Chapter 8: Ethics & Codes of Ethics

8.1: What is ethics?                                                      Highlight code: #3c410c

Ethics is a branch of philosophy. The main branches of philosophy are as follows:

Philosophy:

• Ethics: The study of right and wrong, good and evil, justice, and social and political ideals.
   

• Logic: The study of reason.
  

• Epistemology: The study of knowledge.
  

• Metaphysics: The study of existence and reality.
  

• Aesthetics: The study of beauty and enjoyment. 

Ethics can be broken down to 2 branches:

• Morals: The belief of right and wrong

• Justice: The concept of what is fair and equitable.

8.2 Three Kinds of Ethical Statements

Ethical statements can be broken into 3 categories Factual statements, conceptual statements and moral statements.

Ethical Statements:

• Factual statements: Either true or false. They can be either confirmed for refuted by observation. 
  

• Conceptual statements: are about the meaning of a term of the scope or boundary of a term when it is being defined.
  

• Moral Statements: Statements that something is right or wrong. there can of course be disagreements over moral statement.
  
  

Factual disagreements, appeal is made to factual or empirical considerations. Conceptual disagreements, arguments are presented about the appropriateness of one definition as opposed to another. Moral disagreements, appeals are made to moral principles. 

8.3 Four ethical Theories. 

Ethical Theories

• Utilitarianism: the best solution to an ethical problem is the one that produces the greatest total amount of human well-being.
  

• Formalism or Duty based ethics: Every individual has a fundamental duty to act ethically in every situation.

  • Kant (founder of duty based ethics) believed that individuals naturally seek to follow their conscience with the intent to be good; even though the act actual end result may not be good, the good intent is there.
    

• Rights-based ethics, every individual has rights by virtue of their existence as a human being, and those rights are paramount in the resolution of any ethical issue. 

  • Another name for ethical theory  is respect for persons or RP 
    

• Virtue based ethics: The goodness of an object or person is relative to the function of the object or the goal of the person’s action. 

  • Aristotle’s definition of a virtue, something that is good as being a compromise between tow negative extremes or vices.

8.5 The OACETT code of ethics. 

• Society:

  • Safety, health and welfare of the public, the protection of the environment and the promotion of health and safety within the workplace.
    

• Employers, clients, colleagues, employees and subordinates:

  • undertake and accept the responsibility of professional assignments only when qualified by training or experience.  
    

• Employers, clients:

  • Act with integrity towards  clients employers, maintain confidentiality and avoid a conflict of interest but where such conflict arises fully disclose the circumstances without delay to the employer or client.
    

• Colleagues, oneself

  • Uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation of the performance of their work. 
    

• Employers clients colleagues, employees and subordinates, oneself.

  • Keep informed to maintain proficiency and

    competence, to advance the body of knowledge

    within their discipline and further opportunities for

    the professional development of their associates;
    

• Employers clients colleagues, employees and subordinates.

  • Conduct themselves with fairness, courtesy and

    good faith toward clients, colleagues and others,

    give credit where it is due and accept, as well as

    give, honest and fair professional comment;
    

• Employers clients

  • Present clearly to employers and clients the

    possible consequences if professional decisions or

    judgments are overruled or disregarded;
    

• Society, profession 

  • Report to the appropriate agencies any hazardous,

    illegal or unethical professional decisions or

    practices by fellow members or others; and promote public knowledge and appreciation of

    engineering and applied science technology and

    protect the Association from misrepresentation

    and misunderstanding.