Engineering Ethics Beyond Engineers' Ethics - Essay Example

Philosophy # 22nd April, Engineering Ethics beyond Engineer’s Ethics In the article,” Engineering Ethics beyond Engineer’s Ethics”, Basart and Serra presents a novel conception of engineering Ethics, different from the conventional engineering Ethics that we studied in class. This paper investigates the novel conception of Engineering Ethics by Basart and Serra. In the paper, I have also given my position on whether or not I agree with the Basart’s and Serra’s novel conception of Engineering Ethics. In building my case on whether or not I agree with the novel conception of Engineering Ethics, I have incorporated the philosophical concepts that we have gone through in class. These concepts are Act Utilitarianism, Rule Utilitarianism, Golden Rule, Rights (Human Rights), moral responsibility ; malpractice, reasonable care, and moral personality. Basart and Serra begin their article by summarizing the main tenets of conventional engineering ethics. Basart and Serra affirm that the conventional engineering Ethics is mostly focused on engineer’s ethics, in other words, engineering ethics is mainly based on giving the engineers the professional directives on the right conduct in their engineering prrofession. Basart and Serra goes on to explain that, since the practice of engineering involves a complex network of interrelationships between the individual engineers, their employers, organizations, and other groups, there is the need to have engineering ethics that would act as a guide for all the “stake-holders” in the engineering practice/profession. In the conventional engineering ethics, the engineering ethics that we studied in class, the engineer’s ethics and the engineering ethics are taken as one and the same thing. The result of this is a holistic ethics that enables the individual engineers to act responsibly as individuals, and to make good moral judgements on any ethical dilemma that may arise in their complex relationships in the engineering practice/profession. Having articulated the position of the conventional engineering ethics, Basart and Serra critiqued the traditional engineering ethics and stated that the conventional engineering ethics is not the best engineering approach in the modern interrelated world (Basart, and Serra, web). Basart and Serra argue that in the modern world, technology has alienated us from nature, thus leading to new ethical challenges that the conventional engineering ethics does not address. For this reason, Basart and Serra argue that the best approach to engineering ethics in the modern world is constant dialogues, among all “the stake-holders” in the engineering profession, with a view to reaching consensus on the new challenges of engineering ethics that are occasioned by the technology that has overhauled man’s relationship with nature, and also the relationship of man with his fellow human beings. A critical look at the Basart and Serra views in regard to engineering ethics vis-à-vis the main ethical premises, which we studied in class, upon which the conventional engineering ethics is based on shows that the Basart and Serra are indeed right in their criticism and dismissal of conventional engineering ethics. To begin with, the application of the Basart and Serra views on engineering ethics would mean that, in making moral judgements in engineering ethics, we will be guided by the particular circumstances of the moral dilemma and not by a conventional method of resolving the moral dilemma. For instance, in making a decision on whether or not to design a machine or a factory that would have adverse negative effects on the environment, an engineer will consider and even consult and dialogue with his/her colleagues on the advantages and disadvantages of designing such a machine/factory. If the advantages of designing such a machine or factory are more than the disadvantages, then the engineer will go ahead to construct the machine. On the contrary, if the disadvantages of constructing such a factory outweigh the advantages of constructing it, the engineer then will not construct the factory. This manner of making moral decisions in moral ethics is perfectly in line with the act-utilitarian moral theory. According to the act-utilitarian moral theory, the consequences of our action are the determinants of the morality of our actions. Basart and Serra theory of engineering ethics goes beyond the act-utilitarian for it advocates for a kind of democratic consultation among all the “stake-holders” in engineering practice, so as to ensure that the best moral right decision is made. Again, the Basart and Serra theory of engineering ethics is also in line with the rule-utilitarianism. This is because by advocating for the consultations that would result in the best moral decision for a given moral dilemma, the Basart and Serra noble theory of engineering ethics would ensure that the best rule has been followed in making such a moral decision. The rule-utilitarianism holds that in making moral decisions, we should be guided by the best rule that is applicable to the given moral dilemma, and that will yield the best results. The consultations that is advocated for by Basart and Serra in making engineering ethics decisions would definitely ensure that the best rule has been followed in making moral decisions. Also, Basart and Serra theory of engineering ethics is in agreement with the ethical principle of golden rule advocated for by the conventional ethics that we studied in class. According to the ethical principle of golden rule, in making moral decisions, one should aim at treating other people in a manner that he/she would also like to be treated by them. According to the engineering ethical theory advocated for by Basart and Serra, consultation in particular moral dilemmas among the individual engineers is paramount. Democratic consultations among the engineers in making moral decisions would ensure that one has acted in a manner that he/she would like to be treated by other people. In other words, consultations among individual engineers would ensure that the decision that one has made is objective, and not based on one’s subjective biases. Making moral decisions based on the Basart and Serra theory of engineering ethics would also ensure that the individual rights are respected and upheld. Unlike the conventional theories of engineering ethics that do not anticipate the unique ethical challenges occasioned by the technology, Basart and Serra theory of ethics takes into consideration any possible ethical challenge in engineering ethics that may be occasioned by technology. For that reason, the application of the Basart and Serra theory of ethics would ensure that people are not denied their rights because of the ethical challenges brought about by technology in engineering ethics. The application of Basart and Serra theory of engineering ethics in engineering moral dilemmas also would ensure that one has taken moral responsibility in his/actions. The principle of moral responsibility demands that one should be able to account and to take responsibilities of their moral actions. Since the theory of engineering ethics proposed by Basart and Serra states that before one makes a moral decision should, one should take into consideration all the relevant circumstances surrounding the moral dilemma, this means that one will be able make a moral decision that he/she is able to account and take responsibility for. Again, a critical look at the Basart and Serra noble theory of engineering ethics shows that a strict application of the theory of ethics in engineering would ensure that there is no malpractice in the engineering profession. This is because, Basart’s and Serra‘s theory of engineering ethics proposes that in making moral decisions, one should consult the fellow engineers to get their opinions on the particular issue. This would result to fewer or no malpractice because one can easily be corrected and advised by his/her colleagues in case one is wrong on some issues that they want to decided on. Basart and Serra theory of engineering ethics also is perfectly in line with the ethical principle of reasonable care. The ethical principle of reasonable care states that in making moral decision, we should act with reasonable care and ensure that the moral decisions that we make are the best for the given situation. By advocating for dialogue and consultations in making the moral decisions, Basart and Serra are actually advocating for reasonable care in making moral decisions. For instance, an application of the Basart and Serra views of engineering ethics on environmental issues will show that the engineers should have a progressive attitude in environmental conservation. The progressive attitude towards environmental conservation ensures that reasonable care is taken in dealing with the environment least we degrade our environment, thus endangering human survival (Charles, E, etal, 179). Also, the Basart and the Serra view of engineering ethics offers the best form of personal morality. This is because the theory of engineering ethics encourages the individual engineers to make decisions based on the circumstances that they will find themselves on, and consult their fellow engineers in making moral decisions. This fact therefore shows that the Basart and the Serra theory of engineering ethics offer the best possible form of personal ethics. Again, just as it offers the best form of personal morality, the Basart and Serra theory of engineering ethics offers the best for of professional ethics. This is because the Basart and Serra theory of ethics demands that the engineers should consult and dialogue when making important moral decisions on the new ethical challenges that will be occasioned by the ever developing technology. In conclusion, a critical investigation of the article “Engineering Ethics beyond Engineers” shows that Basart and Serra are right in their argument that the conventional theory of ethics is insufficient for it does not address the new challenges occasioned by the ever developing technology. Again, Basart and Serra offer a practical solution to how such ethical challenges can be handled: there should be dialogue and consultations among the engineering professionals on how to handle such dilemmas. Again, a critical look at the Basart and Serra noble views of engineering ethics shows that the views of ethics are not opposed to the ethical principles that we learnt in class. Basart and Serra views on engineering ethics are, actually, in agreement of all the ethical principles that we learnt in class. In some instances, Basart and Serra theory of engineering ethics goes beyond the ethical principles that we learnt in class, as I have showed in the paper. I therefore entirely agree with Basart and Serra on their views on engineering ethics. Works Cited Basart, M.and Serra, M. “Engineering Ethics Beyond Engineers”. Web. Charles, E. Harris, M.S., Printchard, M.J., etal. Engineering Ethics. USA: Cengage Publishers,2013. Read More