What does ethics have to do with engineering? Engineering 10 Spring 2008 Engineering 10 Spring 2008

Who I am (and how to contact me) Dr. Janet D. Stemwedel, Assistant Professor of Philosophy (but also a Ph.D. in physical chemistry) “Adventures in Ethics and Science” Dr. Janet D. Stemwedel, Assistant Professor of Philosophy (but also a Ph.D. in physical chemistry) “Adventures in Ethics and Science”

Ethics aren’t just something philosophers care about Ethics are considerations that make it possible to “do the job” of engineering in the first place.

Engineering: a field where knowledge & technology are created. What kind of ethics are necessary to build reliable knowledge?

Reliable knowledge requires: Honesty about results of experiments/tests Clarity and completeness in describing procedures, testing conditions, materials, etc. Honesty about error bars/tolerances Taking account of the available information -- and where it came from (proper citation) Objectivity Honesty about results of experiments/tests Clarity and completeness in describing procedures, testing conditions, materials, etc. Honesty about error bars/tolerances Taking account of the available information -- and where it came from (proper citation) Objectivity

Engineering: a field where knowledge & technology are created. What kind of ethics are necessary to create responsible and sustainable technology?

Responsible technology: Responsibility to whom? End-user (counting on it to do what it’s supposed to do) People who could be affected by its use People who could be affected by its production Responsibilities are ethical considerations! Responsibility to whom? End-user (counting on it to do what it’s supposed to do) People who could be affected by its use People who could be affected by its production Responsibilities are ethical considerations!

Sustainable technology: Why care about sustainability? State of raw materials (plentiful or scarce, renewable or non-renewable) Impact of production, use Availability of the technology Ethical considerations with regard to other people, future generations, the environment! Why care about sustainability? State of raw materials (plentiful or scarce, renewable or non-renewable) Impact of production, use Availability of the technology Ethical considerations with regard to other people, future generations, the environment!

Why are you here talking to us about ethics? Are you assuming we’ll be unethical unless you tell us not to? We’re NOT evil! Are you assuming we’ll be unethical unless you tell us not to? We’re NOT evil!

Clicker Question Which of the following best describes your view on ethics? A.As long as it doesn’t break a law, it’s ethical. B.It’s just a matter of personal beliefs. C.Doing business and being ethical are in direct competition. D.Being ethical can help professional and personal interactions. Which of the following best describes your view on ethics? A.As long as it doesn’t break a law, it’s ethical. B.It’s just a matter of personal beliefs. C.Doing business and being ethical are in direct competition. D.Being ethical can help professional and personal interactions.

Why isn’t it enough not to be evil? “Most evil acts are committed not by villains but rather by decent human beings -- in desperation, momentary weakness, or an inability to discern what is morally right amid the discordant claims of circumstances.”

Why isn’t it enough not to be evil? “The determination to be good may be molded at an early age, but we grapple all our lives with the definition of what is good, or at least acceptable.” --Samuel Florman (an engineer) “The determination to be good may be molded at an early age, but we grapple all our lives with the definition of what is good, or at least acceptable.” --Samuel Florman (an engineer)

Being ethical isn’t automatic Requires knowledge Requires deliberation about different things you could do Benefits from consultation with others (OBJECTIVITY) Requires knowledge Requires deliberation about different things you could do Benefits from consultation with others (OBJECTIVITY)

Engineering as a profession Connection between individual behavior and community behavior. (What I do as an engineer may influence other engineers -- and how others view engineers as a group!) Connection between individual behavior and community behavior. (What I do as an engineer may influence other engineers -- and how others view engineers as a group!)

Engineering as a profession Not just a job People with special training People with special duties -- to engineers and to non-engineers! Professional Codes recognize these duties. Not just a job People with special training People with special duties -- to engineers and to non-engineers! Professional Codes recognize these duties.

Clicker Question To whom is an engineer responsible? A.Client B.Employer C.Public D.Other engineers E.All of the above To whom is an engineer responsible? A.Client B.Employer C.Public D.Other engineers E.All of the above

The Fundamental Canons 1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties. 2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence. 1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties. 2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.

The Fundamental Canons 3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner. 4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest. 3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner. 4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

The Fundamental Canons 5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others. 6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity and dignity of the profession. 5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others. 6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity and dignity of the profession.

The Fundamental Canons 7. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.

To whom does the engineer have duties? The public Clients Professional peers (i.e., other engineers) The profession Himself/herself The profession as a community with a culture The public Clients Professional peers (i.e., other engineers) The profession Himself/herself The profession as a community with a culture

Why does the engineer have so many duties? Specialized training gives specialized knowledge Others depend on this knowledge Some of the things engineers ought to do are things only engineers can do! Specialized training gives specialized knowledge Others depend on this knowledge Some of the things engineers ought to do are things only engineers can do!

Ethical problem solving as a skill Familiarity with codes vs. how to apply them Gets easier with practice Working through “case studies” can prepare you to deal with real situations more effectively Familiarity with codes vs. how to apply them Gets easier with practice Working through “case studies” can prepare you to deal with real situations more effectively

What should we do about defective chips? Chris is a production line engineer in charge of quality control in a factory that produces chips. Chris’s team has been checking each chip on the line and finding defective chips once every 150 chips. Chris is trying to decide whether to discard the defective chips or to send them back to the line to be repaired.

What should we do about defective chips? Chris’s manager Alex initially tells Chris to discard the defective chips. Alex says, “We only make 25 cents off of each chip anyway. Spending an additional $2.00 to repair a chip is a waste of money.”

What should we do about defective chips? Later in the week, though, Alex returns to the line and tells Chris, “Your line is discarding too many chips. One chip every 150 is unacceptably high – it’s starting to cost the company a lot of money! We’re better off letting the chips go out without testing them at all.”

What should we do about defective chips? Chris asks, “What about the defective chips? Won’t our customers complain?”

What should we do about defective chips? Alex responds, “Yeah, but that’s not your problem. The company’s returns department will replace them as customers complain. Anyway, our profits will be much higher doing it this way, and if we don’t, the amount of money this production line flushes down the drain threatens your job and mine.”

What should we do about defective chips? Still thinking about Alex’s warning, Chris reads an announcement that the company has just gotten an order for 20,000 chips from a local company that plans to use the chips in aircraft navigation units. Chris knows that these units always have back-up navigation systems, but still …

What should we do about defective chips? Should Chris follow Alex’s suggestion to stop testing the chips? Why or why not? (What alternative course of action might Chris suggest to Alex, and how might this course of action be defended?)

Clicker Question Should Chris follow Alex’s direction to stop testing the chips? A.Yes B.No C.Don’t know Should Chris follow Alex’s direction to stop testing the chips? A.Yes B.No C.Don’t know

What should we do about defective chips? At stake in Chris’s decision: Duties to the company, Alex, workers on the line, customers, … What Chris knows (or can find out) as an engineer. What should a good engineer do here? At stake in Chris’s decision: Duties to the company, Alex, workers on the line, customers, … What Chris knows (or can find out) as an engineer. What should a good engineer do here?

Next time: Build an “ethical toolbox” to use in making tough decisions Strategy for approaching case studies **Take the ethics survey (Blackboard) **Read the case studies (Blackboard) and start to think about what YOU would do. (After next time, you’ll discuss the case studies online.) Build an “ethical toolbox” to use in making tough decisions Strategy for approaching case studies **Take the ethics survey (Blackboard) **Read the case studies (Blackboard) and start to think about what YOU would do. (After next time, you’ll discuss the case studies online.)