Ethic A set of moral principles; a theory of system of moral values; the principles of conduct governing an individual or group; a guiding

philosophy; a consciousness of moral importance. Engineering Ethics Consists of the responsibilities and rights that ought to be endorsed by those engaged in engineering, and also desirable ideals and personal commitments in engineering. WHY STUDY ENGINEERING ETHICS ? I. To increase one s ability to deal effectively with moral complexity in engineering. II. To improve the ability to reflect on moral issues and gain moral autonomy. III. Cognitive skills: y Moral awareness y Cogent moral reasoning y Moral coherence y Moral imagination y Moral communication IV. Goals of moral commitment and conduct: y Moral reasonableness y Respect for persons y Tolerance for diversity y Moral hope y Integrity RESPONSIBILITY y Obligations Responsibilities are obligations, actions that are morally mandatory y Accountable y Being responsible means being accountable y Conscientious y Diligently trying to do the right thing, even under difficult circumstances. y Blameworthy/ Praiseworthy y Responsible is a synonym for praiseworthy CAUSES OF ENGINEERING PROBLEMS y Lack of vision y Incompetence y Lack of time y Lack of materials y The notion that there is someone down the line to catch the problem y Improper use or disposal of the product y Dishonesty y Inattention CODE OF ETHICS -guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct business honestly and with integrity. -A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles based on the organization's core values and the standards to which the professional will be held. Importance of Codes y Serving and protecting the public y Guidance y Inspiration y Shared Standards y Support for professionals

y Education and mutual understanding y Deterrence and discipline Limitations of Codes y No substitute for individual responsibility y Uncertainties may arise when entries in the codes come into conflict with each other y Proliferationof codes give members the feeling that conduct is more relative and variable than it actually is. y Can be flawed, thus, should never be used to silence healthy moral debate Steps in Resolving Ethical Dilemmas I. Moral Clarity Identify relevant moral values II. Conceptual Clarity Clarify key concepts III. Informed about facts obtain relevant information IV. Informed about the options Consider all options V. Well-reasoned Make a reasonable decision ETHICAL THEORIES -Utilitarianism -Rights and Duty Ethics -Virtue Ethics -Self-Realization Ethics

Utilitarianism is the view that we always produce the most good for the most people, giving equal consideration to everyone affected To discover what we ought to do in any situation, firstidentify the various courses of action that we could perform. Second, we determine all of the foreseeable benefits and harms that would result from each course of action for everyone affected by the action. And, third, we choose the course of action that provides the greatest benefits after the costs have been taken into account. Act-Utilitarianism  Focuses on each situation and the alternative actions possible in the situation  An action is right if it is likely to produce the most good for the most people Rule Utilitarianism  Right actions are those required by the rules the produce the most good for the most people.  Richard Brandt says that individual actions are morally justified when they are required by and optimal moral code RIGHTS AND DUTY ETHICS  Rights ethics regards human rights as fundamental  Duty ethics regards duties of respect for autonomy as fundamental  Both emphasize respect for individual s dignity and worth

Human Rights  security rightsthat protect people against crimes such as murder, massacre, torture, and rape;  due process rightsthat protect against abuses of the legal system such as imprisonment without trial, secret trials, and excessive punishments;  liberty rightsthat protect freedoms in areas such as belief, expression, association, assembly, and movement;  political rightsthat protect the liberty to participate in politics through actions such as communicating, assembling, protesting, voting, and serving in public office;  equality rightsthat guarantee equal citizenship, equality before the law, and non-discrimination;  social (or welfare ) rightsthat require provision of education to all children and protections against severe poverty and starvation;  group rightsinclude protections of ethnic groups against genocide and the ownership by countries of their national territories and resources Two Versions of Rights Ethics  Human rights as intimately related to communities of people  Libertarians believe that only liberty rights exist, there are no welfare rights Duty Ethics  Duty ethics says that right actions are those required by duties to respect the liberty of autonomy of individuals Immanuel Kant famous duty ethicist argued that all specific duties derive from one fundamental duty to respect persons VIRTUE ETHICS  Virtue ethics focus on character  Character is the pattern of virtues and vices in an individual  Virtues are desirable habits or tendencies in action  Vices are morally undesirable habits or tendencies Virtues in Engineering  Public-spirited virtues focused on the good of the clients and the wider public  Proficiency virtues mastery of one s profession, mastery of the technical skills  Teamwork virtues important in enabling professionals to work successfully with other people  Self-governance virtues necessary in exercising moral responsibility, centeron moral understanding and perception, practical wisdom Utilitarian believe that self-interest should enter into calculations of overall good Right ethics we have rights to pursue Duty ethics we have duty to ourselves

Virtue ethics personal good Ethical egoism one ought to do what is in one s own interest Altruism each has an obligation to help others Conscientiousness  A primary obligation to protect the safety of human subjects and respect their right of consent  Sensitivity to the full range of moral values and responsibilities relevant to a given situation  Duty to hold paramount the safety, health, & welfare of those affected  Social experimentation should be restricted by the participant s voluntary and informed consent Comprehensive Perspective  Constant awareness of the experimental nature of a project, imaginative forecasting of the possible side effects, and effort to monitor them.  View ones specialized activities in a project as part of a larger whole having social impact Moral Autonomy  Autonomous, personal involvement in all steps of a project  Viewing an engineering project as an experiment should help inspire a critical and questioning attitude about the adequacy of economic and safety standards Accountability  Accepting accountability for results of a project  Refers to the disposition of being willing to submit one s actions to moral scrutiny and be open and responsive to the assessment of others.