ENGINEERING ETHICS –
ETHICAL THEORIES
Babayen-on, A.J. Padasay, K.K. Peregrino, R.
Hopilos, E.L. Palomo, D. Porras, K.R.F
ETHICS
Consequential Ethics Non-consequential Ethics
• The Consequential ethics are values • The non-consequential ethics are
the outcome of which determine values followed where the source of
the morality behind a particular morality comes from the standard
action. A lie which saves a life, values. The moral law which states
comes under this. that a lie is a lie, and shouldn’t be
done, though it ends in a good
deed can be taken as an example
of non-consequential ethics.
TYPES OF ETHICAL
THEORIES
Depending upon the ethics a person is
intended to follow, four theories were
postulated by four different
philosophers. These theories help to
create the fundamentals of obligation
suitable and applicable to professional
and personal conduct of a person in his
everyday life.
PROPOSED BY ARISTOTLE.
SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM IS FOUND BY ANALYSING THE REASON AND THE LOGIC.
A “MEAN VALUE OF SOLUTION” WHICH WILL BE BETWEEN THE EXTREMES OF EXCESS
AND DEFICIENCY.
Golden Mean
GOLDEN MEAN
Problem in Application What is Golden Mean?
• The virtue of reaching a proper balance between
• The application of this theory varies extremes in conduct, emotion, desire and attitude.
from one person to another with • States that virtues are tendencies to find the golden
mean between the extremes of too much (excess)
their powers of reasoning and the and too little (deficiency) with regard to particular
aspects of our lives.
difficulty in applying the theory to
• The most important virtue is practical wisdom.
ethical problems.
• Internal goods should never clash with the external
goods.
• The standards of excellence enable internal goods
to be achieved.
• The external goods when extremely concerned,
though by individuals or by organizations, threaten
the internal goods.
PROPOSED BY JOHN LOCKE.
THE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM IS BY REALIZING THAT EVERY PERSON HAS A RIGHT
TO LIVE.
THE RIGHTS OF A PERSON TOWARDS LIFE, HEALTH, LIBERTY, POSSESSION, ETC. ARE
TAKEN CARE OF UNDER THIS THEORY.
Rights-Based Ethical Theory
RIGHTS-BASED ETHICAL THEORY
Problem in Application What does it mean?
• Rights-based ethics is the recognition of human
• One rights of a person may be in dignity at its most basic form.
conflict with rights of the other. • Beauchamp and Childress, authors and ethical
theorists, have defined the term "right" to be a
"justified claim that individuals and groups can make
upon other individuals or upon society; to have a
right is to be in a position to determine by one's
choices, what others should do or need not do."
• The natural law states that human laws are defined
by morality and not by some authority. This law is
derived from the belief that human morality comes
from nature. Any action done by a person that
would prevent a fellow being from living a good and
happy life, is considered immoral or unnatural. Any
law should have some morals. Moral duty is the
obligation to act based on ethical beliefs.
PROPOSED BY IMMANUEL KANT.
EVERY PERSON HAS A DUTY TO FOLLOW WHICH IS ACCEPTED UNIVERSALLY, WITH
NO EXCEPTIONS.
Duty-Based Ethical Theory
DUTY-BASED ETHICAL THEORY
Problem in Application What are these ethics?
• The universal application of this • Kant observed that everyone is bound to
follow some moral laws. It is the choice we
theory can be misleading. make to be morally sound though we have
chances to do anything. This theory can also
be called as Deontological theory or the
Absolutist theory. According to this, it is our
duty to obey the categorical imperative rules.
To have good will, is to perform one’s duty for
the sake of duty and for no other reason.
• The categorical imperative law states that
“Act only according to that maxim by which
you can at the same time will that it should
become a universal law.”
• There are four virtues that come under this law,
which have to be discussed here.
FOUR VIRTUES
UNDER DUTY-BASE ETHICAL THEORY
Prudence Temperance Fortitude Justice
The quality of prudence Temperance is the Fortitude is the sense of Every individual is a human
states that every individual voluntary self-restrain from having tolerance. No being with a set of intrinsic
has a life that should be the attractions. The perfection can be values and morals. Truth
respected and every temptations that might maintained if happiness and fairness are the
aspects one should always
individual has duties which lead to the violation of alone is sought and no bear in mind.
should be done without duties and ethics have to happiness is achieved if
any exception. One should be restrained. No false perfection alone is sought. A free will and a will under
always be cautious to promises are to be made Both may or may not go moral laws are one and
perform one’s duties. as they contradict the with each other. the same. We are free only
principles of duties. when we act in
accordance with our own
best natures, while we are
slaves whenever we are
under the rule of our
passions and wills. There
should be a universally
valid will, under which
everyone can be free.
PROPOSED BY JOHN STUART.
THE HAPPINESS OR PLEASURE OF A GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY IS
CONSIDERED AS THE GREATEST GOOD.
ACCORDING TO THIS PHILOSOPHY, AN ACTION IS MORALLY RIGHT IF ITS CONSEQUENCES
LEAD TO HAPPINESS OF PEOPLE AND WRONG IF THEY LEAD TO THEIR UNHAPPINESS.
Utilitarian Ethics
UTILITARIAN ETHICS
Problem of Application What are these ethics?
• Qualification of the benefits can be • Consider the cost-benefit analysis in
difficult. engineering. A typical cost-benefit
analysis identifies the good and bad
consequences of some action or policy
in a monetary aspect. It weighs the
total good against total bad and then
compares the results to similar tallies of
the consequences of alternative
actions or rules. This supports the idea of
maximizing benefits against cost.
TWO MAIN TYPES OF
UTILITARIANISM
Act Utilitarianism Rule Utilitarianism
• The Act Utilitarianism focuses on each situation • The Rule Utilitarianism states that “Right actions
and the alternative actions possible in the are those required by rules that produce the
situation. Act Utilitarianism states that “A higher level of good for the most people.” We
particular action is right if it is likely to produce need to consider a set of rules, where they
the higher level of good for the most people in interact with each other. This was developed
a given situation, compared to alternative to clear the problem that occurs with act-
choices that might be made.” utilitarianism.
• In accordance with this theory, the good • Engineers with ethics should follow the rule-
done is only considered but not the way how it utilitarianism considering the point, “Act as
is done. For example, looting the richer to feed faithful agents or trustees of employers”. So,
the poor, can satisfy and make a group of engineers should abide by it even when an
poor people, happy. But looting is not a way exception might happen to be beneficial. Like
of morality. Hence act-utilitarianism seems to in the above example, one should seek the
justify the wrong-doing. help of law and order to prove the guilt of
richer and let see that the poor get benefitted.
FORMULATION OF ETHICAL THEORIES
And Uses of Ethical Theories
• The concepts of the theory formulated must
be coherent.
• The tenets of the theory should never
FORMULATION OF contradict the other.
ETHICAL THEORIES • The theory should never be defended upon
After having gone through the various false information.
ethical theories, one can understand
that these ethical theories have to be • The theory should guide in specific situations
formulated considering the following comprehending all aspects possible.
points −
• The theory should be compatible with
individual’s moral convictions in any
situation.
USES OF ETHICAL
THEORIES • Understanding moral dilemmas.
Ethical theories help in the following • Justifying professional obligations and ideas.
areas −
• Relating ordinary and professional morality.
