Ethics & Engineering Flashcards
Explain religious ethics.
- Originated in historic times
- Accepted in cultures across the world
- Divine being: God. God’s will = morally good
- Example: 10 Commandments in the Bible
Explain natural order.
- 1900s “secularisation”
- “examples in nature”
- evolutionary theory; hard to argue a “natural order”
Explain social contract.
- 1500s (and ancient times)
- Everyone has a desire to live in a functioning society
- “Rational selfishness”
- Rawls (1972): “hypothetical” social contract
- Basic rights
- Distribution of resources
Explain discourse ethics.
- 1980s
- Communicative rationality
- “Consensus process in ethical open discussions”
Explain virtue ethics.
- Aristotle (384-322 BC). Plato et al & resurge in 1980s.
- Act as a virtuous person (someone everyone looks up to)
- Classical virtues (justice, wisdom, courage, moderation)
- Hard to apply to specific cases
Explain utilitarianism.
Consequentialist. Non-personal.
Bentham (1789): “An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation”
- Classical (hedonistic) utilitarianism
- Maximisation of benefit (happiness)
- Everyone is equal (humans)
- Ethics depends on outcome (not intent)
- Action/inaction is just as bad/good
Singer (1993): Practical ethics
- Preference utilitarianism
- Fulfilment of preferen ces
- Everyone is equal (all living organisms)
- Relevant questions/controversies: human vs. animals; ethical to eat meat?
Calculations:
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Risk analysis
Explain deontology.
Kant (1785): “Groundwork for the metaphysics of morals”
- Categorical imperative: always act according to principles that you would be willing for everyone to follow
- Moral duties (non-negotiable)
- Independent of the outcome
Ross (1946): “The right and the good”
- Seven moral duties (prima facie duties): duty to help, duty to keep promises, duty to not harm, etc.
Williams (1973): “Ethical consistency”
- Residual duties for violated prima facie duties
Actual duties: duty all things considered
Explain the comparative approach.
Nilstun (1994): “Research ethics in care and medicine”
- Autonomy: right to self-determination
- Benefit: positive and negative consequences
- Justice: distribution of benefit and burden
- Consideration of all affected groups/stakeholders. Stakeholders do not have to be legal persons (wildlife, etc.)
- Analysis of ethical profits (+), neutral, losses (-). Actual or potential.
Draw the ethical principle (j) vs. Stakeholder (i) table.
j: autonomy, benefit, justice
i: local community, company/employees, environment, stakeholders, managers …
What is the Engineering NZ - Code of Ethical Conduct?
- Take reasonable steps to safeguard health and safety.
- Have regard to effects on environment.
- Report adverse consequences.
- Act competently.
- Behave appropriately.
- Inform others of consequences of not following advice.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Report breach of Code.
Why do we still have unethical practice?
- Diffusion of responsibility
- Loyalty
- Lack of expertise
- Financial pressures
What are the three types of roles in Ethical Risk Analysis (ERA)?
- Beneficiary
- Decision maker
- Risk-exposed
Useful to draw a triple Venn diagram to compare the different cases (paternalism, maternalism, individualism, …)
Who are the stakeholders in paternalism?
- Beneficiary / Risk exposed
- Decision maker
E.g., parents, coma …
Who are the stakeholders in maternalism?
- Beneficiary
- Decision maker / Risk-exposed
E.g., Smokers - smoking company
Who are the stakeholders in externalities?
- Beneficiary / Decision maker
- Risk-exposed
E.g., Medical testing in Nazi C.C., passive smoking …
Who are the stakeholders in individualism?
- Beneficiary / Decision maker / Risk-exposed
E.g., skiiing
If the Risk-exposed and Beneficiary are the same stakeholder …
It is often unproblematic.
If the Risk-exposed and Beneficiary are different stakeholders …
It is often problematic. Links to unjust distribution of risk.
If the Risk-exposed and the Decision maker are different stakeholders …
It is ALWAYS problematic.
If the Decision maker and the Beneficiary are the same stakeholder …
It is often problematic (if they are not the Risk-exposed)
What are the 6 steps of Ethical Technology Assessment (ETA)?
- Identify stakeholder perspectives (who are they, what are their perspectives)
- Seek factual information (what do we know, stats, science, what information is missing, how does it work, what are the risks)
- Compare to similar situations (analogy)
- Explore with the ethical theories (utilitarianism, deontology, comparative approach)
- Construct new solutions (mitigate ethical challenges)
- Explore practical implementation (what are the practical obstacles, is it possible)
Explain the different types of utilitarianism
Welfare utilitarianism
- External rather than internal perspective
- Access to food, accommodation, health care, education, etc.
Ideal utilitarianism
- All-inclusive perspective
- Happiness, preference, beauty, knowledge, friendship, virtue, etc.
Act utilitarianism
- Every situation is evaluated
Rule utilitarianism
- Rules that maximum outcome are derived
Explain the history of engineering.
1) Ancient Greek
- only architects
- profession of slaves
- not prestigious
2) Medieval times
- eng. made war machine
- experience based
- genius and ingenuity
3) 1700
- differentiation b/w civil eng and military enf
- some recognition
4) 1800 - 1900
- eng based math and science
- recognition
What are the 3 responsibilities of an engineer?
- to client/employer (accountability)
- environment
- society/general public
What is the purpose of Chartered Professional Engineering?
Provides a high-level of duty of an engineer. Focuses on skills and experience.
How do you treat uncertainties in Risk Analysis? (Levels of Treatment)
0) Identification of hazard
1) Worst case
2) Quasi-worst case: plausible upper bound
3) Best-estimate central value
4) Probability and risk analysis
5) Display of risk uncertainties
What are common mitigation strategies for different stakeholders for risk exposed and beneficiary?
- Self- interest: e.g. trimming wedge
- Deserve: e.g. prisoners without pay
- Compensation: e.g. risk-based pay for oil platform workers
- Reciprocity: e.g. driving in traffic with other people
If the Risk-exposed and Beneficiary are the same stakeholder …
Often unproblematic.
What are common mitigation strategies if the Risk-exposed and the Decision maker are different stakeholders?
- Decision maker pays for risk e.g. eco tax
- Decision maker controlled by other decision makers: e.g. Enviro. Protection Association, Health & Safety Reps
According to deontology, it is the _____ and not the outcome that defines if an action is ethical.
Intent
What are the 3 ethical principles mentioned by Nilstun?
Justice
Benefit
Autonomy
