Ethics & Engineering Flashcards
(30 cards)
Explain religious ethics.
- Originated in historic times
- Accepted in cultures across the world
- Divine being: God. God’s will = morally good
- Example: 10 Commandments in the Bible
Explain natural order.
- 1900s “secularisation”
- “examples in nature”
- evolutionary theory; hard to argue a “natural order”
Explain social contract.
- 1500s (and ancient times)
- Everyone has a desire to live in a functioning society
- “Rational selfishness”
- Rawls (1972): “hypothetical” social contract
- Basic rights
- Distribution of resources
Explain discourse ethics.
- 1980s
- Communicative rationality
- “Consensus process in ethical open discussions”
Explain virtue ethics.
- Aristotle (384-322 BC). Plato et al & resurge in 1980s.
- Act as a virtuous person (someone everyone looks up to)
- Classical virtues (justice, wisdom, courage, moderation)
- Hard to apply to specific cases
Explain utilitarianism.
Consequentialist. Non-personal.
Bentham (1789): “An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation”
- Classical (hedonistic) utilitarianism
- Maximisation of benefit (happiness)
- Everyone is equal (humans)
- Ethics depends on outcome (not intent)
- Action/inaction is just as bad/good
Singer (1993): Practical ethics
- Preference utilitarianism
- Fulfilment of preferen ces
- Everyone is equal (all living organisms)
- Relevant questions/controversies: human vs. animals; ethical to eat meat?
Calculations:
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Risk analysis
Explain deontology.
Kant (1785): “Groundwork for the metaphysics of morals”
- Categorical imperative: always act according to principles that you would be willing for everyone to follow
- Moral duties (non-negotiable)
- Independent of the outcome
Ross (1946): “The right and the good”
- Seven moral duties (prima facie duties): duty to help, duty to keep promises, duty to not harm, etc.
Williams (1973): “Ethical consistency”
- Residual duties for violated prima facie duties
Actual duties: duty all things considered
Explain the comparative approach.
Nilstun (1994): “Research ethics in care and medicine”
- Autonomy: right to self-determination
- Benefit: positive and negative consequences
- Justice: distribution of benefit and burden
- Consideration of all affected groups/stakeholders. Stakeholders do not have to be legal persons (wildlife, etc.)
- Analysis of ethical profits (+), neutral, losses (-). Actual or potential.
Draw the ethical principle (j) vs. Stakeholder (i) table.
j: autonomy, benefit, justice
i: local community, company/employees, environment, stakeholders, managers …
What is the Engineering NZ - Code of Ethical Conduct?
- Take reasonable steps to safeguard health and safety.
- Have regard to effects on environment.
- Report adverse consequences.
- Act competently.
- Behave appropriately.
- Inform others of consequences of not following advice.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Report breach of Code.
Why do we still have unethical practice?
- Diffusion of responsibility
- Loyalty
- Lack of expertise
- Financial pressures
What are the three types of roles in Ethical Risk Analysis (ERA)?
- Beneficiary
- Decision maker
- Risk-exposed
Useful to draw a triple Venn diagram to compare the different cases (paternalism, maternalism, individualism, …)
Who are the stakeholders in paternalism?
- Beneficiary / Risk exposed
- Decision maker
E.g., parents, coma …
Who are the stakeholders in maternalism?
- Beneficiary
- Decision maker / Risk-exposed
E.g., Smokers - smoking company
Who are the stakeholders in externalities?
- Beneficiary / Decision maker
- Risk-exposed
E.g., Medical testing in Nazi C.C., passive smoking …
Who are the stakeholders in individualism?
- Beneficiary / Decision maker / Risk-exposed
E.g., skiiing
If the Risk-exposed and Beneficiary are the same stakeholder …
It is often unproblematic.
If the Risk-exposed and Beneficiary are different stakeholders …
It is often problematic. Links to unjust distribution of risk.
If the Risk-exposed and the Decision maker are different stakeholders …
It is ALWAYS problematic.
If the Decision maker and the Beneficiary are the same stakeholder …
It is often problematic (if they are not the Risk-exposed)
What are the 6 steps of Ethical Technology Assessment (ETA)?
- Identify stakeholder perspectives (who are they, what are their perspectives)
- Seek factual information (what do we know, stats, science, what information is missing, how does it work, what are the risks)
- Compare to similar situations (analogy)
- Explore with the ethical theories (utilitarianism, deontology, comparative approach)
- Construct new solutions (mitigate ethical challenges)
- Explore practical implementation (what are the practical obstacles, is it possible)
Explain the different types of utilitarianism
Welfare utilitarianism
- External rather than internal perspective
- Access to food, accommodation, health care, education, etc.
Ideal utilitarianism
- All-inclusive perspective
- Happiness, preference, beauty, knowledge, friendship, virtue, etc.
Act utilitarianism
- Every situation is evaluated
Rule utilitarianism
- Rules that maximum outcome are derived
Explain the history of engineering.
1) Ancient Greek
- only architects
- profession of slaves
- not prestigious
2) Medieval times
- eng. made war machine
- experience based
- genius and ingenuity
3) 1700
- differentiation b/w civil eng and military enf
- some recognition
4) 1800 - 1900
- eng based math and science
- recognition
What are the 3 responsibilities of an engineer?
- to client/employer (accountability)
- environment
- society/general public
What is the purpose of Chartered Professional Engineering?
Provides a high-level of duty of an engineer. Focuses on skills and experience.
