Ethics Talk

8/6/2019 Ethics Talk

1/24


2/24

The Subject Matter of Ethics: Moral DilemmasThe Subject Matter of Ethics: Moral Dilemmas

Amoral dilemma may beAmoral dilemma may bedefined as a conflict a persondefined as a conflict a personexperiences between two orexperiences between two ormore moral obligations in amore moral obligations in a

particular circumstance.particular circumstance.Joe HerkertJoe Herkert


3/24

List of Typical Engineering Ethics IssuesList of Typical Engineering Ethics Issues

Involving Conflicts of ObligationInvolving Conflicts of Obligation

1)1) conflict of interestconflict of interest

2)2) public safety and welfarepublic safety and welfare

3)3) integrity of data & representation of itintegrity of data & representation of it

4)4) whistlewhistle--blowingblowing

5)5) choice of a jobchoice of a job

6)6) accountability to clients and customersaccountability to clients and customers

7)7) plagiarismplagiarism

8)8) trade secrets & industrial espionagetrade secrets & industrial espionage

9)9) gift giving & bribesgift giving & bribes

10)10) fair treatmentfair treatment


4/24

To these as well as other highTo these as well as other high--

profile ethics cases we apply:profile ethics cases we apply:

DeDe--ontologyontologyUtilitarianismUtilitarianism

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics

Etc.Etc.


5/24

IEEE Code of EthicsIEEE Code of Ethics

We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies inWe, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies inaffecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personalaffecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personalobligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do herebyobligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do herebycommit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:

1.1. to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety,to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety,health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that mighthealth and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that mightendanger the public or the environment;endanger the public or the environment;

2.2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to discloseto avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclosethem to affected parties when they do exist;them to affected parties when they do exist;

3.3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;4.4. to reject bribery in all its forms;to reject bribery in all its forms;

5.5. to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potentialto improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potentialconsequences;consequences;

6.6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technologicalto maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technologicaltasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure oftasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure ofpertinent limitations;pertinent limitations;

7.7. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge andto seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge andcorrect errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;

8.8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender,to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender,

disability, age, or national origin;disability, age, or national origin;9.9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false orto avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or

malicious action;malicious action;10.10. to assist colleagues and coto assist colleagues and co--workers in their professional development and to supportworkers in their professional development and to support

them in following this code of ethics.them in following this code of ethics.

Approved by the IEEE BoardofDirectorsApprovedby the IEEE BoardofDirectorsAugust1990August1990


6/24

HISTORY OF CODES OF ETHICSHISTORY OF CODES OF ETHICS

18031803 Firstcode ofprofessionalethicsFirstcode ofprofessionalethics(medicalethics)(medicalethics)(ThomasPercival)(ThomasPercival)

18521852 ASCE (Civil EngineeringASCE (Civil Engineering))

18801880 ASME (Mechanical Engineering)ASME (Mechanical Engineering)

18841884 AIEE (Electrical Engineering)AIEE (Electrical Engineering)

Allthese ProfessionalEngineeringSocietieshadCODESAllthese ProfessionalEngineeringSocietieshadCODESOF ETHICSOF ETHICS


7/24


8/24

the project, the endeavor, the enterprise, the venturethe project, the endeavor, the enterprise, the venture


9/24

Contexts of the engineering project:Contexts of the engineering project:


10/24

Ethical Assessment of the Engineering ProjectEthical Assessment of the Engineering Project

must ultimately take place within the Humanmust ultimately take place within the Human

Lifeworld.Lifeworld.


11/24

The Human LifeworldThe Human Lifeworld

Wherein we pursueWherein we pursue GOALSGOALS, enact, enactROLESROLES, and, andtake up withtake up with THINGSTHINGS of all sortsof all sorts

Wherein we talkWherein we talk toto each other rather thaneach other rather thanaboutabouteach other.each other.

Characterized by a human communication calledCharacterized by a human communication calledTHECONVERSATION OFTHELIFEWORLDTHECONVERSATION OFTHELIFEWORLD

which iswhich isIDEA

LLY:IDEA

LLY: Mutual / Interdependent /Mutual / Interdependent /Genuine / Open / Honest / NonGenuine / Open / Honest / Non--CoerciveCoercive


12/24

The MicroThe Micro--view of the Engineering Projectview of the Engineering Project

The EngineeredThe Engineered

The EngineerThe Engineer

EngineeringEngineering


13/24

person / process / productperson / process / product

T

he E

nginee

rT

he E

nginee

r

EngineerstheEngineerstheEngineered.Engineered.


14/24


15/24

Three Types of EthicsThree Types of Ethics

VIRTUE ETHICSVIRTUE ETHICS

Care/objectivity/honestyCare/objectivity/honesty

CONCEPTUAL ETHICSCONCEPTUAL ETHICSSocial Justice/EnvironmentalSocial Justice/EnvironmentalSustainability/Health & SafetySustainability/Health & Safety

MATERIAL ETHICSMATERIAL ETHICSEngagement/Enlivenment/ResonanceEngagement/Enlivenment/Resonance


16/24


17/24

MATERIAL ETHICSMATERIAL ETHICS


18/24

Within theWithin the Conversation ofConversation of

the Lifeworldthe Lifeworld the values ofthe values ofresonance / engagement /resonance / engagement /

enlivenmentenlivenment areare

discussed. For example,discussed. For example,

can such and such acan such and such a

product be engaging toproduct be engaging to thetheendend--user? If so, how so?user? If so, how so?

If not, why not?If not, why not?


19/24

THREELEVELS OFTHREELEVELS OF

ADJUDICATIONADJUDICATION

VIRTUE ETHICSVIRTUE ETHICS corporate levelcorporate level

CONCEPTUAL ETHICSCONCEPTUAL ETHICS professional levelprofessional level

MATERIAL ETHICSMATERIAL ETHICS social levelsocial level


20/24

THEETHICSENGINETHEETHICSENGINE


21/24

OverOver--allEthical Assessment ofallEthical Assessment of

the Engineering Projectthe Engineering Project

Integrates all three kinds of ethics.Integrates all three kinds of ethics.

Can use as point of departure the overCan use as point of departure the over--allallvalue function:value function:

J = Jv + Jc + Jm

where + + = 1and we assume all Js range from -3 to +3.


22/24


23/24

EXAMPLE: RFID DesignEXAMPLE: RFID Design

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics: company ombudsman assesses: company ombudsman assesses

the team effort as caring/honest/fair so we setthe team effort as caring/honest/fair so we setJJvv = +3.= +3.

Conceptual EthicsConceptual Ethics: professional ethics committee: professional ethics committeedecides that environment is not compromiseddecides that environment is not compromised

but social justice can be and health & safety isbut social justice can be and health & safety isfine so we set Jfine so we set Jcc = +1.= +1.

Material EthicsMaterial Ethics: conversation of the lifeworld: conversation of the lifeworlddecides there is no resonance of product withdecides there is no resonance of product with

world, endworld, end--user in her world is not enlivened,user in her world is not enlivened,and endand end--user not engaged with product so weuser not engaged with product so weset Jset Jmm == --33 -------- with equal weightings we getwith equal weightings we getoverover--all J = 0.333 (not so good, etc)all J = 0.333 (not so good, etc)


24/24

What would be the major consequence ofWhat would be the major consequence ofcomplementing theoretical and practical ethics withcomplementing theoretical and practical ethics withreal ethics? It would be the realization that wereal ethics? It would be the realization that wemake our crucial decisions not as individuals, asmake our crucial decisions not as individuals, asconsumers, taxpayers, and voters who navigateconsumers, taxpayers, and voters who navigatetheir course in preestablished and rigid channels,their course in preestablished and rigid channels,but as citizens, and not just citizens who pass onbut as citizens, and not just citizens who pass onmatters of civil rights and social welfare, but asmatters of civil rights and social welfare, but ascitizens who take responsibility for the large designcitizens who take responsibility for the large design

of our culture and either make it hospitable toof our culture and either make it hospitable tocommanding reality or continue to thicken itscommanding reality or continue to thicken itssuffocating overlay of disposable reality.suffocating overlay of disposable reality. ------

Albert BorgmannAlbert Borgmann

Documents

Ethics Talk