Lecture 1: Evaluating the Structural Integrity of Human Systems

Why do engineers need ethic rules?

The Collaborative Constraint: Collaborative labor degenerates without established frameworks to govern relationships.

The Societal Impact: We do not design in a vacuum. Because our products directly impact human lives, we require rigorous systems to govern behavior.

Interaction Rules: Expected sets of behavior between the engineer, other individuals, and society as a whole.

Interaction Rules Matrix:

X-Axis: Source of authority, internal/person to external/society.

Y-Axis: Severity of Consequences, mild/arbitrary to severe/strict.

Law: System of rules established by authority. Clearly identified boundaries with sever, concrete, penalties (fines, imprisonment).

Ethics: General, abstract, secular concepts culled from philosophy/theology for professional bodies.

Morals: Accepted standards of right and wrong applied to personal behavior. Consequences vary, but society degenerates into anarchy without them.

Etiquette: codes of behavior and courtesy. Often arbitrary and evolve rapidly. Mild consequences

Oftentimes, there are conflicts between different interaction rules.

  • Healthcare: Protected by the law, but immoral.

  • Life Sentence: Protected by the law, or typically immoral

  • Legal System is too slow to catch up with the engineering processes, which can lead to a release of toxic materials or drugs not being delivered to people quick enough.

Morals can also be unpoliceable since it includes what you think.

Laws can also be made my immoral regimes (ex: Nazi regime).

Free speech in the concept of immorality and morality (racist jokes).

NSPE Fundamental Canons of Ethics

Biggest ethics board in the country

  1. Hold safety paramount: Protect public health, safety, and welfare.

  2. Practice Competence: Only work in trained areas.

  3. Be objective and truthful: In all public statements

  4. Act as Faithful agents: for each client and employer

  5. Avoid Deception: Do not use fake and dishonest ways

  6. Uphold Honor: Conduct responsibly and lawfully to enhance the profession.

Biomedical Engineering Society is the more specific version for BMEs.

Settling Conflicts with the Four-Issue Framework

Abstract Ideas

  1. Moral Issues (Philosophy): Can only be solved by making a moral decision?

    1. Do car speed or pedestrian lives matter more?

  2. Conceptual Issues (Definitions): Morality is agreed on but there is a disagreement on how to codify the issue.

    1. Society agrees we need speed limits, but what exactly is too fast? (e.g. 55 mph)

  3. Application Issues (Rules): Uncertainty if a specific act violates the established policy.

    1. A motorist skids at 50 mph in a light rain. Does light rain count as adverse conditions?

  4. Factual Issues (data): Uncertainty about morally relevant facts, resolvable by acquiring more information.

    1. Was the police radar gun miscalibrated?

Concrete Data

Engineering Toolkit: Three Moral Theories

  1. Ethical Egoism: Act in enlightened self-interest. Successful societies harness this, but it is not a license for selfish behavior.

  2. Utilitarianism: Create the most good for the most amount of people.

    1. (benefits x importance) - (harm x importance) = happiness objective function

  3. Rights Analysis: Equally respect each human based on a Revised Golden Rule (Do Unto others and they would do unto them)

    1. Hierarchy: Life/Safety > Purpose fulfillment > Increase fulfilment