Department of Philosophy and History of Science Akos Gyarmathy Dr. Tihamer Margitay Department of Philosophy and History of Science 1111 Budapest, Egry J. U. 1. E606/612 gyarmathy@filozofia.bme.hu margitay@filozofia.bme.hu Engineering ethics

Overview Class 1. Department of Philosophy and History science Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

The aim of this course Department of Philosophy and History science To prepare participants to understand, evaluate and handle ethical problems apparent on the field of engineering. Tools of moral decisions Ethical theories applied in decisions An integrated system of rational methodology for complex ethical, technical and economic decision-making Awareness of psychological distortions affecting the right and ethical choice. Case studies for ethical decision-making, identifying ethical problems and evaluating the possible solutions (e.g. corruption, recovering mistakes) Main theoretical objectives: Acquiring new factual knowledge, new perspectives for evaluation and new behavioral skills. Main practical objectives: becoming able to analyze and solve complex decision problems with particular attention to their ethical dimension. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

What won’t happen here We do not learn an ethical code Department of Philosophy and History science We do not learn an ethical code about what is right or wrong about what should have been done in any situation Instead: we recollect tools and information for evaluating the situation and form one’s own judgement. We do not measure ethical, technical and business aspects against each other Instead: we learn how to handle all these aspects together within an integrated decision process. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Grading and assessment Department of Philosophy and History science Two tests: Both are required to be a pass Mid-term: 10.02 – 30% End-term: 12.04 – 70% Retake (only one test can be retaken): 12.11. Alternatively: one can receive extra points for the tests for an inclass presentation. Length: 10 min presentation, 1-2 pages written submission. Task: problems given in class. Voluntary: you need to submit your written solution four days before the presentation (every Thursday midnight) Course material is available at the following address: http://filozofia.bme.hu/orak/2741 Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Introduction Department of Philosophy and History science Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Examples of complex decisions Department of Philosophy and History science Examples of complex decisions Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Ethical cases 1.: Evaluating actions Department of Philosophy and History science Speeding When to ask ethical questions about speeding? Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Ethical cases 2.: ethical dilemma Department of Philosophy and History science The company struggles with financial problems. Introducing a new product could solve these problems. The production line for the new product is ready. Modifying them would mean significant delay and financial loss. It turns out that there is an error in the new product. Modifying the product would increase its price so it would exceed the acceptable limit determined by the marketing department. How would you choose? (Start production or perform the necessary modifications?) Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Ethical cases 3: Evaluating actions Department of Philosophy and History science Ford pinto design: Ford Pinto (1970-80, 2 millin sold) http://v8cars.hu/mag.php?cikk=amerikaban_tortent_a_ford_pinto_tortenete Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Ethical cases 4: ethical dilemma Department of Philosophy and History science You are the head of an engineering team. One member of the team, hence the team as a whole commits an error in designing a ceiling for construction. You realize the error after submitting the design since nobody had a double check on the design. The construction group has already started working on the ceiling. How would you decide? Inform the leadership or leave it, since the design’s tolerance will hold? Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Ethical cases 5: discovering errors Department of Philosophy and History science Construction: Kansas Hyatt Hotel 1981 Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Evaluating actions Action evaluation: Department of Philosophy and History science Action evaluation: Practical aspect: the action is suitable for its goals Moral aspect: how does the action relate to our moral values? How does it relate to other’s values, norms, interests? Evaluating an action is always contextual. The evaluation is bound to a system of factors. Values behind ethical evaluation E.g. Euthanasia : One primal value is life itself Quality of life is more important than life itself. All ethical disagreements are connected to value assumptions (implicit or explicit). Moral dilemmas always demonstrate a conflict of values. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Conditions of the Intentionally right action Department of Philosophy and History science Conditions of intentionally right action are Recognize the moral problem Decision: being able to choose the right action. Wanting to do the right action. For 1 we need to understand the social roles and professional practices of the engineer and infer the group of typical problems an engineer has to face. For 2 we need to understand decision theory, ethics in general and the psychology of decision making. For 3 we need to understand the consequences of good and bad actions. And also the fact that sometimes we are not good. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

The field of ethics Department of Philosophy and History science Az etika (erkölcstan) a cselekedet (ember, élet, szabályok) megítélésének kérdéseit, illetve a cselekedetek megítélését lehetővé tevő értékeket vizsgáló filozófiai tudományág. Ilyen kérdések tartoznak ide: Mi számít jónak, helyesnek, gonosznak stb. ? Milyen szempontok szerint lehet megítélni egy cselekedetet? Mikor jó/helyes egy cselekedet? Milyen a jó/erényes ember? Milyen a jó/erényes élet? Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Types of ethical theories Department of Philosophy and History science 1) Normative ethics Explains us what do we have to do 2) Descriptive ethics It only describes what we think we should do. Analyzes different ethical systems, their origins, discourse and social environment. 3) Meta-ethics It deals with the question of grounding ethical statements in different levels (are there objective ethical facts, what makes ethical statements true?) *1. Normatív etika: melyek a helyes cselekedetek, mit kell tennem, hogyan élhetek teljes boldog életet? Segítsek-e az idős nénin, amikor a dolgozatírásra rohanok be, vagy inkább saját boldogságom a fontos? Boldog legyek vagy szabad? (Mátrix példa, amikor az illető választhat a boldog illúziók világa, illetve a boldogtalan de szabad élet között.) Vajon az élet maga, vagy az élet minősége az igazán fontos? (eutanázia) 2. Deskriptív etika (nem értékel, csak leír): A különböző kultúrák milyen értékeket preferálnak? Mi a funkciója az erkölcsnek? Mi lehet az eredete az erkölcsnek? Az altruizmus csak az embert jellemzi? (Kultúrtörténet, szociológia, pszichológia, biológia és evolúciós megközelítések. 3. Metaetika: Létezik-e maga a jó? Ha létezik, akkor hogyan? Mint egy tárgy? Vagy mint egy matematikai törvény? Igazolhatóak-e a normatív állítások? A jó csak nézőpont kérdése, (erkölcsi relativizmus) avagy léteznek örökérvényű, mindenkire érvényes értékek, követelmények? Az egyenlőség, a szabadság, a boldogság tényleg objektív, mindenkire érvényes értékek, vagy pusztán csak ízlést, konvenciót fejeznek ki? Ha a korábbi társadalmakat tekintjük, ezek eltérő értéktételezései vajon azt fejezek ki, hogy nem tudunk az értékek felől – minden kultúra felett – ítélni, avagy inkább azt, hogy ezek primitívebb társadalmak voltak. Ha ez utóbbi az igaz, akkor ezt hogyan tudjuk bizonyítani? Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Norms and Values Norms: rules for behaviour and action. Department of Philosophy and History science Norms: rules for behaviour and action. They guide behaviour by sanctions from others Values: things and properties that represent values for us. They control behaviour Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Moral Department of Philosophy and History science Az erkölcs a társadalmilag elfogadott normák és értékek rendszere, ami a viselkedést szabályozza, és amelyet a közösség (általában) informális eszközökkel (elismerés, rosszallás) tartat be. Erkölcs és morál: gyakran szinonimák, ha azonban nem azonos jelentésben használják őket, akkor az erkölcs a közösség által elfogadott (külső) norma és értékrend, míg a morál az egyén által magáévá tett (belső) norma és értékrend. Ez a különbség látszik akkor, amikor valaki csak azért csinál valamit, hogy ne szólják meg, de legszívesebben másként tenne. Erkölcs és jog. A jog is a viselkedést szabályozza, ez is norma és értékrend, de ez formális, és intézményesen tartatjuk be. Lehet valami legális és erkölcstelen, és illegális és mégsem (nagyon) erkölcstelen. Pl. Olyan anyagot beépíteni, ami káros, de még nem tiltott. Tényleg biztonságos körülmények között szükségből túllépni a megengedett sebességet. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

Ethical questions and engineering decisions Department of Philosophy and History science Ethical debates are often non-conclusive. This is not a good reason for neglecting moral questions and distrusting moral decisions. A moral question is similar to a design problem: there are multiple good (and bad) solutions for it. Both require analytic skills, a lot of theoretical knowledge and practice (in applying theoretical knowledge. Moral decisions ought to be made in integration with technical and finantial issues. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics

How to benefit from this class? Department of Philosophy and History science Practical knowledge: the ability to evaluate and handle situation. You have to practice what you have learned. Practice with the home assignment. Discuss ethical problems in class. Home assignment: Think about the following question: what are the values important for you? Choose the 5 most important ones and describe them. Write a diary about the following question: how much do these values affect your everyday decisions? Which on does and which one does not? Describe at least five examples of both. Gyarmathy-Margitay: Engineering Ethics