Pro Ethics Sci&Engg

8/12/2019 Pro Ethics Sci&Engg

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PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN

SCIENCE & ENGINEERINGProf. T.Swaminathan

Chemical Engineering DepartmentIIT Madras


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TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT

JOB low-skill level requiredTRADE manual skills, apprenticeships,

often unionized

KNOWLEDGE WORKER specificallyeducated or trained

PROFESSIONAL regulated knowledgeworker

SELF-EMPLOYED non-professional orprofessional


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PROFESSIONALS

Doctors DentistsVeterinarians Pharmacists

Lawyers Accountants Architects TeachersEngineers Journalists

Stock Brokers Athletes (?)


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WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL?

Originally, one who professed adherence tomonastic vows of a religious order.* a free act of commitment to a specificway of life* allegiance to high moral standards

* skill, knowledge, practice of an art


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WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL?

Today, it is one who is duly qualified in aspecific field* special knowledge or education* appropriate experience* knowledge and skills vital to the well-

being of a large potion of society* special sanction


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PROFESSIONAL TRAITS

Extensive intellectual training (education)Specialized knowledge

Skills vital to societyMonopoly on service provided

Autonomy, self-regulated

Privilege/prestigeGoverned by a code of ethics


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MODELS OF PROFESSIONALISM

Social Contract Model* professional are guardians of public

trust* an implicit, unstated agreement

exists between professional andsociety

* society may subsidize training ofprofessionals


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THE IMPLICIT AGGREEMENT

Professionals agree to:* provide a service

- for the public well-being

- promote public welfare, even atown expense

* self-regulation

- enforce competence- enforce ethical standards


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THE IMPLICIT AGGREEMENT

Society agrees to:* allow a certain autonomy- freedom of self-regulation

- freedom to choose clients* social status- respect from society, titles

* high remuneration- reward for services- attract competent individuals


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ENGINEERING - HISTORICALPERSPECTIVE

A profession that put power and materials towork for the benefit of mankind.

In ancient times, there was no formalengineering education.

Engineers built structures by trial and error.Engineering advances were made by

learning from mistakes


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ANCIENT CONSTRUCTION

Examples:* Great wall of China

* The pyramids in Egypt* The coliseum in Rome* Hadrians wall in the U.K.

* The Pont du Gard in France* The dikes in the Netherlands


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MACHINES OF WAR

Examples:* bows and cross-bows

* catapults* assault towers & battering rams* ships of war

* rockets* Greek fire


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SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

It is a undeniable principle that the entirepractice of science and engineering isbased on a set of expected ethicalbehaviors for all involved. This includesthe expectation of honesty andtruthfulness in all individual activities,

contacts, and interactions within theprofession.


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HONESTY

If we consider the engineeringprofession to be like a building,honesty is its foundation.Without honesty, the value ofengineering services is

undermined.Harris, Pritchard and Rabins

Second Edition


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MISUSING THE TRUTH

Engineers can misuse the truth by:* failing to communicate the truth

* communicating the truth when theyshould not* allowing their judgment regarding the

truth to be corrupted


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COMMUNICATING THE TRUTH

Lying Deliberate deception

Withholding information Failing to adequately promote

the dissemination of information Failure to seek out the truth


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FAILURE TO PROMOTE DISSEMINATIONOF INFORMATION

Our ethical obligation to promote the healthand safety of the public:* may require the engineer to disclose

information* requires that the engineer ensure thatthe information is disseminated

appropriately


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FAILURE TO SEEK OUT THETRUTH

Suppose an engineer suspects that some ofthe data received from the test laboratoryare inaccurate. In using the results asthey are, the engineer is not lying norconcealing the truth. BUT , the engineermay be acting irresponsibly by using the

data as they are without inquiring furtherinto their accuracy.


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HONEST CONFLICT

Requirements to never conceal thetruth result in conflicts for the

professional Places a strain on the need toexercise confidentiality and hold

certain information proprietary


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CODES OF ETHICS

The engineer shall:. be objective and truthful ..

. be honest and realistic in statingclaims

. offer honest criticism. . be honest and impartial .


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CODES OF ETHICS

The engineer shall:. be objective and truthful in professional

reports, statements, or testimony ....participate in . none but honest enterprise....

. avoid deceptive acts .


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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Sixth :"You shall not kill.Seventh : "You shall not commit adultery."Eighth : "You shall not steal."Ninth : "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."Tenth :"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covetyour neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, orhis ass, or anything that is your neighbor's."


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CODES OF ETHICS: THEIRDEVELOPMENT

Not much known about early professionalcodes

Medieval guilds codified their rules ofconductUnderlying purpose of guild codes

* enhance the power of the guild* provide job stability for members* provide wealth for members


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Example: ASCE Code of Ethics

Code is representative of most codesOne of the earliest codes

Adopted in 1914,* interactions between engineers andtheir clients

* interactions among engineers


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Example: ASCE Code of Ethics

Fundamental Canon:Engineers shall hold paramount the safety,health, and welfare of the public in the

performance of their professional dutiesFundamental Principle:Engineers uphold and advance the integrity,honor and dignity of the engineering profession

by using their skill for the enhancement ofhuman welfare.


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AIChE Code of Ethics

Members of the American Institute of ChemicalEngineers shall uphold and advance theintegrity, honor and dignity of the engineeringprofession by: being honest and impartial andserving with fidelity their employers, theirclients, and the public; striving to increasethe competence and prestige of theengineering profession; and using theirknowledge and skill for the enhancement ofhuman welfare.

To achieve these goals, members shall


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Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public andprotect the environment in performance of their professional duties.Formally advise their employers or clients (and consider further disclosure,if warranted) if they perceive that a consequence of their duties will

adversely affect the present or future health or safety of their colleagues orthe public.Accept responsibility for their actions, seek and heed critical reviewof their work and offer objective criticism of the work of others.Issue statements or present information only in an objective and truthfulmanner.

Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents ortrustees, avoiding conflicts of interest and never breaching confidentiality.Treat fairly and respectfully all colleagues and co-workers, recognizingtheir unique contributions and capabilities.Perform professional services only in areas of their competence.Build their professional reputations on the merits of their services.

Continue their professional development throughout their careers, andprovide opportunities for the professional development of those under theirsupervision.Never tolerate harassment.Conduct themselves in a fair, honorable and respectful manner.


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PROFESSIONAL CODESInteraction Rules

Indicate dedication to professional behavior Recognition of professional responsibilities

Create ethical environmentGuide in specific circumstancesServe as an educational tool

Increasingly severe consequences

Courtesy/Etiquette Morals/Ethics Professional Codes Laws


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COMAPRISON OF CODES

NSPE AIChE IEEE ASCE ASME ABETUphold public welfare X X X X X XFaithful to employer & clients X X X X XConflicts of interest X X X X X XPractice only in areas of competence X X X X X XObjective and truthful X X X X X XDignity & integrity X X X X XBribes X X X XPromote and develop profession X X X X X XAccept responsibility X X X XAcknowledge contributions of others X X X X X

Recruiting X XAdequate compensation X XPublic service X X XEnvironment X XDo not discriminate by race, gender, etc. XStikes & picket lines X


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LIMITATIONS OF THE CODES

The codes are not a recipe for makingdecisions

The codes cannot be used as a substitutefor good judgmentThe codes do not cover every possible

situationThe codes are not a legal document


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Responsibilities of engineers

Legal responsibilities: Not to cause harm;to compensate when harm is caused; topractice in accord with EngineeringPractices Act

Moral responsibilities: To recognize anddischarge our duties and obligations;understand and adhere to a Code ofEthics


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Three models of responsibility

Minimalist or Malpractice model Reasonable Care model

Good Works or Supererogation model


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Reasonable Care model of responsibility:

Adhere to accepted standards of practice,and...

Take reasonable care to ensure that mistakesare prevented and the public welfare is

protected Exercise and apply skill, ability and judgement

reasonably and without neglect keep abreast of evolving changes in knowledge and

practice recognize when minimal standards of practice might

not be sufficient to prevent a harm, and takeadditional actions to prevent such a harm in those

cases


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Characteristics of the ReasonableCare model

Concern for preventing harm, rather thantrying to prevent causing harm

Oriented towards the future, towardavoiding problems and protecting thepublic

Attitude of concern or caring


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Good Works (Supererogation)model of responsibility:

...above and beyond the call of duty. Example: A local consulting engineer

offers to design a parking lot for a churchat her cost, with no charge for her owntime.


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Some impediments to responsibility

Self-interest Fear Self-deception

Ignorance Egocentric tendencies Microscopic vision Uncritical acceptance of authority

Antagonism toward outside regulation Groupthink Cumbersome business organizations


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Scenario

Antenna & 1000 ft. tower designed byengineer

Contractor (rigger) awarded erectioncontract

During erection, rigger realizes liftingpoints on antenna sections cant be usedwithout fouling antenna baskets

Rigger asks to remove baskets andreplace them after erection


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Scenario, contd.

Engineer denies riggers request toremove baskets (last contractor whoremoved baskets caused expensivedamage to antennas)

Rigger develops plan to mount extensionon antenna section to lift it

Rigger asks engineer to review the plan


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Scenario, contd.

Engineer declines to review riggers planto mount extension on antenna, citingincreased liability

Rigger proceeds with lift of antenna Extension boom fails, antenna falls striking

stay cable, tower falls, seven workers arekilled


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Antenna section after collapse


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Wreckage of antenna andcrane


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Were the riggers morallyresponsible for this accident?

Did they recognize that the modificationthey attempted required engineering skillsto accomplish?

Did they ask an engineer for assistance?


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What could the engineer have

done differently? Agree to review the riggers plans?

Allowed riggers to remove antennabaskets? Offer to design a better extension

boom? Decline to review the plans, but suggest

to the riggers that they should hire anengineer to review their plans?


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ENGINEERING EDUCATION

A students experience in engineeringschool is a training period for his or herprofessional career. If dishonesty is as

detrimental to engineeringprofessionalism as we have suggested,part of this training should be on

professional honesty.Harris, Pritchard and Rabins

Second Edition


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Pro Ethics Sci&Engg