INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING ETHICS

Definition of Engineering Ethics

Engineering ethics is the study of moral values, issues and decisions involved in engineering practice.
The moral values take many forms, including responsibilities, ideal character traits, social policies, and
relationships desirable for individuals and corporation engaged in technological development.
What is Morality?
From dictionaries, morality mainly concerns on right and wrong, good and bad, the rules that ought to be
followed. This definition is incomplete, because there are non-moral as well as moral usages of these words.
Therefore, morality is not easily explained in a simple definition. We could say that morality is about reasons
centered in respect for other people as well as ourselves. Moral reasons, may involve being fair and just,
respecting peoples right, avoiding unnecessary offense, cheating and dishonesty, caring, showing gratitude
and empathy, minimizing damage to environment etc.
MORAL DILEMMAS AND RELATED ISSUES
Moral dilemmas are situations in which two or more moral obligations, duties, rights, goods, or ideals come
into conflict with one another. It is also possible for one for one moral principle to have two or more
incompatible applications in a given situation.
Because moral principles can conflict, it is often difficult or impossible to formulate rules that are absolute,
that is, never have a justified exception. Even such basic principles as Do Not Lie, Do Not Steal, and Do Not Kill
have some permissible exceptions when they conflict with more pressing moral duties.
Resolving moral dilemmas involves good moral judgment in weighing conflicting moral reasons, but frequently
it involves several related tasks: conceptual clarification, factual inquiries, and resolution of interpersonal
disagreements.
a) Conceptual clarification is the elucidation of moral ideas and morally relevant notions.In general, moral
ideas contain areas of vagueness and ambiguity that need to be dealt with.
b) Factual inquiries are inquiries into the facts relevant to resolving particular moral issues. These are
engineering, scientific, financial, or legal matters, as they are brought to bear on resolving moral
dilemmas.
c) Interpersonal disagreements are controversies among persons or groups about how to understand and
resolve moral dilemmas. Ideally, either through mutually enriching perspective or compromises.
Steps in Confronting Moral Dilemmas
1.
2.
3.
4.

Identify the relevant moral factors and reasons

Gather all available facts that are pertinent to the moral factors involved.
Rank the moral considerations in order of importance as they apply to the situation.
Consider alternative courses of action as ways of resolving the dilemma, tracing the full implications of
each
5. Talk with colleagues/friends, seeking their suggestions and alternative perspectives on the dilemma.
6. Arrive at a carefully reasoned judgment by weighing all the relevant moral factors and reasons in light of
the facts
WHY STUDY ENGINEERING ETHICS?
Engineering ethics should be studied because it is important, both in preventing grave consequences of faulty
ethical reasoning and in giving meaning to engineers endeavors, but it is complex. It cannot be understood
through casual observation.
The direct aim is to increase the ability to deal effectively with moral complexity in engineering. It also aim to
empowering individuals to reason more clearly and carefully concerning moral questions, rather than
inculcate any particular beliefs. The unifying goal is to increase moral autonomy.

Autonomy literally means self-determining or independent. Moral autonomy can be viewed as the skill and
habit of thinking rationally about ethical issues on the basis of moral concern.
Improving the ability to reflect carefully on moral issues can be accomplished by improving various practical
skill that will help to produce autonomous thought about moral issues. These skills include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Proficiency in recognizing moral problems and issues in engineering

Skill in comprehending, clarifying, and assessing critically arguments on opposing sides of moral issues
The ability to form consistent and comprehensive viewpoints based on considerations of relevant facts.
Imaginative awareness of alternative responses to the issues and receptivity to creative solutions for
practical difficulties.
Increased precision in the use of a common ethical language, a skill needed to express and support
ones moral views adequately to others.
Sensitivity to genuine difficulties and subtleties.
An awakened sense of the importance of integrating ones professional life and personal convictions.
Enriched appreciation of both the possibilities of using rational dialogue in solving moral conflicts and
the need of tolerance of differences in perspective among morally reasonable people.

WHAT ARE PROFESSION?

In general term, a profession is any occupation that provides means to earn a living. In deeper sense, a
profession involves:
1. Advanced Expertise. Professions require sophisticated skills and theoretical knowledge in exercising
judgment
2. Self-Regulation. Well established societies of professionals are allowed by the public to play major role
in setting standards for admission to the profession, drafting codes of ethics, enforcing standards of
conduct, and representing the profession before the public and government.
3. Public Good. The occupation serves some important aspect of public good. E.g. engineering toward
technological solutions to problems concerning the publics well-being, safety, and health.
ROLES OF CODES OF ETHICS
Professional codes of ethics consist primarily of principles of responsibility that delineate how to
promote the public good. The codes provide guidance and support for responsible engineer, establish
shared minimum standards, and play additional important roles,
Shared Standard
Great diversity of moral views make it essential that profession establish explicit standards.
Support
Codes give positive support to those seeking to act ethically.
Guidance
Codes provide a positive stimulus for ethical conduct and helpful guidance concerning main obligations
of engineers.
Inspiration
Codes also provide stimulus (motivation) for ethical conduct.
Education and Mutual Understanding
Codes can be used by professional societies and in the classroom to prompt discussion and reflection
on moral issues.
Deterrence and Discipline
Codes can also serve as the formal basis for investigating unethical conduct.
Contributing to the Professions Image
Codes can present a positive image to the public of an ethically committed profession.
ABUSE OF CODES
When codes are not taken seriously within a profession, it will increase public cynicism about the
profession. One of the worst abuse of engineering codes can occur when honest moral effort on the

part of individual engineers is restricted by an attempt to preserve the professions public image and
protect the status quo.
LIMITATION OF CODES
Codes are no substitute for individual responsibility in grappling with concrete dilemma. Most codes
are restricted to general wording and contain substantial areas of vagueness. They may not be able to
straightforwardly address all situations.
Example of Codes of some engineering societies of an interdisciplinary nature:
1. ABET Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology
2. NSPE National Society of Professional Engineers
3. BEM Board of Engineers Malaysia
Example of Codes of some disciplines-specific engineering societies
1. AIChE American Institute of Chemical Engineers
2. ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers
3. ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineering
4. IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
An Ethical Corporate Climate
An ethical climate is a working environment conducive to morally responsible conduct. Within
corporations, it is produced by a combination of formal organization and policies, informal traditions
and practices, and personal attitudes and commitments.
What are the defining features of an ethical corporate climate? There are at least 4 features:
a) Ethical values must be widely acknowledged and appreciated by managers and employees
alike. Responsibilities to all constituencies of the corporation are affirmed not only to
stockholders, but also to customers, employees of the corporation.
b) The use of ethical language is applied and recognized as a legitimate part of corporate dialogue,
e.g. include a statement of ethical responsibilities in job descriptions of all layers of management.
c) Top management must set amoral tone, in words, in policies, and by personal example.
d) Procedures for conflict resolution.
Social Responsibility Movement has raised sensitivity within companies concerning product quality and the
well being of workers, wider community, and the environment.
Our customers are not the people buying cars, but the people buying our stock.
-Attributed to Lee Iacocca
Moral Responsibility
Moral judgments are involved whenever moral responsibility is ascribed to individuals or corporations,
but judgments may be various types. They might ascribe;
1.
A virtue
2.
Obligations
3.
General moral capacities
4.
Liabilities and accountability for actions
5.
Blameworthiness or praiseworthiness
There are two other concepts of responsibility that should not be confused with moral responsibility in
any of its five preceding.
1. Causal responsibility consists simply in being a cause of some event. People can be causally responsible
for an event without necessarily being morally responsible for it.
2. Legal responsibility should also be distinguished from moral responsibility. An engineer or engineering
firm can be held legally responsible for harm that was so unlikely and unforeseeable that little or no
moral responsibility is involved.