E THICS IN E NGINEERING Lecture 3/4 "Men decide many more problems by hate, love, lust, rage, sorrow, joy, hope, fear, illusion, or some similar emotion,

E THICS IN E NGINEERING Lecture 3/4

"Men decide many more problems by hate, love, lust, rage, sorrow, joy, hope, fear, illusion, or some similar emotion, than by reason or authority, or any legal standards, or legal precedents, or law." Cicero

E THICS (R EVIEW ) System of moral principles Principles of right and wrong, justice and injustice, good and evil, vice and virtue, rights and responsibilities Principles governing conduct or behavior of an individual or a group

NSPE C ODE OF E THICS (R EVIEW ) 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.

M AJOR E THICAL P RINCIPLES (D ISCUSSED )

P RIMA F ACIE D UTIES Fidelity Reparation Gratitude Non-Maleficence Beneficence Justice Non-parasitism RoleDuties FriendLook out for the interests of your friend. AthletePlay your sport in a professional manner. EmployeePerform the duties of your job. ParentLook after your children and their interests CitizenFollow the laws of the country in which you live. Where duties conflict, we use rules about priority in order to settle the conflict

C LICKER Q UESTION Which ethical principle would you apply if doing more good than harm was important to you and your stakeholders? A. Rights Approach B. Justice Approach C. Virtue Approach D. Utilitarian Approach E. Ethics Care or Common-Good Approach

O UTLINE : Moral Reasoning & Case Analysis Techniques Applying Techniques to a Real Case

W HAT IS REQUIRED IN M ORAL R EASONING I dentifying the situation. What is being asked of you or your company? R ecognizing the relevant factors. Who are the parties? What are their rights? What are your companies obligations and their rights? A pplying moral considerations. What are the consequences ? What are the intentions of the actors ? What moral obligations are at play? What virtues are at play? P roposing a position-of-action. What do you think should be done in the situation? Why do you propose what you propose? Defend what you propose.

W HAT IS NOT REQUIRED IN M ORAL REASONING Having a defensible and thought out position-of- action does not require that there are no other defensible alternative positions of action. Having a defensible and thought out position of action does not mean that you dont have to listen to and reason with others who are relevant parties. Having a defensible and thought out position of action does not mean you should not seek advice also.

STEPS FOR ETHICAL ANALYSIS : What is the Ethical Dilemma? Get the Facts Evaluate Viewpoints Make a Decision Position of Action Humphreys, K. K. (1999). What every engineer should know about ethics, New York, CRC Press

W HAT IS THE E THICAL D ILEMMA ? Could this decision or situation be damaging to someone or to some group? Does this decision involve a choice between a good and bad alternative, or perhaps between two "goods" or between two "bads"? Is this issue about more than what is legal? Clearly define the nature of ethical problem or dilemma You want to provide an answer that is relevant to to all those that have a stake Ask these questions:

G ET THE F ACTS You want to make an informed decision Make clear any interpretations of the facts or the values that support conflicting moral viewpoints Ask these questions: What are the relevant facts? Do I know enough to make a decision? What are the groups that have a stake? Are some concerns more important?

E VALUATE D IFFERENT V IEWPOINTS Assess the pros and cons of competing moral viewpoints Be able to identify the most compelling reason for the course of action You must be able to justify the course of action Ask the following questions, which one: Will produce the most good and do the least harm? Best respects the rights of all who have a stake? Treats people equally or proportionately? Best serves the community as a whole? Leads me to act as the sort of person I want to be?

T O M AKE A D ECISION AND A CT Decide which of the viewpoints is the most compelling Write out your position-of-action as an argument that uses the factors you have chosen as reasons for your position-of-action. Attempt to defend your position of action against responses a person may have to your position. If I chose an option, what would an objective group say?

R EASONING FROM ALL SIDES A person that is good at moral reasoning can often perform the following task: Defend a position, regardless of whether they believe it. Reason for the opposing position, regardless of whether they believe it. Identify possible positions that further discussion.

P OSITION OF A CTION How can the decision be implemented given the concerns of all stakeholders? What have you learned from this action?

F OR E VALUATING V IEWPOINTS Party Involved Intention: Positive or Negative Consequences: Cost and Benefit Rights / Duties The Table Technique Make a table charting the relevant factors. Using the information in your table choose some combination of relevant factors to come up with a position-of-action.

F OR E VALUATING V IEWPOINTS Analysis and Justification (AJ) Method Evaluate the strength of the different viewpoints by using weighted pros and cons. https://www.academia.edu/4323854/A_Framework_for_Reasoning_about_ Ethical_Issues

F OR E VALUATING V IEWPOINTS David and his four children where in a car accident Three of the four children had minor injuries; the fourth died David, in the ICU, suffered broken ribs and internal bleeding Jane (wife and mother) came to the hospital, was informed of the sad news, and went to see her husband Attending physician said it was up to her to tell husband about daughters death but he was in critical condition (could cause more problems) What should Jane say to the husband? AJ Method Example https://www.academia.edu/4323854/A_Framework_for_Reasoning_about_Ethical_Issues

F OR E VALUATING V IEWPOINTS AJ Method Example: List the Pros and Cons https://www.academia.edu/4323854/A_Framework_for_Reasoning_about_Ethical_Issues

C LICKER Q UESTION What should Jane say when she visits Dave, her husband, in the ICU? A. The children are fine B. Well talk later (when Dave stabilizes) C. The whole truth

C LICKER Q UESTION Jane should tell her husband that the children are fine. Janes overriding duty to her husband and family trumps rights and honesty. Being honest might injure her family.

NSPE C ASE S TUDY C ASE N O. 98-2 Engineer A is a legally recognized engineer and resident in his home country He is an NSPE International Member He provides consulting, engineering, and construction contracting services to foreign national and local governments Under the laws of Engineer A's home country, it is not illegal for individuals and companies to provide cash payments or in-kind property to public officials in foreign countries in order to obtain and retain business from those public officials http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/ec98-2/ForeignBER.aspx

E THICAL D ILEMMA ? Would it be ethical for Engineer A to provide cash payments or in-kind property to public officials in foreign countries in order to get their business?

NSPE C ODE OF E THICS R EFERENCES Section II.1.d. - Code of Ethics: Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or associate in business ventures with any person or firm which they believe is engaged in fraudulent or dishonest enterprise. Section II.5.b. - Code of Ethics: Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit or receive, either directly or indirectly, any contribution to influence the award of a contract by public authority, or which may be reasonably construed by the public as having the effect or intent of influencing the awarding of a contract. They shall not offer any gift, or other valuable consideration in order to secure work. They shall not pay a commission, percentage or brokerage fee in order to secure work, except to a bona fide employee or bona fide established commercial or marketing agencies retained by them. Section III.8.a. - Code of Ethics: Engineers shall conform with state licensure laws in the practice of engineering. http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/ec98-2/ForeignBER.aspx

C LICKER Q UESTION Would it be ethical for Engineer A to provide cash payments or in-kind property to public officials in foreign countries in order to get their business? A. Yes, with any company B. No way!!! C. Ok, as long as it is with a company in a foreign country and not with a company in the US

NSPE C ONCLUSION It would not be ethical for Engineer A to provide cash payments or in-kind property to public officials in foreign countries in order to obtain and retain business from those public officials. NSPE Board of Ethical Review. on-line at http://onlineethics.org

A R ECURRING E THICAL D ILEMMA Engineering commitment to safety vs. All of the factors management must consider Its time to take off your engineering hat and put on your management hat. Morton Thiokol Senior Vice President Jerry Mason 29 VS

.. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN 30 Professional goals or virtues of engineers A.Upholding high standards of professional competence and expertise B.Holding paramount the health, safety & welfare of the public Professional goals or virtues of managerial decision-makers: A. Maximizing the well-being of the organization B. Upholding organizational employee morale and welfare

SAFE W HAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN SOMETHING IS SAFE? Does it mean - - 100% chance nothing bad will happen? Does it mean 1 in a million chance something bad will happen? 1 in 100,000? 1 in a billion?

A CCEPTABLE R ISK A thing is safe if, were its risks fully known, those risks would be judged acceptable by reasonable persons in light of their settled value principles. William W. Lowrance, 1976 If I told you that the probability of a poisonous release occurring from the Student union construction in one year is 1 in 20,000 would you consider that acceptable risk?

A CCEPTABLE R ISK If I told you that the annual probability of you dying from a transport accident is 1 in 6,000, how would you feel about the 1 in 20,000 odds of the poisonous release? Finally If I told you that the annual odds of you dying from a fall is also 1 in 20,000, does that change the way you feel about the student union?

Part 4: Application to Real Case

The Challenger Disaster (January 28, 1986) Next we will consider a case with this potential conflict A famous case and a national disaster: 35

E THICS IN E NGINEERING Lecture 3/4 "Men decide many more problems by hate, love, lust, rage, sorrow, joy, hope, fear, illusion, or some similar emotion,

Documents

conflict slide

group slide

cicero slide

commongood approach

real case slide

crc press slide

rights approach

justice approach