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HS3050: Professional Ethics
SATYA SUNDAR SETHY, Ph.D. Dept. of Humanities & Social Sciences Indian Institute of Technology Madras Chennai , India
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What is Applied Ethics? Ethics Normative Ethics Metaethics
Etc. Bioethics Professional Ethics Business ethics Environment Ethics Legal ethics Medical ethics Accounting ethics Engineering ethics
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What is Engineering Ethics?
Engineering ethics is the study of the moral values, issues, and decisions involved in engineering practice (Schinzinger & Martin, 2000). Engineering ethics as much a part of what engineers in particularly know as factors of safety, testing procedures, or ways to design for reliability, durability, or economy (Harris, C.E., et al, 1996,p.93). Engineering practices revolve around 03 variables; cost, schedule, and quality. A little compromise in one component affect others.
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Occupation Vs. Profession
Carpenter Goldsmith Builder Handicraft worker Tailor?? Bank officer?? Television anchor?? Etc. Individual choice Not having code of ethics Engineers Doctors Lawyer, etc. Professors?? Social recognition A member of a profession is expected/ anticipated others’ behaviour on a certain situation. Morally permissible standards
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Who is a Professional? Professional responsibilities for engineers
Criteria to consider someone as a professional (Sociological) -- Extensive training -- Vital knowledge and skills -- Control of services -- Autonomy in the workplace -- Know the ethical regulations (Harris, C., et al., 2009, pp.2-3) Professional responsibilities for engineers *** Concern for public safety *** Technical Competence *** Timely communication of positive and negative results to management
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Ethics Vs. Professional Ethics
Each and every rational person Don’t lie Don’t kill, steal, cheat to others, so on Exception of these moral rules and standards Self-defense (may kill others) Moral permissible standards of conduct that ideally every member of a profession wants every other member to follow, even if that would mean having to do the same (Harris, C.E., et al, 1996). Engineering ethics as much a part of what engineers in particularly know as factors of safety, testing procedures, or ways to design for reliability, durability, or economy (p.93). Personal Ethics
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Two faces of Professional Ethics
Preventive ethics (prevention of professional malpractice and harm to the public) NSPE, section 1 b: “engineers shall not reveal facts, data or information without the prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized by law or this code”. It says, engineers shall not approve engineering documents that are not in conformity with applicable standards. NSPE, ii, 3, a: engineers shall not be biased and deceitful in their professional judgments NSPE, iii, 9, e: engineers shall not neglect their professional development National society of professional engineers
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Continue Aviation industry of USA
The DC-10 case Aviation industry of USA Pressure to increase cargo and cabin area of the flights The flight must be able to withstand pressures up to 38 pounds per square inch 1st year service: a rear cargo door was improperly closed. An engineer told the company manager that I am not satisfied with “Band-Aid” service (cargo door lock and latch system) March 3, 1974: Paris to London = 346 passengers National society of professional engineers
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Aspirational Ethics Aspirational ethics (use knowledge and expertise to promote public good, welfare of the public; positive dimension of professional ethics) Be positive; get energy and enthusiastic Determine to make a difference in the world Medical devices - save lives, less fuel - more mileage, less polluting vehicles (HET) Improve the quality of human life NSPE: fundamental canon- engineers must promote the welfare of the public as well as prevent violations of safety and health E.g. the sealed-beam headlight, Air bags, etc. National society of professional engineers Engineer E. Sreedharan (Metro man), HET: Honda Eco Technology
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Responsibility in Engineering
Personal character – don’t violate confidentiality Responsibility and accountability are intertwined with each other The concept of responsibility is many-faceted. Accountability: legal liabilities, job-defined roles, moral accountability NSPE: engineers are expected to commit themselves to high standards of conduct. Individual engineer, unit of a section, etc. Challenger Disasters (January 28, 1986) Columbia, Kennedy space center (Jan 16, 2003) National society of professional engineers
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Objectives of Engineer Ethics Education
Stimulate the ethical imagination of students Assist students recognize ethical issues Help students analyze key ethical concepts & principles Help students deal with ambiguity Encourage students to take ethics seriously Enhance student sensitivity to ethical issues Escalate student knowledge of relevant standards Improve ethical judgment Proliferate ethical will power (Harris, et al,1996)
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Continue.. All these objectives can be brought under three categories.
Emotional engagement Intellectual engagement Particular engagement ---Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ethics code-1946 --- National Institute of Engineering Ethics (NIEE) --- National Society of Professional Engineers-1912 --These ethical codes may serve as the formal basis for investigating unethical behaviour.
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Who is an Engineer? Operating diesel locomotive???
Received degree in mechanical engineering and got license to work on diesel engines. Genetic engineers??? Physicists do some works as engineers do??? Scientists?? What is engineering?—Engineering will be what engineers at the time in question typically do that members of other occupation don’t (Davis, 2001, p.386)
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