Engineering

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session, you will be able to:

 develop ethical reasoning skills and an increased ability to make

appropriate judgments

 identify codes of ethics relevant to Engineering practice

 apply analytical skills to solve ethical case studies

OUTLINE

What is Engineering? 1

4 Ethical Dilemmas and

Definitions case studies
Ethics vs. Morals vs. Law 2

5 Ethical decision making process

The importance of Ethics in

the Engineering profession 3
What would the world be
like without engineers?
• Look at the following comics and figure
out what engineers do!

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THE WORLD WITHOUT ENGINEERS

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THE WORLD WITHOUT ENGINEERS

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THE WORLD WITHOUT ENGINEERS

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NOW LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE NEW

INVENTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!
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4D PRINTING

A 4D printed product is a 3D printed object that can change

its properties when a specific stimulus is applied (immersed
under water, heated, shaken, not stirred, etc.). The 4th
dimension is therefore that of smart materials.
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GENERATIVE DESIGN AI

• This cutting-edge technology makes it possible to reduce

product development cycle times, to design medicines in a few
months instead of several years, to compose entirely new
materials, to generate synthetic data, to optimise the parts
design, to automate creativity

It is predicted that by 2025, 30% of outbound marketing

communications from leading organisations will be synthetically
generated.
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6G
• This technology will go beyond 5G in providing
higher peak speeds, lower latency, much higher
connection density and energy efficiency.

• AI will remain a major component of the technology,

along with secrecy, security and privacy.

6G will not be launched before 2030

 ENGINEERS ARE INVENTORS!

• Engineers use science and math to solve real world problems!

• What are some of the types of engineers you’ve heard of?

• Possibly:
• Chemical, electrical, mechanical, software, civil, biomedical, and environmental.
AND MANY MORE!

Look around you, EVERY single manmade gadget

you see was conceived and created by an engineer!

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YOU WILL BE AN ENGINEER IN A FEW MONTHS!

All engineers will come to face ethical

challenges in their professional practice. If
these challenges are not dealt with wisely,
their careers, their organizations, and most
importantly, the wellbeing and safety of
people and our environment may be
exposed to risk.

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WHAT DOES THE WORD ETHICS
MEAN TO YOU?

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 ETHICS is:

• A branch of philosophy that is concerned with human

conduct and the behavior of individuals in society.

• Ethics examines the rational justification for our moral

judgments.

• It studies what is believed to be morally right or wrong, just

or unjust.

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 WHAT IS ETHICS?

Ethics is the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and –
a set of moral principles or values.
- A theory or system of moral values
- The principles of conduct governing an individual or a group (e.g., professional
ethics)
(from Merriam-Webster)
Ethics focus on materialistic and social consequences and is also known as
moral philosophy.

Some ethical principles include:

➢ Loyalty
➢ Integrity
➢ Truthfulness
➢ Honesty
➢ Punctuality..

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What is the diff erence between
ETHICS and MORALS?

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ENGINEERING ETHICS IS:

“The study of Moral

Values, Issues and
Decisions as they relate
to Engineering Practice”
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 WHY ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS?

• Engineers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity.

• Engineering has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for all.

• Services provided by engineers require honesty, fairness, and equality.

• Engineers should be dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.

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TWO DIMENSIONS OF ETHICS IN ENGINEERING

• Ethics is part of engineering for two main reasons:

1. Engineers need to be socially responsible when building

products and processes for society.

Social responsibility requires professional responsibility.

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2. Engineering Ethics is preventative – Solutions thinkers.

Anticipating ethical problems that left, unattended, become an ethical crises.

Responsible engineering practice requires familiarity with the kinds of

circumstances that call for ethical sensitivity & reflection.

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ENGINEERING ETHICS IS PROFESSIONAL ETHICS:

Engineering Ethics is about:

• how engineers have to act and live as engineers,

• what they have to consider when making decisions,
• according to what standards are these actions right or wrong.

Shortly Engineering ethics is how engineers morally act as Engineers.

This is professional ethics NOT personal ethics.

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DIFFERENCES:

Personal Ethics Common Morality Professional Ethics

is the set of moral ideals shared is the set of standards adopted by

is the set of ones own ethical by most members of a culture professionals. It can be different
committments. or society. from personal ethics and
common morality.

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Next Stop: ‘Trolley
Problem’
We have a hard decision
to make.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg16u_bzjPE

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO? EXPLAIN YOUR
DECISION.

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WHAT IS AN ETHICAL DILEMMA?

• An ethical dilemma (ethical paradox or moral dilemma) is a problem in the

decision-making process between two possible options, neither of which is
absolutely acceptable from an ethical perspective.

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 ETHICAL DILEMMAS
THINGS TO CONSIDER..

The right thing The virtuous

What are the technical
aspects, laws, regulations, 1 What are my values? What
are my organization’s ethical
codes and standards? policies and values?

The good
Who will be affected? What
are the quantifiable and non-
quantifiable results?
4 Sweet spot
2 3 Here is your personal ethical
position in this particular
dilemma

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What do you know about self-
driving cars?

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 Throught Experiment

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?
V=IXIODYVFKA0

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 Discussion

• Do you think in the near future, self-driving cars will become the new standard?

• Do you think that manually operating an automobile will be deemed illegal due to the potential danger it presents?
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 ETHICS TEST

1 4
IS IT LEGAL? IS IT JUST, BALANCED AND FAIR?

2 5
HOW WILL IT MAKE ME
IS IT SAFE? FEEL ABOUT MYSELF?

3 6 DOES THIS CHOICE LEAD TO THE

GREATEST GOOD FOR THE
IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO? GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE?
 ETHICAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS

1 2 3 4
Recognize there is an Understand the facts of Understand the options Know the consequences
ethical question the situation available of them

5 6 7 8
Test the option you plan to Explain the option you Act on the option you Reflect on the outcome of
take have decided on decided to choose choosing that option

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• What are your OBLIGATIONS /
RESPONSIBILITIES as a
professional engineer?

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 THE ENGINEERING CODE OF ETHICS
The Engineering Code of Ethics has three components:

• The Fundamental Canons: which articulate the basic components

of ethical engineering.

• The Rules of Practice: which clarify and specify in detail the

fundamental canons of ethics in engineering.

• Professional Obligations: which elaborate the obligations that

engineers have.

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 Fundamental Canons

Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:

❑Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

❑Perform services only in areas of their competence.

❑Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

❑Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.

Avoid deceptive acts.

❑Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the

honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.

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ETHICS QUIZ

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 1. WHAT IS THE PRIMARY GOAL OF
ENGINEERING ETHICS?

A) Maximizing profits
B) Meeting project deadlines
C) Ensuring public safety and well-being
D) Advancing technological innovation

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 2 . WH I C H E T H I C A L P R I N C I P L E I N VO LV E S B E I N G
TR U T H F U L A N D H O N ES T I N P R O F ES S I O N A L
IN T E R A C T I O N S A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N S ?

A) Confidentiality
B) Integrity
C) Loyalty
D) Accountability

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 3. IN THE CONTEXT OF ENGINEERING ETHICS,
WHAT DOES "CONFLICT OF INTEREST" REFER TO?

A) A situation where engineers are in disagreement

B) A situation where personal interests interfere with professional
duties and responsibilities
C) A situation where engineers refuse to collaborate
D) A situation where engineers compete for projects
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 4. WHAT IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF
A CODE OF ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS?

A) To limit professional development opportunities

B) To create bureaucracy within engineering
organizations
C) To provide guidelines for ethical conduct and
decision-making
D) To promote competition among engineers

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5. WHI CH OF THE FOLLOWING I S NOT A KEY ETHI CAL
RESPONSIBI LI TY OF ENGI NEERS WHEN DESI GNING
AND I MPLEMENTI NG PROJECTS?

A) Ensuring public safety

B) Minimizing environmental impact
C) Maximizing profit for the engineering firm
D) Promoting sustainability and social
responsibility

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A person’s behavior is always ethical when one:

A. Does what is best for oneself

B. Does what is best for everyone
C. Does what is legal

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REMEMBER!

Engineering is not only study of

45 subjects but it is moral
studies of intellectual life.

Albert Einstein