Engineering as a Profession

Engineering Ethics:

Ethics is the science of determining values in human conduct and deciding what ought to be done in different circumstances and situations. Engineering Ethics represent the attempts of professional engineers to define proper courses of action in their dealing with each other, with clients, employees and with the general public. The engineer possesses specialized knowledge that is superior to that of the clients employers, or the general public. With this knowledge a responsible and honest engineer can be a very useful member of the society. On the other hand, an irresponsible or corrupt one can weaken the confidence of the public in he engineering profession or even become a dangerous member of society.

Characteristics and Responsibilities of Professional Engineers:

* Engineers are expected to possess education, knowledge and skills in an engineering specialty that exceed those of the general public. * Engineers have to be updated with discoveries and technological changes by participating in professional meetings and continuing education. * Engineers must also possess willingness to advance professional knowledge, ideals, practice, and to share knowledge with peers. * Engineers must be willing to follow established codes of ethics for their profession.

Examples of Engineering Organizations:

1. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2. Institute of Electrical And Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 3. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 4. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) 5. American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME)

Moral Foundations of Engineering Ethics:

Engineering ethics involves the study of moral issues and decisions. It seeks answers to questions about conduct and behavior that is morally correct. What makes certain actions morally right and others morally wrong?

Codes of Engineering Ethics

Engineers have attempted to establish rules or standards of conduct in the form of codes of ethics. These codes not only protect the public, but also build and preserve the integrity and reputation of the profession. There is no single code of ethics for all engineering societies. However, there is considerable agreement among engineers as to what constitutes ethical behavior, and there is a great deal of similarity among the various ethical codes.

The Code of Ethics for Engineers

Published by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

FE Exam

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is typically the first step in the process leading to the P.E. license. It is designed for recent graduates and students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree.

PE Exam

The Principles and Practice of Engineering exam is the examination required for one to become a Professional Engineer (PE) in the United States.

knowledge expert?

The engineer is a knowledge expert specially trained to design and evaluate the performance characteristics of technology within his or her area of expertise. One component of his or her knowledge is theoretically derived. It comes from formal training and education, library research, or possibly through mathematical derivation. Another knowledge component is empirical. It comes from experience, recordkeeping, or experimental testing or use.

An Engineer has to have a License to be able to practice Engineering:

The form of licensing differs from one country to the other. Once engineers are licensed engineers are eligible to join an association that talks on their behalf looking for their own interest and providing them with many services.

Utilitarianism

This theory considers the good and bad consequences of an action and seeks to maximize utility, defined as the overall balance of good over bad consequences. Our actions ought always to produce the most utility, considering everyone affected by those actions.

Duty ethics

This theory maintains that there are duties which ought to be performed even though performing them may not always produce the most good: to be fair, to be honest, etc.

Virtue ethics

This theory regards an action right if it supports good character traits (virtues) and wrong if it manifests bad character traits (vices).

Rights ethics

Under this theory, an action is morally right if it does not violate the rights of other people.

Engineering as Defined by the Accreditation board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

is the profession in which knowledge of mathematics and natural sciences gained by study, experience and practice, is applied by judgment to develop ways to utilize economically the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.

engineer's primary responsibility ?

is to place the safety of the public above all else. He or she must be sensitive to and strive to avoid the potential for harm, but, given a choice, should opt for doing good. While engineers are constantly challenged to create solutions to problems within given cost and time frames, they must do so without jeopardizing the safety of the users of the technology.