1. Department of Philosophy and History of Science
Akos Gyarmathy
Dr. Tihamer Margitay
Department of Philosophy and History of Science
1111 Budapest, Egry J. U. 1. E606/612
Engineering ethics

2. Ethical theories Class 2. Department of Philosophy and History science
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

3. The aim of this course
Department of Philosophy and History science
To prepare participants to understand, evaluate and handle ethical problems apparent on the field of engineering.
Main theoretical objectives: Acquiring new factual knowledge, new perspectives for evaluation and new behavioral skills.
Main practical objectives: becoming able to analyze and solve complex decision problems with particular attention to their ethical dimension.
In order to do this, one needs to know normative ethical theories that discuss the issues of ethical decision-making.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

4. What won’t happen here We do not learn an ethical code
Department of Philosophy and History science
We do not learn an ethical code
about what is right or wrong
about what should have been done in any situation
Instead: we recollect tools and information for evaluating the situation and form one’s own judgement.
We do not measure ethical, technical and business aspects against each other
Instead: we learn how to handle all these aspects together within an integrated decision process.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

5. Normative ethical theories
Department of Philosophy and History science
Kantian ethics
Deontic-ethics
Contractualism
Utilitarianism
Virtue-ethics
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

6. Discussing ethical theories
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Discussing the theory with its application.
Discussing ethical questions and their solution with the theory.
Critical discussion of the theory.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

7. Kantian Ethics Department of Philosophy and History science
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

8. Etikai kérdések, példa 3: Cselekedetek megítélése
Department of Philosophy and History science
Is it ethicly good to download copyright material from the internet without the author’s consent?
Why?
What are the most occurent copyright issues concerning the work of engineers?
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

9. The founder Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)*
Department of Philosophy and History science
Immanuel Kant ( )*
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

10. Basic idea: Categorical imperative (CI)
Department of Philosophy and History science
Moral principles serve as a benchmark for evaluating actions.
Therefore all ethical principles must be generalizable.
Such moral principles are imperative that tell you what to do generally.
Categorical imperative:
“Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” 
 “the objectives we may have in acting, and also our actions’ effects considered as ends and what motivates our volition, can give to actions no unconditional or moral worth…[this] can be found nowhere but in the principle of the will, irrespective of the ends that can be brought about by such action” (G 4: 400).
Moral rightness is not a function of the value of intended or actual outcomes. categorical imperative “declares an action to be objectively necessary of itself without reference to any purpose—that is, even without any further end”
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

11. Universal law
Department of Philosophy and History science
The main moral principle (CI) tells me how to choose the norm that determines the action.
Requires generalizability
It determines the moral value via the norm.
Bad actions are bad not because of their consequence but because they cannot be made to universal law. (Because the agent himself would not accept them as universal).
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

12. Exercise
Department of Philosophy and History science
Provide an example where it is apparent that an action and the norm behind it is wrong.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

13. The kingdom of ends formula
Department of Philosophy and History science
The kingdom of ends formulation of the CI: We should never act in such a way that we treat humanity, whether in ourselves or in others, as a means only but always as an end in itself.
Any norm that makes other humans to be only means for an end is wrong.
Requires general respect for moral agents.
Requires general respect for the autonomy of other people.
If we treat other humans as objects or instruments (means) for our goals then we strip them from their own freedom.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

14. Exercise Provide an example where we treat others as means to an end.
Department of Philosophy and History science
Provide an example where we treat others as means to an end.
Provide an example where we treat ourselves as means to an end.
Provide an example where it is apparent that an action is wrong because of the Humanity formula.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

15. Kantian ethics and deontic ethics
Department of Philosophy and History science
Since norms conforming Categorical imperative constitute our obligations, Kantian ethics belongs to deontic ethics that determine our obligations as an ethical system.
It helps to define rules of conduct for agents.
These rules are either good or bad. There are no exceptions from the rules once settled.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

16. Golden rule The golden rule is also a meta-rule.
Department of Philosophy and History science
The golden rule is also a meta-rule.
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Exercise: discuss whether the golden rule is in accordance with CI.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

17. What does it mean to be Wrong?
Department of Philosophy and History science
According to Kantian ethics wrong actions are always exceptions.
„Only now, only I can act as others can never act.”
Exercise: what could justify exeptions from a rule?
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

18. Critical notes on Kantian ethics
Department of Philosophy and History science
Sometimes it justifies wrong actions.
Different situations may result in different evaluations for the same action. Kantian ethics ignores that.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

19. Deontic ethics Department of Philosophy and History science
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

20. Obligations Obligations are norms for action.
Department of Philosophy and History science
Obligations are norms for action.
Obligations are mandatory irrespective of the circumstances.
E.g.: „Thou shalt not kill”; „Thou shalt not steal”
Note that obligations often have negative form.
It is difficult to tell agents how to act as a general principle.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

21. Right action according to Deontic ethics
Department of Philosophy and History science
An action is right if it is in accordance with our obligations.
Everything is permitted that is not wrong therefore everything is right if it is not wrong.
Obligations are independent from the consequences of the action or the circumstances.
Rightness only depends on the action itself that is performed.
Certain actions are inherently good while others are inherently wrong.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

22. Interpreting obligations
Department of Philosophy and History science
Obligations only refer to the action one intentionally does and not the consequence or mistakes one causes.
Identifying actions requires intentions (desire-belief) not only the physical movements one demonstrates.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

23. Exercise List five general and five professional obligations.
Department of Philosophy and History science
List five general and five professional obligations.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

24. Home assignment
Department of Philosophy and History science
Provide an example that is morally problematic but is permitted according to Kantian ethics.
Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics