Angeles, Jeremiah M.

TASK #3 BSEE-3A

PROBLEMS:
a.) Find information on the space shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 and analyze it, using
the ethical theories developed in this chapter. What does utilitarianism tell us about this
case? In your analysis, be sure to include issues regarding benefits to the United States
and mankind that might result from the space shuttle program. You might also include
benefits to Morton Thiokol and the communities where it operates if the program is
successful.

- Utilitarianism tells us about the results that could lead to great benefits to society if it was
successful. Unfortunately, it resulted to the deaths of the crew. For Morton Thiokol, if the
program would have been a success, it would have meant additional and certain business
from their prestigious client which was NASA. These projects would later on lead to the
earlier launch of the apollo 17 which enhanced the life on earth and would prepare the future
astronauts to explore the rest of our solar system while helping the medical researchers solve
how to keep them healthy in a lower-gravity and higher-radiation environment than earth.
United states would have also received more investments from the countries that were part of
the United union (UN) at that time if the program would have been successful. Going by the
facts of this case, which say that seven people lost their lives, utilitarianism adherents would
have supported the space shuttle launch on the grounds that any successful launch provides
benefit to the entire mankind while putting only a handful of risk. In an overall sense, there
are benefits that clearly outweigh the drawbacks or risks associated with the program.
Therefore, it would be worth supporting the space shuttle launches.

b.) What do duty and rights ethics tell us about the Challenger case? How do your answers
to this question and to the previous question influence your ideas on whether the
Challenger should have been launched?
- It tells us that people have a duty to act accordingly regardless of the good or bad
consequences that may be produced. Some kinds of action are wrong or right in themselves,
regardless of the consequences. The challenger shouldn’t have been launched given the status
of the temperature.

c.) Use contemporary newspaper accounts to find information on problems with Intel’s Pentium computer
chip (1995) and with runway concrete at the Denver International Airport (1994). Analyze these cases,
using virtue ethics. Start by deciding what virtues are important for people in these businesses (e.g.,
honesty, fairness, etc.). Then see if these virtues were exhibited by the engineers working for these
companies.
- the virtues that are important for people that are in to these businesses are honesty, competence
and fairness. After analyzing both the Intel’s Pentium computer chip and runway concrete at the Denver
International Airport I could say that the virtues that were needed here were not present. They valued
having profit more than carrying out the essential virtues. Valuing these virtues may not lead to higher
profits but it would increase the credibility of the business. Boosting the credibility of the business can
only obtained by the trusts of your customers/consumers.
NON-WESTERN ETHICAL TRADITIONS
a) Develop a list of values that you think are important to being a successful engineer. This
list will probably include things such as engineering knowledge and technical skills that
are not ethical in nature. For the values that are ethical, think about where these values
come from and how you came to hold them.

- Values that I think is important to being a successful engineer:

*Team player *Being ready for the unexpected
*Creativity *Competence
*Continuous learning *loyalty
*Communication skills *Open minded
*Trustworthy *Honesty
-for the values that are ethical, these values could be attained through various experiences you get to
encounter in your life. Some may be obtained from the people you have spent a great amount of time
with.

BHOPAL

a.) Topics to be considered should include the placing of a hazardous plant in a populated area,
decisions to defer maintenance on essential safety systems, etc. Important theories to consider
when doing your analysis are rights and duty ethics and utilitarianism.

- The rights and duty ethics and utilitarianism does not apply to the Bhopal case because after
analyzing the case the people do not benefit from it other than the holder of UCC.

b.) Find a copy of the code of ethics of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and use it to
analyze what a process engineer working at this plant should have done. What does the code say
about the responsibilities of the engineers who designed the plant and the engineers responsible
for making maintenance decisions?

- The Board of Directors of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers adopted this Code of
Ethics to which it expects that the professional conduct of its members shall conform, and to
which every applicant attests by signing his or her membership application. Members of the
American Institute of Chemical Engineers shall uphold and advance the integrity, honor and
dignity of the engineering profession by: being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity
their employers, their clients, and the public; striving to increase the competence and prestige
of the engineering profession; and using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of
human welfare. To achieve these goals, members shall:
1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and protect the environment in
performance of their professional duties.
2. Formally advise their employers or clients (and consider further disclosure, if warranted) if they
perceive that a consequence of their duties will adversely affect the present or future health or
safety of their colleagues or the public.
3. Accept responsibility for their actions, seek and heed critical review of their work and offer
objective criticism of the work of others.
4. Issue statements or present information only in an objective and truthful manner.
5. Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, avoiding
conflicts of interest and never breaching confidentiality.
6. Treat all colleagues and co-workers fairly and respectfully, recognizing their unique contributions
and capabilities by fostering an environment of equity, diversity and inclusion.
7. Perform professional services only in areas of their competence.
8. Build their professional reputations on the merits of their services.
9. Continue their professional development throughout their careers, and provide opportunities for
the professional development of those under their supervision.
10. Never tolerate harassment.
11. Conduct themselves in a fair, honorable and respectful manner .

The engineers working at the plant should have followed the proper guidelines and safety hazards.
The code says that “Members of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers shall uphold and
advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the engineering profession by: being honest and impartial
and serving with fidelity their employers, their clients, and the public; striving to increase the
competence and prestige of the engineering profession; and using their knowledge and skill for the
enhancement of human welfare” which they did not respect.

c.) What responsibility does Union Carbide have for the actions of its subsidiaries? Union Carbide
India was 50.9% owned by the parent company.

- It is equally well established in the law of tort that companies are liable for torts committed
during the course of their business by their employees. Whilst a company will not be liable
for the acts of its subsidiary by reason only of its shareholding, it may owe its own duty of
care towards the employees of the subsidiaries. In these circumstances, the court does not
pierce the corporate veil but instead identifies a free-standing duty of care owed by the parent
company to the claimant arising out of the relationship between the parent and subsidiary
companies. There has been a recent raft of English case law which explores whether a
wronged party can pursue a parent company for the actions of its subsidiary in tort; a tool
used by some to their advantage where the parent company is located in a more favorable
jurisdiction. In this case UCC holds the responsibilities and liabilities that resulted from the
accident. The government also holds responsibility for giving little importance to the control
 and safety regulations that was needed to be practiced in these plants thinking it could keep
the economy from going backwards.

THE ABERDEEN THREE

a.) What does utilitarianism tell us about the behavior of the Aberdeen Three? What do duty and
rights ethics tell us? In analyzing this, start by determining who is harmed or potentially harmed
by these activities and who benefits or potentially benefits from them.

- A lot of people have/ could have been harmed by the activities of the Aberdeen Three case
starting from the employees that are working inside the facility because there were flammable
substances that were left open and chemicals that become lethal when mixed together are in
the same room. Another would be people who lived along/near the river where the barrels of
toxic chemicals were leaking. The people living along/near the river could have been exposed
to the toxic water. The people who only benefits from the activities would be the people who
maintains the plant. The budget supposedly used for the safety hazards of the facility could
have been taken by them.

b.) Can the actions of these engineer/managers be classified as engineering decisions, management
decisions, or both? Ethically, does it matter whether these decisions were engineering or
management decisions?

- The actions of the managers/engineers were mainly management decisions. As an engineer

they were fully aware what were the consequences if the safety hazards were left unchecked
but they turned a blind eye giving into their greed. Yes, because as an engineer there are
people who trust your decisions and safety is one that is at their stake.

c.) Do you think that the Aberdeen Three knew about RCRA? If not, should they have? Does it
really matter if they knew about RCRA or not?

- They knew about the RCRA but gave it no importance. It does matter because the RCRA was
intended to provide incentives for the recovery of important resources from wastes, the
conservation of resources, and the control of the disposal of hazardous wastes. RCRA banned
the dumping of solid hazardous wastes and included criminal penalties for violations of
hazardous-waste disposal guidelines knowing that their work involves hazardous substances.