1. Engineering Ethics Prof. Rick Vaz ECE 2799 April 23, 2007 With material from: Ethics and the Conduct of Business, John Boatright Ethics in Engineering Practice and Research, Caroline Whitbeck ieee.org niee.org wikipedia.org space-shuttle.com

2. Ethics and Your Education Accreditation of this ECE program requires that all graduates have “an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility” Accreditation of this ECE program requires that all graduates have “an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility”

3. What Ethical Issues Have You Faced… …in this course? …in this course? …in your other courses? …in your other courses? …in summer jobs? …in summer jobs? …in your daily interactions with friends? …in your daily interactions with friends?

4. Laws, Morals, Ethics: What’s the Difference? Laws: A set of rules for personal or corporate behavior; civil and/or criminal penalties apply Laws: A set of rules for personal or corporate behavior; civil and/or criminal penalties apply Morals: A set of standards for (personal) behavior Morals: A set of standards for (personal) behavior Ethics: A set of standards for (professional) behavior Ethics: A set of standards for (professional) behavior Morals and ethics are voluntary in some sense Morals and ethics are voluntary in some sense Like laws, they are open to many interpretations Like laws, they are open to many interpretations

5. What is the Basis for Ethical and Moral Standards? Innate and intrinsic? Innate and intrinsic? A product of culture? A product of culture? Based on religious beliefs? Based on religious beliefs? Developed from logical reasoning? Developed from logical reasoning? Based on concepts? On consequences? Based on concepts? On consequences?

6. Example Moral Standard: The Categorical Imperative ( Critique of Pure Reason—Immanuel Kant, 1724-1804) “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.”

7. Using the Categorical Imperative to Judge an Action Convert the action to a principle Convert the action to a principle Would it be logical for you to want everyone to follow that principle? Would it be logical for you to want everyone to follow that principle? Yes—action is moral/ethical Yes—action is moral/ethical No—action is immoral/unethical No—action is immoral/unethical Example: is it ever morally acceptable to lie? Example: is it ever morally acceptable to lie?

8. How Does Engineering Ethics Relate to Your Life Now? You are already expressing your ethical standards. They are in what you do. You are already expressing your ethical standards. They are in what you do. Personal and professional ethics are connected Personal and professional ethics are connected Ethics is not just “doing the right thing,” it’s making tough decisions about ambiguous things Ethics is not just “doing the right thing,” it’s making tough decisions about ambiguous things

9. What Is a Profession? Extensive training, mastery of subject Extensive training, mastery of subject Professional association Professional association Standards and codes Standards and codes Self-regulating, via certifications and licensing Self-regulating, via certifications and licensing Significant impact on public welfare Significant impact on public welfare Accountability to society Accountability to society

10. Professional Ethics: More than Following Rules Maturity of judgment Maturity of judgment Balancing a variety of considerations Balancing a variety of considerations Consideration of various means to a desired end Consideration of various means to a desired end Supporting the profession Supporting the profession Serving the welfare of the public Serving the welfare of the public

11. A Simple Google Search Reveals: Online Ethics Center for Engineering & Science Online Ethics Center for Engineering & Science National Institute for Engineering Ethics* National Institute for Engineering Ethics* NSPE Engineering Ethics website NSPE Engineering Ethics website Codes of Ethics: IEEE*, ASME, ACM, etc. Codes of Ethics: IEEE*, ASME, ACM, etc. Web Clearinghouse for Engineering and Computing Ethics Web Clearinghouse for Engineering and Computing Ethics Course and resource pages at many universities Course and resource pages at many universities

12. What are the Core Ethical Values of Engineering? (NIEE) Honesty: truthfulness, fairness, sincerity Honesty: truthfulness, fairness, sincerity Integrity: good judgment, adherence to principles Integrity: good judgment, adherence to principles Fidelity: to clients, to the public trust, to employer, to the profession Fidelity: to clients, to the public trust, to employer, to the profession Charity: kindness, caring, good will, tolerance, compassion/mercy, adherence to the Golden Rule Charity: kindness, caring, good will, tolerance, compassion/mercy, adherence to the Golden Rule Responsibility: reliability/dependability, accountability, trustworthiness Responsibility: reliability/dependability, accountability, trustworthiness Self-Discipline: acting with restraint, not indulging in excessive behavior Self-Discipline: acting with restraint, not indulging in excessive behavior

13. IEEE Code of Ethics We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree: We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree: 1. to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment; 2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist; 3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data; 4. to reject bribery in all its forms;

14. IEEE Code of Ethics, cont’d 5. to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potential consequences; 6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations; 7. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others; 8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin; 9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action; 10. to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics. Approved by the IEEE Board of Directors -- August 1990

15. Applied Ethics: Real-World Problems “In theory, there’s no difference between theory and practice. “In theory, there’s no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.” Yogi Berra Rarely is there clear “right” or “wrong” Rarely is there clear “right” or “wrong” Often you are choosing between competing interests, both of which matter Often you are choosing between competing interests, both of which matter

16. “To avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist” What is conflict of interest? What is conflict of interest? Is conflict of interest common? Is conflict of interest common? Is it wrong? Is it wrong? What do you do about it? What do you do about it?

17. Software Piracy Unethical, or “Just” Illegal? 2/3 of college students report that they do, or would, download pirated software 2/3 of college students report that they do, or would, download pirated software 93% claim to endorse IP rights and legitimate software development 93% claim to endorse IP rights and legitimate software development Does this make sense? Does this make sense? What role will IP play in your career? What role will IP play in your career?

18. “Ethics as Design”—Caroline Whitbeck What distinguishes design from the other engineering you have studied? Analyzing the situation is not enough Analyzing the situation is not enough Practical constraints, objectives, criteria Practical constraints, objectives, criteria There may not even be a “solution” There may not even be a “solution” There is no unique “right answer” There is no unique “right answer”

19. Designing a Solution to an Ethical Dilemma Define the problem Define the problem What’s known? What’s ambiguous? What’s known? What’s ambiguous? Explore solutions Explore solutions Brainstorm—go beyond the obvious Brainstorm—go beyond the obvious Identify criteria Identify criteria Personal values, professional standards, laws Personal values, professional standards, laws Consider outcomes and consequences Consider outcomes and consequences Professional, personal, legal, moral Professional, personal, legal, moral

20. “Whistleblowing” How can you do the right thing and not lose your job? Don’t trust everyone to do the right thing—proceed with caution Don’t trust everyone to do the right thing—proceed with caution Gather the evidence you need Gather the evidence you need Make sure you’re right Make sure you’re right Don’t exaggerate or overstate your case Don’t exaggerate or overstate your case Wait for the right time to come forward Wait for the right time to come forward Remain anonymous—the problem is the issue, not you Remain anonymous—the problem is the issue, not you For more, see: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/careers/careerstemplate.jsp?ArticleId=w040104 For more, see: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/careers/careerstemplate.jsp?ArticleId=w040104 http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/careers/careerstemplate.jsp?ArticleId=w040104

21. Thinking Ahead Would you “carry” a partner through an MQP? Would you “carry” a partner through an MQP? If you accept a job, would you turn it down if a better one comes along? If you accept a job, would you turn it down if a better one comes along? Would you accept a job in the defense industry? Would you accept a job in the defense industry? Would you accept gifts and hospitality from a prospective vendor? Would you accept gifts and hospitality from a prospective vendor? What would you do if a co-worker is negligent in his/her work? What would you do if a co-worker is negligent in his/her work?