Ethics Flashcards
Why we choose what we choose
- emotion
- law
- custom
- ethics
morality definition
- involves an assessment of the rights or wrongs of human conduct based on moral values
- means between extremes that govern human interaction
where do morals come from?
- parents
- culture
- religion
ethics definition
- a set of consistent values shared by a group which governs their conduct
- can be taught because it can be considered as a framework for making value-laden choices
Ethical Theories
- virtue ethics
- rights ethics
- deontological ethics
- teleological ethics
- utilitarianism
Virtue ethics
- person
- right living involves the cultivation of virtues or acquiring socially-valued character traits
difficulty with virtue ethics
problems occur when conflicts arise between virtues
Rights ethics
- person
- action is morally “right” if it does not violate the rights of others
Deontological ethics
- duty ethics (the Act)
- has at its focus one fundamental principle that supports all other moral judgements
- thus it is rule based
difficulty with deontological ethics
problems arise when there are conflicts between maxims
Teleological ethics
- what follows on from the Act
- states that the ends justify the means
- a focus on the endpoint and not necessarily the truth
difficulty with teleological ethics
problems arise when the end is unscrupulous
Utilitarianism
- what follows on from the Act
- the moral value or “rightness” of an action is in proportion to its tendency to promote happiness
- considers the good and bad consequences of an action and seeks to maximise utility defined as the overall balance of good over bad consequences
main strength of utilitarianism
deals with particular acts in their context
major weaknesses of utilitarianism
- who makes the choice?
- how do you consider future effects?
- the problem of justice (who is the minority and what are their rights)
worldview definition
an attitude towards, belief systems, or set of assumptions that one takes with respect to the world
Why are worldviews important?
- worldviews influence how you interpret new data
- worldviews help us know that we do not see the world in an absolute sense - but rather from a particular viewpoint
- worldviews influence how you evaluate arguments during conflict resolution
environmental ethics
- an ethic which embraces a set of duties and obligations to the wider community of life
- previously humans had a “frontier” environmental ethic - blamed for degradation
possible roots behind “frontier” ethic
- religion
- social structure of society
- engineering and technology
UNDP sustainable development definition
creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accordance with their needs and interests
Brundtland sustainable development definition
meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Sustainability vs Efficiency
- sustainable growth is an oxymoron
- dealing with a finite system = not possible to continually grow
- industrial world defines sustainability in terms of economic growth
Sustainability and Human Nature
- humans immediately use and live at the limit of an available resource
Needs definition
people in the future will need food, water and shelter to survive
aspirations definition
answers the question of what they will need to thrive - development
Do we need to be able to define sustainability to implement it?
Not necessarily
- if we clearly define UNsustainable practices and address them, then by definition we are moving in the direction of sustainability
Is sustainability a technical or ethical concept?
Ethical
- we dont see a need to fix a problem because we have a technical solution - we see a need because we feel a duty or obligation to protect the environment
- this capacity to reflect on and care about the future of the environment is part of what makes humans ethical beings
- humans delude ourselves into thinking there is a technical solution, so that we dont have to recognise the need for a more fundamental shift in approach
- sustainable development an inherently oxymoronic concept technically
- shift towards ethical focus we must consider intrinsic ethical components of a respect for life, responsibility and frugality
frugality
a mode of being in which we as stewards recognise natural constraints and symbiotic relationships
6 Methods for Engineering Decisions
- based on technical analysis
- based on cost-effective analysis
- based on benefit/cost analysis
- based on risk-analysis
- based on environmental impact analysis (EIA)
- based on an ethical analysis
Characteristics of technical analysis
- quantifiable
- evaluative parameter: technical
- able to be evaluated and checked
Characteristics of cost-effective analysis
- evaluative parameter: dollars
- complicated by fact money changes value with time
- alternative solutions have to be compared on basis of annual costs or present worth
Characteristics of benefit/cost analysis
- evaluative parameter: dollars
- dollar value placed on both benefits and costs
Characteristics of risk-analysis
- benefits not just recreational/aesthetic but of serious concern to human health
- evaluative parameter: potential health effects
- benefits for humans –> therefore short-term benefits
risk assessment
analysis of the potential effect of hazards to human health
risk management
process of reducing unacceptable risks
Characteristics of environmental impact analysis
- considers environmental long-term effects
- evaluative parameter:
- often tension since most cost-effective alternative or one with highest benefit/cost ratio may have greatest adverse effect on environment
Characteristics of ethical analysis
- occurs when decisions need to be made but values conflict
- evaluative parameter: values
- engineers in professional work for society calculate acceptable risk but it presupposes a “value” system
- value system help by engineers may not match that of the public
- objections to proposals may be seen by engineers as “technical illiteracy” rather than based on ethical grounds
how to practice sensitivity
raise awareness of ethical aspects of professional work
how to practice knowledge
learn about proffessional standards such as Codes of Ethics
how to practice judgement
develop skills in moral reasoning
how to practice commitment
strengthen personal dedication to exemplary conduct
Basic Values Test
does the action support basic ethical values such as honesty, fairness, civility, respect and kindness?
Harm Test
do the benefits outweigh the harms, short term and long term?
Reversibility Test
would i think this choice were good if i traded places?
Colleague Test
what would my professional colleagues say?
Legality Test
would this choice violate a law or a policy of my employer?
Publicity Test
how would this look on the front page of a newspaper?
Common Practice Test
what if everyone behaved in this way?
Wise Relative Test
what would my wise old aunt or uncle do?
safety
the prevention of unintentional personal injury
two approaches to control hazard of engineered products
- use the power of the legal system
2. professionally oriented “self-regulatory” approach
safety through power of the legal system
- legal system demands safety directly through regulation
- engineers through their technical societies have often formed regulatory agencies to provide standardisation and quality control
safety through professionally oriented “self-regulatory” approach
- includes a Code of Ethics
- a Code of Ethics is often one of the hallmarks of a profession
- paid a salary to discharge a responsibility
- traditionally have involved advanced education and training
- some method of peer control over membership and practice
- professionals have an obligation - duty to protect them from harm and keep them safe
general obligations to society
- take reasonable steps to safeguard health and safety
- have regards to effects on the environment
- act with honesty, objectivity, and integrity
general obligations to the profession
- not misrepresent competence
- not misrepresent CPEng status
- inform others of consequences of not following your advice
- not promise, give or accept inducements
general obligations to employers and clients
- not disclose confidential information
- not misuse confidential information for personal benefit
- disclose conflicts of interests
general obligations to other engineers
- not review another engineer’s work without taking reasonable steps to inform them about it
instrumental value
nature has worth because it is of use to us
intrinsic value
nature has worth because it exists
- worthy of moral value because it lives
framework for evaluating actions
- Basic Values Test
- Harm Test
- Reversability Test
- Colleague Test
- Legality Test
- Publicity Test
- Common Practice Test
- Wise Relative Test
Environmental Preservation Arguments
- The earth is a life support system
- The earth contains early warning systems
- The earth is a laboratory
- The earth is a silo
- The earth is a gymnasium
- The earth is an art gallery
- The earth is a cathedral
- The earth is a monument
- Because we ought to - it is the right thing to do
The earth contains early warning systems
e.g. species such as frogs dying out around the world
The earth is a laboratory
it contains many cures and remedies we may not yet have found
The earth is a silo
many unique ecosystems in the world and we ned to preserve them as natural habitats
The earth is a gymnasium
tramping, recreation etc
The earth is an art gallery
inspires people because of its aesthetics
The earth is a cathedral
idea that there is a spiritual value to nature
The earth is a monument
- nature has a degree of cultural values
- survival of indigenous people
Ethical theory divided into 3 categories according to focus:
- the person
- the Act
- what follows on from the Act
Ethical Decision-Making Process
- identify ethical, technical and economic issues and problems
- identify affected parties (stakeholders) and their rights and responsibilities
- identify social and political constraints on possible solutions
- determine whether additional information is needed to make a good decision
- suggest alternative courses of action for the principal stakeholders
- imagine possible consequences of those alternative actions
- evaluate those alternatives according to basic ethical values
