Chapter 14 Engineering Ethics: From Preventive Ethics to Aspirational Ethics

 

Abstract

The abstract discusses two types of ethics in the field of engineering: preventive ethics and aspirational ethics. Preventive ethics involves guidelines that help prevent harm to the public. This form of ethics is mandatory for all professionals in the field and is typically outlined in a set of rules.

On the other hand, aspirational ethics involves using professional expertise to actively promote human well-being. This form of ethics offers more discretion to the professional regarding its implementation and the actions involved. Unlike preventive ethics, aspirational ethics is not just about avoiding harm but also about proactively doing good.

The abstract suggests that while preventive ethics is crucial, aspirational ethics should be given more prominence in the professional realm. It differentiates four types of actions under aspirational ethics, categorized based on how directly they focus on promoting human well-being. Additionally, it identifies four virtues that are particularly significant in motivating and guiding the implementation of aspirational ethics in engineering. These virtues help professionals not only to adhere to ethical standards but also to strive towards making positive contributions to society.

14.1 Preventive Ethics

Preventive Ethics" in engineering ethics is a set of guidelines aimed at preventing harm to the public and can be divided into two main components:

Preventing Professional Misconduct: This includes ethical guidelines that specifically aim to prevent various types of professional misconduct such as breaching confidentiality unjustly, having undisclosed conflicts of interest that impair professional judgment, or practicing beyond one’s area of competence. These guidelines form a significant part of the content in engineering codes of ethics. For instance, approximately 80% of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) code is focused on regulating this type of professional behavior.

Exercising Proper Professional Responsibility: This aspect involves directives for engineers to prioritize the safety and health of the public in their work. It requires engineers to act with a higher degree of responsibility than just the minimum needed to avoid legal issues. This includes being anticipatory and proactive in their work, identifying and addressing potential problems before they occur, and even rectifying issues caused by others when feasible.

Preventive ethics has gained significant attention in engineering due to high-profile disasters that highlighted the need for protecting the public, such as mining disasters, gas explosions, and the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse. Cases like the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle tragedies further underscored the importance of safety in engineering.

Key aspects of preventive ethics include:

• Mandatory Compliance: The principles of preventive ethics are mandatory, both ethically (as they are outlined in professional codes) and legally (especially in cases where engineers are registered with governmental entities).

• Independence from Individual Morality: The standards set by the profession, not personal moral beliefs, primarily drive adherence to preventive ethics. For instance, avoiding conflicts of interest is obligatory because it's a professional standard, even though it may also align with an engineer's personal ethics.

• Whistleblowing as the Ultimate Manifestation: Whistleblowing, or exposing wrongdoings for the sake of public safety, often at personal risk, is considered the highest form of adherence to preventive ethics. This act is generally considered morally obligatory only under specific conditions, such as having evidence of wrong policy and the likelihood of preventing serious public harm by making the information public.

14.2 Aspirational Ethics

Aspirational Ethics" in engineering represents a positive and proactive aspect of professional ethics that goes beyond merely preventing harm (which is the focus of preventive ethics). It involves using one's professional expertise to actively promote human well-being and contribute positively to society. This is distinct from the more protective or preventive functions of engineering ethics.

Aspirational ethics is best understood through the concept of promoting the welfare of the public, as suggested by various engineering codes. While "safety" and "health" in these codes imply protection from harm, "welfare" indicates a more positive, proactive role. It's interpreted as enhancing the well-being of people, improving the quality of life, and meeting human needs.

• Promoting Public Welfare: This is the main social good that engineering aims to foster. It is about enhancing the well-being of the public, not just protecting them from potential harm.

• Interpreting 'Welfare' Positively: The term "welfare" in engineering ethics is aligned with the idea of enhancing public well-being. This is evident in various engineering codes and professional statements. For instance, the IEEE code talks about "affecting the quality of life," which implies a positive improvement. The ASME International commits engineers to "enhance human welfare," and the ACM's code includes "meeting human needs" as a moral imperative.

• Practical Implications: Aspirational ethics in engineering involves actively using one's skills and knowledge to make a positive impact. This can range from creating innovative solutions that improve everyday life to participating in projects that address larger societal issues.

• Beyond Technical Accomplishments: As stated by William A. Wulf, former President of the National Academy of Engineering, the measure of engineering's greatest achievements is not just their technical prowess but their contribution to enhancing the quality of human life.

In summary, aspirational ethics in engineering is about positively contributing to society's welfare, going beyond the minimum requirements of preventing harm. It reflects a more holistic and proactive approach to the ethical responsibilities of engineers.

14.3 Material Well-Being

The concept of "Material Well-Being" in engineering ethics, inspired by the work of economist Amartya Sen and philosopher Martha Nussbaum, focuses on how engineering can contribute to activities that people value and the abilities to engage in these activities. This approach defines "functionings" as valued activities and "capabilities" as the abilities to perform these activities in a way that enhances one's life. Nussbaum lists ten functionings that are considered essential for human well-being:

• Living a Normal Length of Life: Medical technology, a field of engineering, plays a crucial role in extending life expectancy.
• Access to Clean Water, Food, and Shelter: Civil engineering significantly contributes to the provision of clean water and shelter, while chemical and agricultural engineering are vital for food production.
• Freedom of Movement: Safe and efficient transportation systems, a result of engineering work, enable free movement.
• Using Senses and Imagination, and Free Expression: Communication technologies, including computers, enhance free expression and connection with others.
• Forming Relationships and Emotional Attachments: Technological advancements facilitate connections and relationships.
• Planning One’s Life and Pursuing Personal Goals: A certain level of material well-being, supported by engineering, aids in planning and achieving life goals.
• Respect and Dignity: Respect and dignity are supported by a baseline of material well-being, which engineering helps to provide.
• Connection with Nature and Recreational Activities: Engineering enhances access to nature and recreational facilities through transportation and other means.
• Political Participation and Preservation of Material Goods: Engineering contributes to the creation and maintenance of material goods essential for political engagement and personal property.
• Enjoyment of Material Goods: Engineering plays a significant role in producing various material goods.

In summary, the role of engineering in promoting material well-being lies in its significant contribution to most of these functionings. Engineering is particularly linked with the material or physical aspects that enable people to achieve a high quality of life. Aspirational ethics in engineering, therefore, involves actions and initiatives that enhance the material basis of human well-being and quality of life.

14.4 Four Types of Aspirational Acts

"Four Types of Aspirational Acts" in engineering ethics describe various ways engineers can go beyond mere compliance with ethical norms to actively promote human well-being. These are categorized as follows:

• Acts Exhibiting Exemplary Professional Excellence: These actions demonstrate a level of professional skill and achievement beyond basic requirements. While primarily focusing on attaining high professional standards, these acts indirectly contribute to human well-being through the creation of outstanding engineering works.

• Supererogatory Preventive Acts: These are actions that aim to prevent harm but go beyond the mandatory requirements of preventive ethics. They are praiseworthy but not obligatory, such as whistleblowing when the evidence of harm is strong but not conclusive, or protesting excessive costs in a project as a matter of personal conscience.

• Good Works: This category includes professional activities where the public good is a clear motivation. These works often involve innovation, enthusiasm, and sometimes self-sacrifice. Examples include engineers working overtime without pay on environmentally friendly projects or students designing assistive devices for children with disabilities.

• Altruistic Engineering Acts: These acts are characterized by a direct focus on promoting public well-being, often involving a shift from typical career paths to help those in need or disadvantaged. An example is engineers organizing relief efforts in war-torn areas or participating in organizations like Engineers Without Borders.

In summary, aspirational ethics in engineering not only involves preventing harm but also actively contributing to the betterment of society through professional excellence, going beyond the call of duty, working on projects with a clear public benefit, and engaging in altruistic acts for the disadvantaged.

14.5 Characteristics of Aspirational Ethics

The section "Characteristics of Aspirational Ethics" outlines three key aspects of aspirational ethics in engineering:

• Positive and Idealistic Orientation: Aspirational ethics focuses on achieving high levels of professional excellence, not just on avoiding harm. This approach is about reaching the highest standards in one's profession and making significant positive contributions through engineering.

• Non-mandatory Nature: Unlike preventive ethics, which includes specific, mandatory guidelines, aspirational ethics is discretionary. It's up to individual engineers to decide how they implement these aspirational goals in their work. While failing to engage in aspirational ethics might not lead to professional sanctions, it does represent a lesser ethical failure.

• Personal Ideals and Commitments: Aspirational ethics is deeply rooted in personal values and commitments, which motivate and guide professional actions. These personal ideals, often relating to broader societal benefits, drive engineers to go beyond the minimum requirements of their profession. This personal commitment to higher ideals can be seen as a form of virtue, demonstrating traits of character that extend beyond professional obligations.

In summary, aspirational ethics in engineering is characterized by its focus on positive contributions, its discretionary nature, and its grounding in personal ideals and virtues. It represents a commitment to professional excellence and societal betterment that goes beyond mandatory ethical requirements.

14.6 The Virtues

The section "The Virtues" in the paper discusses the concept of virtues in the context of aspirational ethics, drawing on Aristotle's definition and modern insights:

• Aristotle's Definition of Virtue: Aristotle described virtue as a stable character trait involving choice and observance of a mean relative to the individual's circumstances. This mean is defined by rational principles, like those used by a person of practical wisdom. Virtues guide actions, but they require moral judgment to discern what is appropriate in specific situations.

• Complexity and Depth of Virtues: Virtues are not just about performing certain actions; they are deeply ingrained dispositions that influence a wide range of behaviors, emotions, values, perceptions, and more. Having a virtue means possessing a complex mindset, making it inappropriate to judge a person's virtue based on a single action.

• Motivational Sufficiency of Virtues: Contrary to Aristotle's belief in the self-sufficiency of virtues for motivation, modern social psychology suggests that environmental and social factors significantly influence the manifestation of virtues in behavior. This research indicates that virtues need social support to be effectively expressed, especially in professional contexts.

• Four Key Virtues for Aspirational Ethics: The author suggests four specific virtues that are particularly relevant in motivating and guiding aspirational actions in engineering ethics. These virtues are specified in the next section and are implied to be crucial in fostering the positive and idealistic elements of aspirational ethics, such as professional excellence and altruistic engineering acts.

In summary, virtues in the context of aspirational ethics are complex character traits that require a balance of personal judgment and social support to be effectively realized in professional settings. They are essential for guiding engineers towards actions that go beyond mandatory ethical requirements and towards higher ideals of public welfare and professional excellence.

14.7 Four Virtues for Aspirational Ethics

The paper discusses four key virtues essential for aspiring towards ethical excellence in engineering. These virtues guide engineers to not only prevent harm but also actively contribute to societal good.

• Aspiration to Professional Excellence: This virtue emphasizes achieving the highest level of professional skill and quality. It's about taking pride in one's work and aiming to exceed just the minimum standards. An engineer exhibiting this virtue would consistently strive to improve and produce outstanding work.

• Respect for Nature: This virtue involves a deep appreciation and care for the natural environment. It's particularly relevant for engineers whose work directly impacts the environment. This virtue encourages engineers to engage in environmentally friendly projects and consider the ecological impact of their work.

• Techno-Social Sensitivity: This involves being aware of how technology affects society and striving to ensure its effects are beneficial. It's about understanding the broader social implications of engineering work and being sensitive to how technological advancements can influence human life and society.

• Benevolence: This virtue is about having a genuine desire to do good for others. In engineering, it translates to going beyond mandatory duties to protect the public and enhance human welfare, often involving self-sacrifice or extra effort. Engineers with this virtue are motivated by empathy and compassion, and they actively seek ways to use their skills for the greater good, such as participating in humanitarian engineering projects.

Each of these virtues contributes to a holistic and positive approach to professional ethics in engineering, encouraging engineers not just to avoid harm but to actively seek ways to benefit society.

14.8 Conclusion

The paper summarizes that while preventive ethics is a crucial part of engineering ethics, focusing on safeguarding the public from health and safety risks and preventing the misuse of professional expertise, it doesn't fully encompass the highest professional ideals or the deeper personal motivations that give significant meaning to an engineer's work. Therefore, aspirational ethics, which involves striving for excellence, respecting nature, being sensitive to the social impacts of technology, and benevolence, should be given more emphasis both in the mindset of engineers and in the education of engineering ethics. This approach encourages engineers not just to avoid harm but to actively contribute to societal welfare and find deeper fulfillment in their professional roles.