ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS EGN 4034 FALL TERM 2008 CHAPTER 3 Engineering Ethics: FRAMING...

ENGINEERING ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALISM AND PROFESSIONALISM AND

ETHICSETHICSEGN 4034EGN 4034

FALL TERM 2008FALL TERM 2008

CHAPTER 3CHAPTER 3

Engineering Ethics: Engineering Ethics: FRAMING THE PROBLEMFRAMING THE PROBLEM

Relevant facts (Factual Issues)Relevant facts (Factual Issues) Relevant ethical issuesRelevant ethical issues (see Figure 3.2)(see Figure 3.2) Unknown Facts Unknown Facts Conceptual IssuesConceptual Issues

Analysis MethodAnalysis Method

We usually experience moral We usually experience moral disagreement and controversy within a disagreement and controversy within a context of agreement.context of agreement.

The OSHA case illustrates this.The OSHA case illustrates this. Both OSHA and the Supreme Court felt Both OSHA and the Supreme Court felt

that safety of the workers was important.that safety of the workers was important. They didn’t agree however (conceptual They didn’t agree however (conceptual

issue) on the definition of “Safe”issue) on the definition of “Safe”

WE MAY AGREEWE MAY AGREE

This is important. This is important. If we first determine what we do If we first determine what we do

agree upon.agree upon. We do this by asking questions.We do this by asking questions. We may find that when we eliminate We may find that when we eliminate

those things we agree uponthose things we agree upon We can more easily focus on the real We can more easily focus on the real

problem or issue.problem or issue.


When we look at agreement, we must When we look at agreement, we must also consider what we agree to that also consider what we agree to that is:is: UnclearUnclear Or simply unknownOr simply unknown


That common stock of moral beliefs.That common stock of moral beliefs. Just as we agree on what is Just as we agree on what is

“common sense”“common sense” We all have a common stock of basic We all have a common stock of basic

beliefs we feel should guide our beliefs we feel should guide our lives:lives: Moral standardsMoral standards RulesRules principlesprinciples

Common MoralityCommon Morality

We believe that murder is wrongWe believe that murder is wrong But we also agree that murder does But we also agree that murder does

occuroccur and that it is wrong.and that it is wrong. We may observe that an engineer We may observe that an engineer

has failed to report a conflict of has failed to report a conflict of interestinterest

And agree that this is wrong.And agree that this is wrong.


Although we agree on common moralityAlthough we agree on common morality Moral disagreement often occurs.Moral disagreement often occurs. This raises the questionThis raises the question Can we isolate the major factors that Can we isolate the major factors that

account for this?account for this? Differences occur with respect to beliefs Differences occur with respect to beliefs

about “specific” practices or issues:about “specific” practices or issues: AbortionAbortion EuthanasiaEuthanasia Sexual orientationSexual orientation Capital punishmentCapital punishment Etc.Etc.


What would we like to see in others?What would we like to see in others? Fair-mindednessFair-mindedness Self-respectSelf-respect Respect for othersRespect for others CompassionCompassion BenevolenceBenevolence

What other traits would you like to What other traits would you like to see?see?

Do most of us share these desires?Do most of us share these desires?

Common Moral TraitsCommon Moral Traits

With our Common Moral beliefs, can With our Common Moral beliefs, can we develop a set of Moral Rules for we develop a set of Moral Rules for all people to go by?all people to go by?

We do this as a societyWe do this as a society Through lawsThrough laws Through group normsThrough group norms Through CODES as professionalsThrough CODES as professionals

Breaking the rules always has Breaking the rules always has consequences.consequences.

Moral Rules?Moral Rules?

THERE ARE THREE BASIC KINDS THERE ARE THREE BASIC KINDS OF MORALITYOF MORALITY COMMON MORALITYCOMMON MORALITY – Generally – Generally

universally accepteduniversally accepted PERSONAL MORALITYPERSONAL MORALITY – rules or – rules or

principles, rules, or standards we principles, rules, or standards we accept as individuals but are not accept as individuals but are not necessarily shared by others.necessarily shared by others.

PROFSSIONAL MORALITYPROFSSIONAL MORALITY – Moral – Moral standards that apply to ones role as a standards that apply to ones role as a member of a profession.member of a profession.

TYPES OF MORLITYTYPES OF MORLITY

Most often we find that there is not a Most often we find that there is not a conflict with applying these three conflict with applying these three types of morality.types of morality.

Most often we will arrive at the same Most often we will arrive at the same answer to a moral question answer to a moral question regardless of which of these three regardless of which of these three moral principles we apply.moral principles we apply.

However, there can be conflicts However, there can be conflicts among these moral beliefs.among these moral beliefs.

TYPES OF MORLITYTYPES OF MORLITY

To analyze anything, we must gather To analyze anything, we must gather information relevant to the solution information relevant to the solution of the ethical problem.of the ethical problem.

We first ask:We first ask: What are the ethical questions?What are the ethical questions? What are the facts?What are the facts?

The facts should be relevant to the The facts should be relevant to the specific ethical questions.specific ethical questions.

Do the facts support the ethical Do the facts support the ethical questions?questions?

ANALYZING A CASEANALYZING A CASE

What are the resources we might use What are the resources we might use in framing the ethical considerations?in framing the ethical considerations? Common MoralityCommon Morality Professional CodesProfessional Codes Personal MoralityPersonal Morality Comprehensive principles of ethics (later Comprehensive principles of ethics (later

chapters)chapters)


FACTUAL ISSUESFACTUAL ISSUES Many times moral disagreements turn Many times moral disagreements turn

out to be disagreements over the out to be disagreements over the relevant facts.relevant facts.

Without the facts each side only has opinionWithout the facts each side only has opinion

Factual Issues are sometimes very Factual Issues are sometimes very difficult to resolvedifficult to resolve

We may find that we have all of the available We may find that we have all of the available facts yet there are still unanswered facts yet there are still unanswered questions (questions (unknown factsunknown facts).).


FACTUAL ISSUESFACTUAL ISSUES Once Factual Issues are clearly isolated, Once Factual Issues are clearly isolated,

disagreement can reemerge on another disagreement can reemerge on another and often more clearly defined level.and often more clearly defined level.

We may now find that we don’t disagree on We may now find that we don’t disagree on the facts, but on the definition of some the facts, but on the definition of some standard such as “Safe” (standard such as “Safe” (Conceptual IssuesConceptual Issues))


CONCEPTUAL ISSUESCONCEPTUAL ISSUES This deals with the meaning of termsThis deals with the meaning of terms

What is “What is “BriberyBribery?”?” What is “What is “SafeSafe?”?” What is a “What is a “Conflict of InterestConflict of Interest?”?” What is “What is “ConfidentialityConfidentiality?”?” What is a “What is a “Trade SecretTrade Secret?? What is “What is “LoyaltyLoyalty?”?”

To determine Conceptual Issues, we To determine Conceptual Issues, we must ask, “must ask, “What are the important What are the important concepts in our caseconcepts in our case?”?”


APPLICATOION ISSUESAPPLICATOION ISSUES Once we have determined the facts and Once we have determined the facts and

identified the “identified the “termsterms” or “” or “conceptsconcepts”” We need to agree if this is, in fact, an We need to agree if this is, in fact, an

instance of that instance of that conceptconcept.. For example, is our moral question really For example, is our moral question really

related to a “conflict of interest” or is it related to a “conflict of interest” or is it something else?something else?

Does the Does the concept concept we defined describe we defined describe our present situation?our present situation?


Line-drawingLine-drawing or paradigm cases is a good or paradigm cases is a good way to analyze ethical issuesway to analyze ethical issues

We first define the “concept” such as We first define the “concept” such as bribery and agree on:bribery and agree on: What are the What are the featuresfeatures of bribery of bribery What is definitely bribery (positive paradigm)What is definitely bribery (positive paradigm) What is definitely not bribery (Negative What is definitely not bribery (Negative

paradigm)paradigm)

Section 4.4 describes this analysisSection 4.4 describes this analysis

Applying ConceptsApplying Concepts

Applying ConceptsApplying ConceptsFeatureFeature BriberyBribery Test CaseTest Case Not BriberyNot Bribery

Gift SizeGift Size

TimingTiming

ReasonReason

ResponsibilityResponsibility

QualityQuality

CostCost

SmallSmall≤ $10.00≤ $10.00

After DecisionAfter Decision

EducationalEducational

NoneNone

BestBest

LargeLarge

Before decisionBefore decision

Personal GainPersonal Gain

SoleSole

WorstWorst

HighestHighest LowestLowest

Applying ConceptsApplying ConceptsFeatureFeature BriberyBribery Test CaseTest Case Not BriberyNot Bribery

Gift SizeGift Size

TimingTiming

ReasonReason

ResponsibilityResponsibility

QualityQuality

CostCost

SmallSmall≤ $10.00≤ $10.00

After DecisionAfter Decision

EducationalEducational

NoneNone

BestBest

LargeLarge

Before decisionBefore decision

Personal GainPersonal Gain

SoleSole

WorstWorst

HighestHighest LowestLowest

Where does our case Where does our case fall on each of these fall on each of these

lines?lines?

Case StatementCase Statement Relevant FactsRelevant Facts Factual IssuesFactual Issues Conceptual and Application IssuesConceptual and Application Issues Moral IssuesMoral Issues AnalysisAnalysis

Review for Analyzing a Moral ProblemReview for Analyzing a Moral Problem

What is the What is the Case StatementCase Statement?? Define the Define the Relevant FactsRelevant Facts Define Define Factual IssuesFactual Issues if any if any Define Define Conceptual and Application IssuesConceptual and Application Issues Define Define Moral IssuesMoral Issues AnalyzeAnalyze the case based on the information the case based on the information

you’ve developedyou’ve developed Can a “Can a “Line DrawingLine Drawing” help resolve the ” help resolve the

issue?issue?

Moral Problem AnalysisMoral Problem Analysis

ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS EGN 4034 FALL TERM 2008 CHAPTER 3 Engineering Ethics: FRAMING...

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