Engineers as Responsible Experimenters

Engineers –Shared Responsibility Engineers are not the sole experimenters – Managers – Marketing people – Public But, “with knowledge comes responsibility” •Engineers are in a unique position to: – Monitor projects – Identify risks – Develop facts for informed consent • An engineering professional will take on the responsibility!

To fulfill their obligations as responsible experimenters, engineers must: A Primary Obligation to protect the safety of human subjects, providing a safe exit whenever possible, and respect their right of informed consent use imaginative forecasting of possible side effects, and reasonable efforts to monitor them have autonomous, personal involvement in all aspects of a project accept accountability for the results display technical competence and other attributes of responsible professionals

For Remembrance Informing for consent requires excellent communications skills in order to provide appropriate information in an understandable way. Also, cooperation with other disciplines is often essential to assess potential side effects and monitor effects of "social experiments" through engineering.. (Recall Alasdair MacIntyre's virtue of professional responsibility which includes: i) self direction, ii) public spirited, iii) team work iv) proficiency. (Martin & Schinzinger, 42)

Engineers should also display technical competence and other attributes of professionalism . Definite “Style” of Engineering Contemporary Threats

Contemporary Threats Conscientiousness Relevant Information Moral Autonomy Accountability

Responsible Experimentalists 1. Conscientiousness: Protect safety knowledge, respect right of consent of public 2. Relevant Information / Comprehensive perspective: Awareness of experimental nature of projects, forecasting, monitoring 3. Moral autonomy: Personally engaged, thoughtful, involvement in project 4. Accountability: Accept responsibility for results of a project (avoid fragmentation, diffusion, time pressures)

1.CONSCIENTIOUSNESS People act responsibly to the extent that they conscientiously commit themselves to live according to moral values . Self interest Moral Agents Individuals who think solely of their own good to the exclusion of the good of others are not moral agents

Conscientiousness moral commitment a sensitivity to the full range of moral values and responsibilities that are relevant to a given situation Willingness to develop the skill and expend the effort needed to reach the best balance possible among those considerations . Conscientiousness implies consciousness ( in the sense of awareness), because intent is not sufficient.

Open eyes, Open ears and an Open mind are required to recognize a given situation, its implications and who is involved or affected.

Working Conditions The contemporary ( modern or present) working conditions of engineers tend a narrow moral vision solely to the obligations that accompany employee status.

Engineers work benefits 90% of engineers are salaried employees work in large bureaucracies ( organizations or administrations ) under great pressure to function smoothly within the organization Benefits :Prudent self interest and concern for one’s family  make it easy to emphasize as primary the obligations to one‘s employer

Moral aspiration (goal) Minimal negative duties: Not falsifying data Not violating patent rights Not breaching confidentiality

Engineering as Social Experimentation Restores vision of engineers as guardians of the public interest  professional duty it is to guard the Welfare and safety of those affected by engineering projects . Engineers should not impose their own views of the social good upon society

2. RELEVANT INFORMATION Conscientiousness is blind without relevant factual information. Shows moral concern that involves commitment to obtain and properly assess all available information pertinent to meeting one’s moral obligations

Grasp the context of one’s work( which makes it count as an activity having a moral import ) Specialization Division of Labor

Example A company may produce items with obsolescence built into them , or the items might promote unnecessary energy usage It is easy to place the burden on the sales department : “Let them inform the customers” It may be natural to thus rationalize one’s neglect of safety or cost considerations , but it shows no moral concern.

Consequences of what one does Regarding engineering as social experimentation : Engineer should view his/her specialized activities in a project as part of a larger whole having a social impact. Goal is to practice “Defensive engineering “ or “ preventive technology “ Moral Responsibility

MORAL AUTONOMY (Morally Self directed ) When People are morally autonomous ?

People are morally autonomous when their moral conduct and principles of action are their own. Moral Beliefs and attitudes basis of Critical reflection - Moral beliefs and attitudes must be held on the basis of critical reflection rather than merely through passive adoption ie... Particular conventions of one’s society, church or profession

Moral Beliefs and attitudes must integrate into the core of an individual’s personality in a manner that leads to committed action . Cannot be agreed abstractly and formally or verbally .

Engineers working for an employer  sells one’s labor and skills may make it seem that one has thereby disowned and forfeited power over one’s actions Viewing engineering as social experimentation can help one overcome the above tendency .

ATTITUDE OF MANAGEMENT Plays a decisive (vital) role in how much moral autonomy engineers feel they have. Long term interest Thoughtful & involvement in project

3. ACCOUNTABILITY Responsible people accept moral responsibility for their actions. Accept responsibility for results of a project fragmentation, diffusion, time pressures