1. The Role of Ethics in Engineering
Scott Coffel
Director, Hanson Center for Technical Communication
College of Engineering
The University of Iowa

2. Pre-Ethical Problem-Solving
“The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.” — Omar Bradley, US General in WW2

3. Why Do Engineers Need Ethics?
Engineers are responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining the inventions of civilization.
There are few (if any) mere technical decisions.
“Knowing how to calculate stress or design a circuit is in part knowing what the profession allows, forbids, or requires .”¹ ¹"Online Ethics Center: Teaching Ethics Across the Engineering Curriculum" Online Ethics Center for Engineering 6/19/2006 1:29:26 PM National Academy of Engineering Accessed: Tuesday, November 13, <

4. “Priests” of the Modern Age
Consider the following statement from the ASCE presidential address in 1895 – the speaker, George S. Morison, was one of America’s most prominent bridge designers:
“We are the priests of material development, of the work which enables other men to enjoy the fruits of the great sources of power in Nature, and of the power of mind over matter. We are the priests of the new epoch, without superstitions.”²
Morison, ‘‘Address at the Annual Convention,’’ p. 483.

5. Reflecting on Real-World Ethical Mistakes…
Teaches engineers the importance of “speaking truth to power.”
Forges a strong bond between ethical behavior and technical competence.

6. Ethics, as Defined by Sigmund Freud
Ethics are a kind of highway code for traffic among mankind.
On the other hand…

7. Bonus Slide: More Fascinating Ethical Observations
Rules are made to be broken.
Nice guys finish last.
Go along to get along.
If the boss does it, that means it’s not illegal.
Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through — Jonathan Swift - Jonathan Swift

8. The Cost of Unethical Behavior: Volkswagen’s “Diesel-Gate”
VW engineered their emissions control software to deceive the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Their “Defeat Device” allowed 482,000 diesel cars to emit 40 times more toxic fumes than permitted.
WHAT DID IT COST THEM?
18.32 billion dollars in repairs and fines.
Not only did they poison the environment, they poisoned their reputation in a competitive industry.

9. NSPE Code of Ethics Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:
Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
Perform services only in areas of their competence.
Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
Avoid deceptive acts.
Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.

10. “If You Tell the Truth You Don’t Have to Remember Anything
“If You Tell the Truth You Don’t Have to Remember Anything.” — Mark Twain
“You are entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts.”
— Daniel Patrick Moynihan (National Review, September 4, 2003).

11. Unethical Behavior Casts a Long Shadow
A deceptive act like cheating on a test or claiming other’s work as your own has a life of its own.
Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus (untruthful in one part, untruthful in all).
A clever lawyer could make the case that you have a proven history of deception – based on that one mistake.
A deceptive act like cheating on a test or claiming other’s work as your own has a life of its own – Imagine a scenario in which a serious academic infraction comes to light while you are testifying in a court of law as an expert witness based on your skills as an engineer.
A clever lawyer could make the case that you have a proven history of deception – based on that one mistake.
In court, there is the legal doctrine of falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus, which means untruthful in one part, untruthful in all.
You then become a liability instead of an asset, for your side of the case…
In ordinary life, if somebody consistently exaggerates or lies to you, you soon discount everything they say.

12. Plagiarism: A Fancy Word for Unethical and/or Foolish Behavior
The Latin term for kidnapper was “plagiarius.” As aspiring engineers, you need to know that stealing the ideas of others has consequences beyond your own prospects and reputation—
It also damages your institution and the honest members of your profession by loosening the bonds of trust that tie us all together.

13. Ethics Requires Precision in Thought and Language
Competent writing establishes your credibility as an engineer.
Engineers achieve success as writers through a process of drafting, feedback, and revision.
There are no shortcuts to good writing.

14. Ignorance of the Rules Is No Excuse — When in Doubt, Ask the Experts
The Hanson Center website offers valuable and easy-to-read guides for writing and speaking ethically.
The Engineering Library offers a wide range of citation and bibliography software to help you cite sources with speed and accuracy.

15. Summary Ethical engineers navigate conflicts with an inner compass.
They also use the needs of the community as a guide.
They balance responsibility to themselves, their profession, and the world.
“Just because we can do something, should we?” — Prof. David Wilder College of Engineering The University of Iowa

16. Thank You