Ethics
Ethics: Code of conduct in upholding values
Profession
Form of work involving advanced expertise, self regulation and concerted service to the public good
Example: engineering, medical, teaching
Engineering Ethics
It is the study of the decisions, policies and values that are normally desirable in engineering practice and research
Engineering Ethics: Code of conduct for engineers in their professional lives
Ethical Theories Based on Philosophical Scholarship
Utilitarianism
Duty Ethics
Rights Ethics
Virtue Ethics
See Fleddermann, Engineering Ethics, pp 33-38
Utilitarianism John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
Considers a balance of good & bad consequences for everyone affected (society)
Actions are good that serve to promote human well-being
Cost-Benefit analysis is an application
Consideration of most benefit to the most people outweighs needs of a few individuals
Duty Ethics Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
There are duties that should be performed (e.g.. Duty to treat others fairly or not to injure others) regardless of whether these acts do the most good or not.
Rights Ethics John Locke (1632-1704)
People have fundamental rights (like life, liberty, & property) that others have a duty to respect.
Virtue Ethics
Actions are considered right if they support good character traits (virtues) and wrong if they support bad character traits (vices)
Closely tied to personal honor
Integrity
Honesty (truthfulness) and the ability to do or know what is morally right
A person of great integrity
Dishonesty – example
Cheating – copying in exam
Fabrication – cooking up the lab experiment result (written)
Misrepresentation – lying about late coming (verbal)
Plagiarism – Using others work (intellectual) as one’s own with out giving due credit
Work Ethics
Ethical traits of employees in carrying out
work that is expected by employers:
Attendance
Character
Team work
Appearance
Attitude
Productivity
Organization skills
Communication
Cooperation
Respect
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