Department of Philosophy and History of Science Akos Gyarmathy Dr. Tihamer Margitay Department of Philosophy and History of Science 1111 Budapest, Egry J. U. 1. E606/612 gyarmathy@filozofia.bme.hu margitay@filozofia.bme.hu Engineering ethics

Ethical theories Class 2. Department of Philosophy and History science Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

The aim of this course Department of Philosophy and History science To prepare participants to understand, evaluate and handle ethical problems apparent on the field of engineering. Main theoretical objectives: Acquiring new factual knowledge, new perspectives for evaluation and new behavioral skills. Main practical objectives: becoming able to analyze and solve complex decision problems with particular attention to their ethical dimension. In order to do this, one needs to know normative ethical theories that discuss the issues of ethical decision-making. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

What won’t happen here We do not learn an ethical code Department of Philosophy and History science We do not learn an ethical code about what is right or wrong about what should have been done in any situation Instead: we recollect tools and information for evaluating the situation and form one’s own judgement. We do not measure ethical, technical and business aspects against each other Instead: we learn how to handle all these aspects together within an integrated decision process. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Normative ethical theories Department of Philosophy and History science Kantian ethics Deontic-ethics Contractualism Utilitarianism Virtue-ethics Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Discussing ethical theories Department of Philosophy and History science Discussing the theory with its application. Discussing ethical questions and their solution with the theory. Critical discussion of the theory. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Kantian Ethics Department of Philosophy and History science Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Etikai kérdések, példa 3: Cselekedetek megítélése Department of Philosophy and History science Is it ethicly good to download copyright material from the internet without the author’s consent? Why? What are the most occurent copyright issues concerning the work of engineers? Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

The founder Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)* Department of Philosophy and History science Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)* Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Basic idea: Categorical imperative (CI) Department of Philosophy and History science Moral principles serve as a benchmark for evaluating actions. Therefore all ethical principles must be generalizable. Such moral principles are imperative that tell you what to do generally. Categorical imperative: “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law”   “the objectives we may have in acting, and also our actions’ effects considered as ends and what motivates our volition, can give to actions no unconditional or moral worth…[this] can be found nowhere but in the principle of the will, irrespective of the ends that can be brought about by such action” (G 4: 400). Moral rightness is not a function of the value of intended or actual outcomes. categorical imperative “declares an action to be objectively necessary of itself without reference to any purpose—that is, even without any further end” Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Universal law Department of Philosophy and History science The main moral principle (CI) tells me how to choose the norm that determines the action. Requires generalizability It determines the moral value via the norm. Bad actions are bad not because of their consequence but because they cannot be made to universal law. (Because the agent himself would not accept them as universal). Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Exercise Department of Philosophy and History science Provide an example where it is apparent that an action and the norm behind it is wrong. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

The kingdom of ends formula Department of Philosophy and History science The kingdom of ends formulation of the CI: We should never act in such a way that we treat humanity, whether in ourselves or in others, as a means only but always as an end in itself. Any norm that makes other humans to be only means for an end is wrong. Requires general respect for moral agents. Requires general respect for the autonomy of other people. If we treat other humans as objects or instruments (means) for our goals then we strip them from their own freedom. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Exercise Provide an example where we treat others as means to an end. Department of Philosophy and History science Provide an example where we treat others as means to an end. Provide an example where we treat ourselves as means to an end. Provide an example where it is apparent that an action is wrong because of the Humanity formula. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Kantian ethics and deontic ethics Department of Philosophy and History science Since norms conforming Categorical imperative constitute our obligations, Kantian ethics belongs to deontic ethics that determine our obligations as an ethical system. It helps to define rules of conduct for agents. These rules are either good or bad. There are no exceptions from the rules once settled. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Golden rule The golden rule is also a meta-rule. Department of Philosophy and History science The golden rule is also a meta-rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Exercise: discuss whether the golden rule is in accordance with CI. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

What does it mean to be Wrong? Department of Philosophy and History science According to Kantian ethics wrong actions are always exceptions. „Only now, only I can act as others can never act.” Exercise: what could justify exeptions from a rule? Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Critical notes on Kantian ethics Department of Philosophy and History science Sometimes it justifies wrong actions. Different situations may result in different evaluations for the same action. Kantian ethics ignores that. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Deontic ethics Department of Philosophy and History science Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Obligations Obligations are norms for action. Department of Philosophy and History science Obligations are norms for action. Obligations are mandatory irrespective of the circumstances. E.g.: „Thou shalt not kill”; „Thou shalt not steal” Note that obligations often have negative form. It is difficult to tell agents how to act as a general principle. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Right action according to Deontic ethics Department of Philosophy and History science An action is right if it is in accordance with our obligations. Everything is permitted that is not wrong therefore everything is right if it is not wrong. Obligations are independent from the consequences of the action or the circumstances. Rightness only depends on the action itself that is performed. Certain actions are inherently good while others are inherently wrong. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Interpreting obligations Department of Philosophy and History science Obligations only refer to the action one intentionally does and not the consequence or mistakes one causes. Identifying actions requires intentions (desire-belief) not only the physical movements one demonstrates. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Exercise List five general and five professional obligations. Department of Philosophy and History science List five general and five professional obligations. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Home assignment Department of Philosophy and History science Provide an example that is morally problematic but is permitted according to Kantian ethics. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics