1. Engineering Ethics Theodore G. Cleveland, Ph.D,P.E. Associate Professor University of Houston Case Histories on Civil Engineering December 14, 2005

2. Ethics – 15 minute outline Definitions Perspective Guidelines

3. Ethics: Definitions: –Principles governing activities between people in personal and professional lives. Professional ethics are principles governing activities between professionals and their clients, customers, and the public. Engineering ethics are the principles governing activities related to approval of plans, designs, and requisite qualifications (of engineers)

4. Ethics: Principles that govern activities: –how we act. Requisite qualifications: –whom should act.

5. Ethical Theory Theories of Ethical Thought –Value Ethics –Utility Ethics –Duty Ethics

6. Modes of Ethical Reasoning Value - Individual character. Utilitarian –Collective “good” Duty –Duty to behave ethically –Consistent with individual rights and good character –Character implies that collective “good” will be served even if certain individual rights are sacrificed.

7. Ethical Dilemmas Dilemma : –A forced choice between courses of action (usually two) which are equally unacceptable. Sometimes people will call any challenging "moral problem" a dilemma, but this is a misleading use of the term. Only a few moral problems are dilemmas in the true meaning of the term (e.g. only two possible choices)

8. Ethical Dilemmas Dilemma – a humorous illustration:

9. Ethics and Law What is Legal? –Behavior and conduct and actions that are in agreement with codified (written) standards in some legal documents by some appointed legal body; those documents and legal experts determine what is law and whom should obey it. Codified Legal Body (Courts) Documents and the Legal Body determines what is legal. May not apply to all.

10. Ethics and Law What is Ethical? –Behavior and conduct and actions that lead to outcomes that are socially acceptable (beneficial) that to not unduly impact individual rights. Defined by society. Exists independently of any “experts.” Applies to all members of society.

11. Ethics and Law What’s the difference? –Ethics Exists independently of any “experts.” Is uniform in all societies. Applies to all members of society. –Law. Codified; Documents and the Legal Body determines what is legal. (Dependent on legal “experts”). Varies across the world. May not apply to all.

12. Making Ethical Choice Choices are to be based on engineering ethical standards above personal standards. –Code of Ethics to guide the decision. –Texas Engineering Practices Act section on ethics provides a guide.

13. Codes of Ethics Soldiers, police, firefighters, EMTs etc. –High-stress situations; no time to think. –Training to respond in a manner to ensure high-probability of correct response. Code of ethics serves a similar purpose. –Provide guides to respond to an ethical situation in a manner to ensure a high- probability of correct response.

14. NSPE Code of Ethics Example of a code of ethics. Comprehensive

15. Preamble Describes the purpose of the code: Safeguard life, health, property. Promote the public good. Maintain high integrity. Describes and engineer’s obligation to society. Public welfare. Competence. Honesty.

16. Rules of Practice Expanded descriptions of the fundamental canons

17. Professional Obligations Expanded last fundamental canons.

18. Texas Engineering Practice Act Defines: – “practice” of engineering. – “licensure” qualifications. – “misconduct” and associated remedies. Purpose (1001.004): – Promote the public good (improve quality of life, property, economy, security of the state and the nation)

19. Texas Engineering Practice Act §137.17 Continuing Education Program –(a) Each license holder shall meet the Continuing Education Program (CEP) requirements for professional development as a condition for license renewal. –…….. –(d) A minimum of 1 PDH per renewal period must be in the area of professional ethics, roles and responsibilities of professional engineering, or review of the Texas Engineering Practice Act and Board Rules.

20. Texas Engineering Practice Act - Professional Ethics §137.51 General Practice §137.53 Engineer Standards of Compliance with Professional Procurement Services Act §137.55 Engineers Shall Protect the Public §137.57 Engineers Shall be Objective and Truthful §137.59 Engineers’ Actions Shall Be Competent §137.61 Engineers Shall Maintain Confidentiality of Clients §137.63 Engineers’ Responsibility to the Profession

21. Documentation of Prof. Development

25. Problems Engineers should follow their professional code of ethics because: A)It helps them avoid legal problems. B)If provides a clear definition of what the public has a right to expect. C)It raises the image of the profession and hence gets engineers more pay. D)The public will trust engineers more once they know that engineers have a code of ethics.

26. Bibliography Materials in this presentation are adapted from: Aiken, Joan. “Searching for Summer” (The author passed away in 2004) This story appears in the current 10 th grade literature textbook used by HISD. Fleddermann, C.B., 1999. Engineering Ethics. Prentice Hall, NJ 135p. Potter, M.C., 1999. Fundamentals of Engineering (FE Review Book). Great Lakes Press, Okemos, MI. 627p. Texas Engineering Practices Act