Understanding the Ethics of Engineering - Essay Example

If any company or organization does not behave ethically regarding any kind of business matter, various destructive effects occur as a result. “Business ethics, like most areas of ethics, often tends to focus on principles of actions, on the action itself and its consequences” (Frederick 30). In the field of engineering, ethics means the standards of moral behavior of individuals, not the standards of the engineering business as a whole. A business that behaves ethically induces other business associates to behave ethically as well (Posters).

In this report regarding understanding the ethics of engineering, the factors which will be covered are ethical behaviors, importance of ethics in mechanical engineering, and various ethical issues in mechanical engineering. Ethical behavior promotes the self-respect, self-esteem, diversity and basic rights of individuals and groups of people. Personal ethics are the moral foundation on which people build their lives (Scivicque). Some examples of ethical behavior include truthfulness, fairness, respect, honesty, equality, sincerity, helping other individuals, taking care of others, obeying laws, and social values.

Truthfulness is meant to inform others about any unwanted situation in order to provide them with awareness regarding the seriousness of the issue. For example, a doctor should always inform the patient about the disease even if the patient is not capable of bearing treatment expenditures. Fairness is that ethical behavior which is of extreme importance in any individual’s life. Fairness means to deal with every individual evenhandedly. For example, if a person is at a high rank, he is not supposed to make negative or improper use of his authority in any case.

He should show fairness in every case which he deals with. Respect is another ethical behavior which deals with the admiration, approbation, and deference among individuals. For