 company
executives voted as
follows:
 Engineers 34%
 Accountants 24%
 Doctors 17%
 Dentists 7%
 Lawyers 8%
 Others / Don’t know 10%
 Decisions which require
ethical judgement:
 Occasionally 45%
 Frequently 25%
 Rarely 13%
 Seldom 13%
 No answer 4%
 Morality and Ethics
 Golden rule: ‘Do unto others as you
would have them do unto you.’
 Confucius, when asked for a single
word to guide one’s life, is reported to
have said
 ‘Is not reciprocity such a word?’
Confucius
 Morality
 Is concerned with conduct and motives,
right and wrong, and good and bad
character.
 Ethics
 Is….’the study of systematic methods
which, when guided by individual moral
values, can be useful in making value-
laden decisions’.
 Thus ethics is a framework.
5 Primary theories for basing
ethical choices
 Utilitarianism
– greatest good for people
 Duty ethics
– what you should do e.g. not lie, not steal,
be fair - even if it is for the greatest good.
 Rights ethics
– life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.
5 Primary theories for basing
ethical choices
 Virtue ethics
– support good character traits
 Environmental ethics
– ‘Moral community’ - consideration for all
living things.
The Roles of Codes of Ethics
 Inspiration and guidance
– proper conduct
 Support
– publicly held beliefs back the engineer
 Deterrence and discipline
– basis for misconduct allegations
The Roles of Codes of Ethics
 Education and mutual understanding
– classroom and professional meetings
 Contribution to the profession’s public
image
– allows for self governance
The Roles of Codes of Ethics
 Protecting the status quo
– maintaining minimum standards which may
be difficult to change
 Promoting business interests
– may become self-serving at the expense of
the public
 Some ethical issues in
Engineering
 Conflict of interest
 Confidentiality and employee loyalty
 Contributions and kickbacks
 Whistleblowing
 Professional conduct
Core concepts in Engineering
ethics
 The public interest
– Paramount responsibility to the public
health, safety and welfare, including that of
future generations.
– Call attention to to threats to the above
and act to eliminate them.
Core concepts in Engineering
ethics
 The public interest
– Work through professional societies to
encourage and support engineers who
follow these concepts.
– Apply knowledge, skill and imagination to
enhance human welfare and the quality of
life for all.
Core concepts in Engineering
ethics
 Qualities of truth, honesty and fairness
– Be honest and impartial
– Advise employer, client, or public, of all
consequences of work.
– Maintain confidences; act as faithful agent
or trustee
– Avoid conflicts of interest
Core concepts in Engineering
ethics
 Qualities of truth, honesty and fairness
– Give fair and equitable treatment to others
– Base decisions and actions on merit,
competence and knowledge, and without bias
of race, religion, sex, age etc.
– Neither pay nor accept bribes, gifts or
gratuities
– Be objective and truthful in discussions,
reports and actions.
Core concepts in Engineering
ethics
 Professional performance
– Competence for work undertaken
– Strive to improve competence and assist
others in doing so
– Extend public and professional knowledge
and technical reports and their results
– Accept responsibility for actions and give
appropriate credit to others.