ENGINEERING ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALISM AND PROFESSIONALISM AND

ETHICSETHICSEGN 4034EGN 4034

FALL 2008FALL 2008

CHAPTER 3-4CHAPTER 3-4

Organizing PrinciplesOrganizing Principles

Students should be able to:Students should be able to: Understand the Understand the two main branchestwo main branches of of

philosophyphilosophy Understand the Understand the subdisciplines subdisciplines within within

these two main branchesthese two main branches Develop an understanding of how to Develop an understanding of how to

apply apply “philosophical tests”“philosophical tests” in in addressing engineering ethical addressing engineering ethical problemsproblems

CHAPTER 3-4CHAPTER 3-4

LEARING OBJECTIVESLEARING OBJECTIVES

THE TWO MAJOR BRANCHES OF THE TWO MAJOR BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHYPHILOSOPHY

UTILITARIANISMUTILITARIANISM RESPECT FOR PERSONSRESPECT FOR PERSONS

(Deontology)(Deontology)

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

UTILITARIANISMUTILITARIANISM Favors bringing about the greatest Favors bringing about the greatest

total amount of good that we can.total amount of good that we can. Problem:Problem:

Define the Define the most goodmost good (utility) (utility) Define the Define the audienceaudience over which the over which the

good is maximized.good is maximized. It can perpetrate It can perpetrate injustice on injustice on

individualsindividuals..

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Utilitarian ThinkingUtilitarian Thinking Three Utilitarian ApproachesThree Utilitarian Approaches Cost/BenefitCost/Benefit QQ – What might be an example of – What might be an example of

cost/benefit?cost/benefit? Act UtilitarianismAct Utilitarianism Rule UtilitarianismRule Utilitarianism

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Utilitarian ThinkingUtilitarian Thinking Three Utilitarian ApproachesThree Utilitarian Approaches Cost/BenefitCost/Benefit

Tries to make the benefit quantifiable by:Tries to make the benefit quantifiable by: Assessing the available optionsAssessing the available options Assess the costs and benefits of each Assess the costs and benefits of each

option.option. Choose the option that is likely to provide Choose the option that is likely to provide

the most benefit.the most benefit.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Utilitarian ThinkingUtilitarian Thinking Three Utilitarian ApproachesThree Utilitarian Approaches Cost/Benefit ProblemsCost/Benefit Problems

Assumes that economic measures of cost Assumes that economic measures of cost and benefit override other considerations.and benefit override other considerations.

QQ – What might be other considerations? – What might be other considerations? Difficulty with ascertaining the costs and Difficulty with ascertaining the costs and

benefits of the many factors (human life)benefits of the many factors (human life) Does not take into account the unequal Does not take into account the unequal

distribution of costs and benefits.distribution of costs and benefits.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Utilitarian ThinkingUtilitarian Thinking Three Utilitarian ApproachesThree Utilitarian Approaches Act UtilitarianismAct Utilitarianism

Decide on the different possible courses of Decide on the different possible courses of action (action (The ActThe Act))

Determine the audienceDetermine the audience Decide on which course of action is likely to Decide on which course of action is likely to

bring about the greatest good for the bring about the greatest good for the appropriate audience, taking into account appropriate audience, taking into account harms as well as benefits.harms as well as benefits.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Utilitarian ThinkingUtilitarian Thinking Three Utilitarian ApproachesThree Utilitarian Approaches Rule UtilitarianismRule Utilitarianism

Define specific rules by:Define specific rules by: Asking,Asking, “would utility be maximized if everyone did “would utility be maximized if everyone did

the same thing under similar circumstances?”the same thing under similar circumstances?” ExampleExample – rules for the road. – rules for the road. When rules are reasonably well understood and When rules are reasonably well understood and

generally accepted, we should use the rules as a generally accepted, we should use the rules as a guide to action rather than to try to calculate the guide to action rather than to try to calculate the likely consequences.likely consequences.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Ethics of Respect for PersonsEthics of Respect for Persons ““those actions or rules are right that, if those actions or rules are right that, if

followed, would accord equal respect to followed, would accord equal respect to each person as a moral agent.”each person as a moral agent.”

Moral agentsMoral agents are those persons capable are those persons capable of formulating or pursuing goals and of formulating or pursuing goals and purposes of their own.purposes of their own.

Persons, as moral agents, are not to be Persons, as moral agents, are not to be treated as mere means to fulfilling the treated as mere means to fulfilling the ends or goals of others.ends or goals of others.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Ethics of Respect for PersonsEthics of Respect for Persons Golden RuleGolden Rule

Basically the Basically the Universality principleUniversality principle Resolution of a moral issue must be one Resolution of a moral issue must be one

that would that would be universally acceptablebe universally acceptable if if others resolved similar issues in similar others resolved similar issues in similar ways.ways.

Understandably, both Utilitarianism and Understandably, both Utilitarianism and Respect for Persons ethics employ this Respect for Persons ethics employ this principle.principle.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Ethics of Respect for PersonsEthics of Respect for Persons Self-Defeating TestSelf-Defeating Test

Another application of the universalizability Another application of the universalizability principle.principle.

““Would I be able to perform the same action Would I be able to perform the same action in the same or similar circumstances if in the same or similar circumstances if everyone else performed the same action in everyone else performed the same action in the same or similar circumstances”the same or similar circumstances”

What is an example of such an act that What is an example of such an act that would be “self-defeating?”would be “self-defeating?”

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Ethics of Respect for PersonsEthics of Respect for Persons Rights TestRights Test

Because Rights can sometimes conflict, a Because Rights can sometimes conflict, a system of priority must be given to system of priority must be given to individual rights.individual rights.

QQ - What is an example of conflicting - What is an example of conflicting rightsrights??

Similar to the Rule Utilitarian test, the Similar to the Rule Utilitarian test, the Rights TestRights Test applies a list of universal rights applies a list of universal rights arranged in a hierarchy of importance.arranged in a hierarchy of importance.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Middle WayMiddle Way ConvergenceConvergence – although Utilitarian and – although Utilitarian and

Respect for Persons standards are different, Respect for Persons standards are different, they often lead to the same conclusion.they often lead to the same conclusion.

What does convergence do for us?What does convergence do for us? It strengthens our conclusions because they It strengthens our conclusions because they

are supported by more than one kind of basic are supported by more than one kind of basic reasoning (reasoning (both utilitarian and RPboth utilitarian and RP).).

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Middle WayMiddle Way Divergence Divergence – applying both Utilitarian and – applying both Utilitarian and

Respect for Persons standards can also lead Respect for Persons standards can also lead to different conclusions.to different conclusions.

What does divergence do for us?What does divergence do for us? It may be telling us that neither of these It may be telling us that neither of these

standards is individually the better conclusion.standards is individually the better conclusion. And that the better solution may be a And that the better solution may be a “creative “creative

middle way.”middle way.”

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Middle WayMiddle Way We have seen application of the creative We have seen application of the creative

middle way in Chapter 3 using middle way in Chapter 3 using line-drawingsline-drawings.. Creative Middle Way solutions are best used Creative Middle Way solutions are best used

when we have conflict problems that deal with when we have conflict problems that deal with a hard choice between ethical standards.a hard choice between ethical standards.

What can you think of that might illustrate What can you think of that might illustrate when a creative middle way is used?when a creative middle way is used?

What about national politics? Don’t politicians What about national politics? Don’t politicians compromise on most issues in order to keep compromise on most issues in order to keep our political processes moving?our political processes moving?

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

We now have Ethical Principles we We now have Ethical Principles we can apply in making ethical choices.can apply in making ethical choices.

Utilitarianism (Utilitarianism (three teststhree tests)) Respect for Persons (Respect for Persons (three teststhree tests)) And always a And always a middle groundmiddle ground

between conflicting ethical principles between conflicting ethical principles or standards.or standards.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Utilitarian ThinkingUtilitarian Thinking Three Utilitarian ApproachesThree Utilitarian Approaches

Cost/BenefitCost/Benefit Act UtilitarianismAct Utilitarianism Rule UtilitarianismRule Utilitarianism

Ethics of Respect for PersonsEthics of Respect for Persons Golden RuleGolden Rule Self-Defeating TestSelf-Defeating Test Rights TestRights Test

Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Convergence, Divergence, and Creative Middle WayMiddle Way

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

Utilitarian ThinkingUtilitarian Thinking Consider the Location of the landfill Consider the Location of the landfill

by engineer David Parkinsonby engineer David Parkinson What is David’s dilemma?What is David’s dilemma? Where to locate the landfillWhere to locate the landfill Why has this become a problem?Why has this become a problem? Special interest groups oppositionSpecial interest groups opposition What should David do?What should David do?

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

David needs to make a “good engineering David needs to make a “good engineering decision”decision”

How can he do this?How can he do this? He could check his code of ethics He could check his code of ethics ((p. 376p. 376) Read “Fundamental Cannons”) Read “Fundamental Cannons” What else could he do?What else could he do? He could apply a creative middle way He could apply a creative middle way

solution as we read about in chapter 3solution as we read about in chapter 3 What else could he do?What else could he do? He could apply an ethical principleHe could apply an ethical principle

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

What ethical principle(s) could he apply?What ethical principle(s) could he apply? Utilitarianism or Respect for personsUtilitarianism or Respect for persons Or possibly some combination of these Or possibly some combination of these

twotwo He could apply a “creative middle way” He could apply a “creative middle way”

solution.solution. We must now begin to think of the tools We must now begin to think of the tools

available to us when we confront ethical available to us when we confront ethical problems.problems.

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles

WHAT ISWHAT IS

HAPPINESSHAPPINESS

BASIC PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONBASIC PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION

THIS IS A BASIC QUESTION FROM THIS IS A BASIC QUESTION FROM PHILOSOPHYPHILOSOPHY

SINCE THE EARLY GREEKS THIS HAS SINCE THE EARLY GREEKS THIS HAS BEEN THE BURNING QUESTIONBEEN THE BURNING QUESTION

IN YOUR GROUPSIN YOUR GROUPS DEFINE HAPPINESSDEFINE HAPPINESS GROUP # ? WILL BE THE SCRIBEGROUP # ? WILL BE THE SCRIBE I WILL CALL ON GROUPS TO GIVE YOUR I WILL CALL ON GROUPS TO GIVE YOUR

RESPONSERESPONSE

CHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing PrinciplesCHAPTER 3-4 –Organizing Principles