CE301: Ethics

1st Class on Ethics

Summer 2021
Ethics
• What is Ethics?
• Is it a science of branch of philosophy?
• Ethics is a branch of philosophy that could be defined as a moral
philosophy or code of morals or code of conducts to be
practiced. An example of ethics is the code of conduct set by a
business..
• Ethics describes well-founded standards of right and wrong.
• It says what we should do, usually in terms of rights, obligations,
benefits to society.
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Ethics
• It is difficult to define one recognized standard for ethics.
• What is and what is not ethical, it varies from person to
person, organization to organization, even from one country
to another.
• It is not static rather it is a dynamic field.
• Ethics is not law and law is not ethics, but these are related.

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Is ethics public or personal?
• Ethical behavior could be public as well as personal.
• When it deals with one’s choice that how will s/he leads his/her life
and s/he is solely responsible for that decision, it is personal.
• But when one’s way of living and decisions are judged by others, then
it is public.
• At the same time, it could be called both personal and public.

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Ethical Analysis Tools
It is usual to face with questions and ethical decisions. There are several
tests that could help one to take proper decisions.
Harm Test: One has to explore different alternatives and to find out the
one with least or no harm.
Publicity Test: One should think and ask oneself if it is published inmass
media or my parents know, would I like that?
Defensibility Test: One has to ask oneself whether one can defend it
before any committee.
Reversibility Test: One should think if this decision is applied to me,
then whether I would like this decision or not.

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Ethical Analysis Tools
Colleague Test: One should think if my colleagues come to know it or
ask questions on it, can I satisfy them?
Organization Test: One should ask oneself what one’s organization’s
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
Virtue Test: One should ask can I do it as a virtuous person? Does a
virtuous person like this?
[Ref- from “A Format for Ethical Decision Making” (2010), Michael
Davis, Center for Study of Ethics in the Professions, Illinois Institute of
Technology, Chicago]

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What is Engineering Ethics
• Engineering ethics is the branch of ethics that defines to the
role, responsibilities and practices of engineers.
• The field deals the obligations by the engineers to society, to
their clients, and to the profession.

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Why Studying Engineering Ethics
• The study of ethics makes clear oneself to the professional
obligations and standards related to engineering.
• There is one standard for engineers. It depends on various
aspects of human life and society. I may vary with
organizations, country and culture.
• The study of engineering ethics helps engineers to
develop themselves as morally competent.

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What is a Code of Ethics?
• A code of ethics is a basic guidance. It supports engineers to
conduct and work responsibly with honor, dignity and
integrity.
• It should be written in plain language with easy and simple
words to make easily understandable to all concerned
persons.

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What can happen if an engineer break ethics
• If any engineer fails to follow the code of conducts, s/he will be held
responsible personally.
• It may cause disciplinary actions against him/her.
• S/he may be fined and/or jailed.
Is compromise good ethics?
• Compromise could be thought as a good tool for negotiation.
• On the other hand, ethics is not a matter of compromise.

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Different Code of Ethics
• There are many code of ethics adopted by different engineering
societies and bodies through out the whole world.
• These code of ethics are based on similar principles.
• Examples-
NSPE Code of Ethics
ASCE Code of Ethics
Engineering Council of India Code of Ethics
Nepal Engineering Council Professional Code of Conduct
Board of Engineers Malaysia Code of Conduct of Registered Person

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Engineers’ Creed
As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and
skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare.
[NSPE, National Society for Professional Engineers]

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Oath of a Professional Engineer
I pledge:
To give the utmost of performance;
To participate in none but honest enterprise;
To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards of professional
conduct;
To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal
advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations.
In humility and with need for Divine Guidance,
I make this pledge.

[Adopted by the National Society of Professional Engineers, June 1954]

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Steps to Ethical Engineering Decisions
• Nine steps to ethical engineering decisions
1. Stop and Think
2. Clarify goals
3. Determine facts known and unknown
4. Develop options
5. Consider foreseeable results of options
6. Refer to the Ethics Resources
7. Refer to registration law for guidance
8. Consult with respected staff or outside professionals
9. Decide the course of action and take it.

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Thanks

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