Ethics and Professional Practice

Question 1

The Code of Ethics (Reg.941 Section 77) is a guideline on what?

Answer 1

How a member should behave (in a professional sense)

Question 2

Define: Ethics

Answer 2

The study of right and wrong, good and evil, obligations and rights, justice and social and political ideas.

Question 3

What are the 4 prominent theories in Ethics?

Answer 3

1. Mill’s Utilitarianism
2. Kant’s Duty-Based
3. Locke’s Rights-Based
4. Aristotle’s Virtue-Based

Question 4

Discuss Mill’s Utilitarianism Theory

Answer 4

An action is ethically correct if it produces the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people. The duration, intensity, and equality of distribution of the benefits should be considered.
Keywords: The greater good

Question 5

Conflict with Mill’s Utilitarianism Theory

Answer 5

• How do we evaluate the benefits? Not easily quantified in many cases.
• Benefits can’t favor specific groups or personal gain.

Question 6

Discuss Kant’s Duty-Based Theory

Answer 6

Each person has a duty to follow those courses of action that would be universal principles for everyone to follow. Human life should be respected, and people should not be used as a means to achieve some other goal.
Keywords: Universal Duty for Everyone

Question 7

Conflict with Kant’s Duty-Based Theory

Answer 7

When a universal principle may cause harm, e.g., a white lie may violate a principle but the truth may cause harm.

Question 8

Discuss the concept of Duty (Kant, for an engineering professional)

Answer 8

The concept of duty is a moral commitment or obligation, duty clearly arises in engineering work – you have a duty of care to the public – not to be outweighed by personal gain.

Question 9

Discuss Locke’s Rights-Based Theory

Answer 9

All individuals are free and equal, and each has a right to life, health, liberty, possessions, and the products of his or her labor.
Keywords: Equal Human Rights

Question 10

Conflict with Locke’s Rights-Based Theory

Answer 10

• When does one person’s rights infringe on another
person’s rights?
– You want to smoke.
– You want to eat high calorie foods excessively.
• What exactly are “essential” rights?

Question 11

Discuss Aristotle’s Virtues-Based Theory

Answer 11

Happiness is achieved by developing virtues, or qualities of character, through deduction and reason. An act is good if it is in accordance with reason. This usually means a course of action that is the golden mean between extremes of excess and deficiency.
Keywords: Average of good and bad for the act wins

Question 12

Conflict with Aristotle’s Virtues-Based Theory

Answer 12

• What exactly is a virtue and how do they apply in
various scenarios?
• The concept of finding a “happy medium” has appeal
and is often useful in ethics.

Question 13

Churchill & the V-1 flying bombs was an example of which ethical theory?

Answer 13

Mill’s Utilitarianism - Churchill planned to convince the Nazis that their bombs were hitting north of the center of London in an attempt spare central London but have a greater impact on south London

Question 14

General Approach to an Ethical Problem?

Answer 14

Recognize -> Define -> Generate Solutions -> Choose -> Implement
• Recognize the Problem and gather
information (who, what, when, where, why…)
• Define the problem and any constraints
• Generate alternative solutions (synthesis)
• Evaluate benefits/costs (analysis)
• Choose (or iterate if you believe you have
missed something in the recognition/definition)
• Implement the best solution
– Engineering: Do the best you can with the
resources available