PEM-II unit-II

Engineering Ethics

Topics covered in this Unit

Engineering Ethics Consensus & Controversy Models of Professional Roles Theories about Right Action Self-Interest Customs & religion Uses of Ethical Theories

Read
Textbook 1 Ethics in Engineering Martin & Schinzinger Chapters 1 & 2

Engineering Ethics (1)

Study of Moral Issues & Decisions confronting Individuals & Organisations engaged in Engineering Study of related Questions about Moral Ideals, Character, Policies & Relationships of people and Corporations involved in Technological activity

Engineering Ethics (2)

Set of justified moral principles of Obligations, Rights & Ideals for people engaged in the field of engineering Basis for finding correct solutions to problems arising while practicing the engineering profession

Consensus & Controversies

Personal Interests, Greed, Pressure or sheer Ignorance influence individuals opinion of right & wrong Controversies arise with conflicts of interests The opinion is deemed correct when everyone agrees with it Consensus

Models of Professional Roles

Saviour Guardian Bureaucratic Servant Social Servant Social Enabler & Catalyst Game Player

Saviour
To redeem society from Poverty, Inefficiency, Waste & hard manual labour Thru technological developments that lead to material prosperity Applying engineering ways of thinking to large scale social planning

Guardian
Knowledge & skills to create an ideal society expertise to decide in what is best for society To decide direction & pace of technology development

Bureaucratic Servant
Corporate management to decide direction & pace of technological development Engineer to carry out the directives of the management Loyal servant who has skills to achieve the goals

Social Servant
Obedient service to society Society expresses its interests either directly thru purchasing patterns Or indirectly, thru govt reps & consumer groups Cooperate with management/govt to fulfil societys desires

Social Enabler & Catalyst

Similar to social servant model Fulfil societys desires Help management & society to

understand their needs Suggest means to fulfil them by technological development

Game Player
Neither servant nor master of anyone Play the game by extant rules Aim: succeed at the game Game:
development of technology Resulting in advancement of society

Theories about Right Action

Virtue Ethics Virtues & Vices Utilitarian most good for most people Duty Ethics goodwill & respect to others Rights Ethics human rights

Self-Interest
By nature, living things put their own interests, benefits & pleasures first, over and above others Selfishness, egoism Most vices are born fom this Undesireable & unethical trait Engineers duty: advancement of technology for the benefits, comforts & better living standards of all human beings

Customs & Religion

Play a significant role in the way in which the society thinks & acts Often lead to narrow-mindedness and conflicts & controversies Engineer should rise above such things Think & act in the interests of all human beings

Uses of Ethical Theories

Resolving Moral Dilemmas Justifying Moral Obligations Relating Professional & Ordinary Morality

End of unit-II we will discuss Engineers Responsibilities in unit-III