Instructor:Instructor: Dr. Amer al-SarayrehDr. Amer al-Sarayreh

Engineering Ethics

Bhopal DisasterBhopal Disaster

chapter ((3))chapter ((3))

UnderstandingEthical Problems

Instructor:Instructor: Dr. Amer al-SarayrehDr. Amer al-SarayrehSara al Hayek (3.1 Introduction. 3.2 A brief history of ethical thought.)Bilal al Dweik(3.3 Ethical theories. 3.3.1 What is moral theory?) Alaa mohiemeed(3.3.2 Utilitarianism.) Mustafa Shilbaya (3.3.3 Cost-Benefit analysis.) Fares al aan (3.3.4 Duty ethics and rights ethics.) Salem Abdullah (3.3.5 Virtue Ethics. 3.3.6 Personal Vs. Corporate Morality.) Amjad Alnaami (3.3.7 Which theory to use? 3.3.8 Non-Western ethical thinking.) Muhannad Imad (application … cases.) Mohammed Samreen (application … The Aberdeen Three.)

Sara al Hayek Sara al Hayek

Civil engineer Civil engineer

Introduction Bhopal Disaster

A brief history of ethical thought

Introduction:Introduction:

Bhopal DisasterBhopal Disaster

The Bhopal disaster brings up many questions of balancing risk to the local community with the economic benefits to the larger community of the state or nation.

VS

How can we decide if on balance the

economic benefit brought by any plant

outweighed the potential safety hazards ?

To answer this question and analyze

engineering ethics cases.

We need a framework for analyzing

ethical problems.

We will examine moral theories and see how

they can also be used as a means for analyzing

ethical cases.

We will Develop some moral theories that can

be applied to ethical problems confronted by

engineers.

Knowing and understanding the basics

To know how to build something or to solve

problem, you must learn the basics and understand

them.

This also include solving ethical problems, some

knowledge of ethical theory is needed to provide a

framework for understanding and reaching

solution ethical problems.

The moral and ethical theories in engineering ethics

Western moral

Western cultural

tradition

philosopherAncient Religion

Ancient Greeks

Ancient Religion

Religion ethics started

with Judaism and it's

foundation.

The written sources of

Jewish:

1. Torah.

2. The old testament of the

Bible.

As Islamic and Arabs community, from where they derive its moral theories and ethics?

The Quran.

The Sunnah of Muhammad.

Islamic jurists.

The pre-Islamic Arabian tradition.

Non-Arabic elements (including Persian and Greek ideas).

Ancient Greeks

Greeks ethics originated from it's famous Greek philosopher:

Socrates.

Aristotle, who discussed ethics at great length in his Nichomachean ethics.

Aristotle

Philosophers

They did not rely on religion to underpin their moral thinking, they acknowledged that moral principles are universal and applicable, Like :

John Locke.

Immanuel Kant.

John Stuart Mill. Immanuel Kant

Bilal al DweikBilal al Dweik

Electrical Engineer Electrical Engineer

Ethical theories What’s a moral theory?

Ethical Ethical

theoritheories es

Ethical Ethical theories theories

In order to develop workable ethical

problem-solving techniques, we must know

ethical theories.

But ethical theories aren’t like theories in

engineering classes where there’s one

general theory to solve a problem.

In engineering ethics we have several theories

we need to consider when having a problem,

and that’s actually a good thing;

because we’re going to have more than one

approach to every problem then we can

analyze these approaches and determine

which theory has the best solution.

What’s a moral theory? What’s a moral theory?

A moral theory defines terms in uniform ways and

links ideas and problems together in contestant

ways, and that’s exactly what a scientific theory

dose; so we will use moral theories in the same way

of scientific theories.

Scientific theories concept:

1- organize ideas

2- define terms

3- facilitate problem solving.

There are four ethical theories to consider:There are four ethical theories to consider:

1. utilitarianism: it seeks to produce the most

gain, defined as a balance between good and

bad consequences of an action, considering

the consequences of everyone affected.

2. duty ethics: there are duties that should

be performed like treating others fairly or

not injuring others, regardless of whether

these acts lead to the most good.

3. rights ethics: we all have moral rights,

and any action that violates these rights is

ethically unacceptable.

4. virtue ethics: there are right actions we

have to do, and wrong actions we have to

avoid, this theory focuses on the type of

person we should want to be.

Alaa mohiemeedAlaa mohiemeed

industrial engineer industrial engineer

utilitarianism

UtilitarianismUtilitarianismUtilitarianism holds that those actions are good

that serve to maximize human well-being.

Utilitarianism do what is well-being for the society as whole regardless the individual.

Utilitarianism tries to balance the needs of

society with the need of individual.

The best known proponent was John

Stuart Mill.

In general, it tries to balance good and bad

consequences of an action, with an

emphasis on what will provide the most

benefit to the most people.

Utilitarianism is fundamental to many types

of engineering analysis such as:

1- Risk-benefit analysis.

2- Cost –benefit analysis.

An example of this theory An example of this theory is the building of dam.is the building of dam.

Problems with this theory:

Sometimes what is best for everyone may

be bad for a particular individual or group

of individuals, as seen in the example of the

dam.

Another example:

The proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

(WIPP) in New Mexico City.

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. WIPP is designed to be a permanent repository for WIPP is designed to be a permanent repository for nuclear waste generated in the United States.nuclear waste generated in the United States.

Analysis of WIPP by using utilitarianism.

Good effect:

the disposal of nuclear wastes is a major

problem hindering the implementation of many

useful technologies, such as:

1. medicinal uses of radioisotopes.

2. nuclear generation of electricity.

So it will benefit society by providing improved

health care and more electricity.

Bad effect:

Health effect if the individuals living near

the transportation routes.

So utilitarianism theory sees that the WIPP

should be allowed to open.

Types of Utilitarianism:

1 ) Act Utilitarianism: focuses on individual

actions rather than on rules.

2 ) Rule Utilitarianism: moral rules are most

important, these rules include "do not harm

others" and "do not steal".

The idea of Utilitarianism:The idea of Utilitarianism:

Mustafa Shilbaya Mustafa Shilbaya

Civil engineer Civil engineer

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Cost-Benefit AnalysisCost-Benefit Analysis

It is a tool used in engineering analysis

especially when trying to determine

whether a project makes sense.

This type of analysis is just an application

of utilitarianism: in cost-benefit analysis,

the cost of a project assessed as are the

benefits.

The benefits that are derived from them are

often harder to predict and to assign a

dollar value.

Once dollar amounts for the costs and

benefits are determined, calculating a

mathematical ratio may seem very

objective and therefore may appear to be

the best way to make a decision.

Only those projects with the highest ratio

of benefits to cost will be implemented.

This principle is similar to the utilitarian

goal of maximizing the overall good.

It is often easy to predict the costs for most

projects.

The aim of a cost-benefit analysis is:

To determine the feasibility of a project

based on costs. When looking at an ethical

problem, the first step should be determine

what the right course of action is, and then

factor in the financial cost in choosing

between ethical alternatives.

Finally, it is also important to determine

whether those who stand to reap the benefits

are also those who will pay the costs. It is

unfair to place all of the costs on one group

while another reaps the benefits.

Example:

from a pure cost-benefit discussion, it might

seem that the building of a dam is an

excellent idea.

But this analysis won't include other issues such as

whether the benefits outweigh the loss of a scenic

wilderness area or the loss of an endangered species

with no current economic value.

Fares al aanFares al aan

industrial engineer industrial engineer

Duty Ethics and Rights Ethics

Duty ethics and right ethicsDuty ethics and right ethics

These are theories: similar to each other and considered together.

These theories are good respect of the rights of individual.

 Ethical actions (actions could be written down a list):

1.Be honest.

2.Don’t cause suffering to other people.

3.Be fair to others.

 Duty Ethics

  Are actions which:•Express an unqualified regard for autonomous moral agents.•Express respect for persons.•Are universal principles.

 

Immanuel Kant (German Philosopher):

 •A major proponent of duty ethics.•Held that moral duties fundamental.

Right Ethics

•People have fundamental rights that other

ones have a duty to respect.

•Was formulated by John Locke who said

that humans have the right to life, liberty,

and was paraphrased in the declaration of

independence of the soon-to-be U.S.A.

 

The problems of Duty Ethics and Right Ethics.

  

The basic rights of a person (or group) may conflict with the basic rights of another group.

These theories don’t always account for the overall good of society very well.

Salem AbdullahSalem Abdullah … engineer … engineer

Virtue Ethics Corporate vs. Personal Morality

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics

Virtue ethics is interested in determining

what kind of people we should be.

Virtue is often defined as moral distinction

and goodness.

In virtue ethics, actions are considered

right if they support good character traits

(virtues) and wrong if they support bad

character traits.

Virtue ethics focuses on words such as

responsibility, honestly, competence, and

loyalty which are virtues.

Virtue ethics is closely tied to personal

character. We do things because we are

virtuous people and seek to enhance these

character traits in ourselves and in others.

Theory may seem to be mostly personal

ethics and not particularly applicable to

engineering or business ethics, however,

personal morality cannot be separated from

business morality so, if a behavior is virtuous

in the individual’s life, the behavior is

virtuous in his business life as well.

How can virtue ethics be applied?

We can use virtue ethics in our engineering

career by answering question such as: Is this

action honest?

Will this action demonstrate loyalty to my

community or my employer?

To use virtue ethics in an analysis of an ethical

problem, you should first identify the virtues or

vice that are applicable to the situation. Then,

determine what course of action each of these

suggests.

It is important to be careful in applying

virtue ethics, problem can arise with words

that on the face seem to be virtues, but can

actually leads to vice.

For example the word “honor”.

Personal vs. Corporate MoralityPersonal vs. Corporate Morality

An important question that we need to

answer, is there a distinction between the

ethics practiced by an individual and the

ethics practiced by a corporation?

If a corporation has no moral agency, then it

cannot be held accountable for its actions.

To solve the problem, corporations should be

considered pseudo moral agents and should be

held accountable in the same way that

individuals are, even if the ability to do this

within the legal system is limited.

Amjad AlnaamiAmjad Alnaami industrial engineer industrial engineer

Which Theory to Use? Non-Western Ethical Thinking

Which Theory to Use?Which Theory to Use?

Right ethics, utilitarian, cost-benefit, or Virtue ?

In solving ethical problems, we don’t have

to choose from the theories.

Rather, we can use all of them to analyze

the problem from different angles and see

what result each of the theories give us.

Theories maybe :

1- Give us the same results.

2- Give us different answers.

How theories give us the same How theories give us the same results:results:

Hazardous Waste

Right ethics indicated that transporting

wastes through communities is not a good

idea.

The utilitarianism concluded the (WIPP) as a

beneficial to society as a whole.

The rights of individuals should receive

relatively stronger weight than the needs of

society as a whole.

If theories give us different answers about a problem, we will make a comparative.

WIPP

Non-Western Ethical ThinkingNon-Western Ethical Thinking

It is much the same as western ethical thinking.

Ethics is not geographic or cultural.

Indeed, ethical thinking has developed similarly around the word and is not dependent on a western cultural or religious.

Ethical standards are similar worldwide.

Islam is one of the three major

monotheistic religions, along with

Christianity and Judaism.

Cultural practices may very when dealing

with the many Islamic nations that stretch

from Africa and the Middle East to

Southeast Asia.

Moreover, personal ethics are not

determined by geography.

Personal and business behavior should be

the same regardless of where you happen to

be on a given day.

An exception.

In some societies, bribes are a standard

part of doing business.

The U.S. has a law against its citizens

paying bribes, even in other countries.

Muhannad ImadMuhannad Imad industrial engineer industrial engineer

CASES

CASES

The Disaster at BhopalThe Disaster at Bhopal

Happened on December 2, 1984, in Union

Carbide Plant in Bhopal, India.

resulted from a leak in a storage tank contained

10,000 gallons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) at a

Union Carbide chemical plant.

The leak sent a toxic cloud of gas over the

surrounding slums of Bhopal, resulting in the

death of over 2,000 people, and injuries to over

200,000 more.

The Disaster at BhopalThe Disaster at Bhopal

The cause of the leak:

The accidental pouring of water into the tank.

The mixing of water with MIC increased

temperature of the liquid in the tank which

caused the MIC to vaporize. 

The main factor which led to the disaster:

curtailment of plant maintenance as part of a

cost-cutting effort.

The parts of the plant which was needed

maintenance:

The refrigerating unit.

The alarm of dangerous temperatures.

The flare tower.

The scrubber.

An internal Union Carbide memo from three

months before the Bhopal accident warned of

the potential for a runaway reaction in MIC

storage tanks in West Virginia and called

into question the adequacy of emergency

plans at the plants.

Apparently, these warnings had not been

transmitted to the plant in India

The Disaster at Bhopal (cont.)The Disaster at Bhopal (cont.)

Themanagement of the plant?

Plant designer?

Union Carbide?

Indian government?

who is to blame??

Mohammed Mohammed SamreenSamreen industrial engineer industrial engineer

The Aberdeen Three

The Aberdeen Three The Aberdeen Three Is one of the classic cases often used in engineering ethics classes and texts to illustrate the important of:

The safety of worker exposed to hazardous

and toxic chemicals

Environmental protection

The Aberdeen proving ground is a U.S.Army

weapons development and test center located on

a military base in Maryland, so there are people

live in it.

Since world war II Aberdeen used for the

storage and disposal of some of these chemicals.

This cases involves three civilian manager at the

pilot plant at the proving grounds : Carl Gepp,

William Dee, and Robert Lentz.

NOTE:

The manager development chemical weapons on hand

the chemical weapons allowable but on the other hand there are limited to it you should have some ethic

to do it

Between 1983 and 1986 , inspection at the

pilot plant indicated that there were serious

safety hazards.Flammable

substances left in open

containers chemicals

These hazards Included:

carcinogenic

That can become lethal when mixed together being stored in same room but we can

prevent this by many things

In June,1988 the three engineer were

indicated for violation RCRA, the Resource

Conservation and Recovery Act.

It was intended to provided incentive for the

recovery of important resources, and the

control of the disposal of hazardous wastes.

In 1989 ,the three managers tried and

convicted of illegally storing, and disposing

of hazardous wastes.

Note: the responsibility returns to the

manager, although he has not do the work.

But because he is manager.

Finally, the manager treaded of 1000 hours

of community service.

Teamwork

Ethical issues can arise when working in

groups and many of engineering classes are

designed to be performed in groups.

In order to have a successful project you

should have cooperation among team

members.

Problems can arise when a team member

1) doesn't do his part well.

2) doesn't make contribution.

3) doesn't do his part on time.

4) tries to do everything. 

So ethical teamwork includes your : 

assigned work, keeping to schedules, sharing

information and help having a supportive

atmosphere so everyone can contribute.