Transcript Engineering Ethics

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Engineering Ethics
Cath Polito, MS
Introductions
Who’s your
“Jiminy Cricket?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOZzNOkcEgM
What is Ethics?
Foundations of Ethics
1) Aristotle: Virtue and
Character (c. 350 BC)
Practical wisdom
Plato (424-348 BC) and
Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Foundations of Ethics
2) Kant: duties and rights
Categorical imperative
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
Foundations of Ethics
3) Bentham and Mill:
Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
Your Challenges
 Describe an ethical challenge that
you have faced
 Which approach applies to this challenge?
Questions to ask …
 Can I sleep at night?
 Aristotle – virtuous life
 What if everybody
did this?
 Kant – categorical
imperative
 What is the greatest
good for the greatest
number?
 Bentham and Mill –
utilitarianism
Today …
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-august-12-2009/mba-ethics-oath
NSPE Code of Ethics
1) Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare
of the public.
2) Perform services only in areas of their
competence.
3) Issue public statements only in an objective and
truthful manner.
NSPE Code of Ethics
4) Act for each employer or client as faithful
agents or trustees.
5) Avoid deceptive acts.
6) Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly,
ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the
honor, reputation, and usefulness of the
profession.
Problems?
Five factors that can lead to ethical problems:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Pressure to meet numbers or performance goals
Fear and silence
A culture of non-productive conflict
A strong sense of being unique/exceptional
Minimal accountability or checks and balances
Framework
1) Do a pre-mortem
2) Analyze how you got into the situation in
the first place
3) Identify the primary people who can
influence the situation and/or will be
affected by its outcome
4) Articulate the principles that might apply
5) Determine and prioritize the viable options
6) Choose an option and act
Questions?
Contact
Cath Polito
[email protected]
512.232.5172
Closing thought: Check out Lockheed Martin’s “The Ethics
Challenge” board game featuring Dilbert and Dogbert