1. ELEC4011 Ethics & Electrical Engineering Practice Hugh Outhred
Lecture 12: Global Issues (Chapter 7, Martin & Schinzinger, ‘Ethics in Engineering’ & S Beder, ‘The Nature of Sustainable Development’, Scribe Publications, 1993)
ELEC4011 Ethics & Electrical Engineering Practice
Hugh Outhred

2. Characteristics of global issues
Reach:
Extend beyond the borders of any particular country
Legal framework:
Lie outside the laws of any particular country
Few constraints on business, little protection for individuals
Ethical context:
Typically involve differing cultures and mores
Costs may be distributed quite differently from benefits
Very dependent on business & government ethics
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

3. Multinational corporations
Significant activities in more than one country:
Usually large companies, often engineering-based
Issues that arise if disparities of power or wealth:
Exploitation of one country’s population, resources or environment on behalf of another
Bribery or extortion:
Recently made illegal for Australian companies operating overseas (previously an allowable tax deduction)
Appropriateness of activity or product
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

4. ELEC4011 - Lecture 12: Global Issues
Technology transfer
Often a cross-cultural ‘experiment’, hence specific obligations might apply:
Economic and social development, sustainability
Independence and national sovereignty
Appropriate technology is sensitive to:
Physical, social & environmental conditions
Development issues such as education & self-reliance
High-tech may not be best for less-developed countries
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

5. ELEC4011 - Lecture 12: Global Issues
Environmental ethics
Anthropocentric view:
Duty to future generations:
Inter-generation equity
Consider environmental impacts in decision making:
Cost-benefit assessment, environmental impact statements
Prudent avoidance of risk
Nature-centred view (in addition to the above):
Duty of care to other species & the ecosystem:
Sustainability through wardenship rather than ownership
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

6. ELEC4011 - Lecture 12: Global Issues
Computer ethics
Impact of computers on cultural balance:
Consolidating English as the ‘international language’
Consolidating US culture as the ‘world culture’
Impact on competitiveness of poor countries:
Automation in rich countries vs employment in poor ones
Favours educated populations over uneducated ones
Impact on business competitiveness:
Favours multinational companies over local ones
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

7. ELEC4011 - Lecture 12: Global Issues
Weapons
Definition of a weapon in this context:
Any means to unduly influence another person’s moral autonomy
Ethical use of weapons:
Only if this is the least-bad alternative as judged by an impartial observer
Some attributes of a ‘just war’:
Use weapons ethically, avoiding harm to non-combatants
Set limited and achievable objectives
Reinstate civil society on cessation of hostilities
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

8. The ethics of weapon development
Arguments for weapons development:
Duty to protect one’s country from aggression
Benefits of weapons outweigh the costs
Arguments against weapons development:
Abuse of power by those possessing weapons:
Particularly with respect to civilian populations
Benefits don’t outweigh the costs:
Long-term social breakdown & lawlessness
International law against misuse of weapons:
Geneva convention; disarmament agreements
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

9. Issues in weapons development
Offensive versus defensive weapons:
Is there a clear distinction?
‘arms races’:
On-going competition to acquire the ‘best’ weapons
Is disarmament a realistic option?
International trade in weapons:
Often selling to ‘both sides’ & to unethical regimes
Impacts of weapons development:
Significant social, economic & environmental costs
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

10. Weapons of mass destruction
Kill indiscriminately in large numbers, e.g:
Nuclear, chemical, biological
Cold-war rationale for such weapons:
Deterrence through ‘mutually assured destruction’
Problems with weapons of mass destruction:
False detonation (eg Y2K) & other accidents
Risk of falling into ‘unethical’ hands
Centralised control & absence of ‘informed consent’
Environmental & social impacts (even if not used)
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

11. The engineer’s dilemma
Engineering is now an international profession:
Technical successes have had far-reaching impacts:
Positive, e.g: electricity, communications, computing
Negative, e.g: social impacts on poor & uneducated
Engineers are usually employees or advisers rather than decision makers:
Limited power & responsibility in large companies
Nevertheless there are opportunities for influence:
Without jeopardising career or family commitments
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues

12. A positive role for engineers
Choose career path & employer(s) with care:
ethical applications of electrical engineering are likely to be rewarding
Apply ethical principles in professional activities:
Study the ethical implications of alternative options:
Recommend those that offer better ethical outcomes
Develop & exercise moral autonomy:
Enhance ethical judgement through experience
Support ethical behaviour by fellow engineers
ELEC Lecture 12: Global Issues