Engineering is a profession that profoundly impacts society, from infrastructure and technology to health and safety. With great power comes great responsibility, and engineers must navigate complex moral dilemmas to ensure their work benefits society without causing harm. Here we will explore the importance of ethical considerations in engineering and highlight five examples from the past decade that illustrate the need for engineers to remain vigilant and open to navigating these moral challenges.
Ethical considerations in engineering are crucial for several reasons:
Background: Volkswagen was found to have installed software in diesel engines that manipulated emissions tests, making their vehicles appear to meet environmental standards when they did not.
Ethical Dilemma: The scandal raised significant ethical issues around corporate responsibility, environmental stewardship, and honesty in engineering practices.
Lessons Learned: Engineers must uphold integrity and transparency, even under corporate pressure, to ensure that their work complies with ethical and legal standards.
Background: Two Boeing 737 Max aircraft crashed, resulting in the loss of 346 lives. Investigations revealed that issues with the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) played a significant role in the crashes.
Ethical Dilemma: The crashes highlighted ethical concerns regarding safety, the adequacy of testing, and the communication of potential risks to regulatory bodies and the public.
Lessons Learned: Engineers must prioritize safety over speed and cost considerations, ensuring rigorous testing and transparent communication of any potential risks.
Background: The water supply in Flint, Michigan, was contaminated with lead, exposing residents to severe health risks. The crisis was a result of cost-cutting measures and insufficient treatment of the water supply.
Ethical Dilemma: The crisis raised questions about the ethical responsibilities of engineers and officials to protect public health, especially in vulnerable communities.
Lessons Learned: Engineers must advocate for public safety and ethical water management practices, ensuring that cost-saving measures do not compromise health standards.
Background: Facebook allowed Cambridge Analytica to harvest personal data from millions of users without their consent, which was then used for political advertising.
Ethical Dilemma: The scandal brought to light ethical concerns about data privacy, user consent, and the manipulation of information for political gain.
Lessons Learned: Engineers and technology companies must prioritize ethical data practices, ensuring transparency, user consent, and the protection of personal information.
Background: The development of artificial intelligence (AI) for military applications, including autonomous weapons, has sparked intense ethical debates.
Ethical Dilemma: The use of AI in warfare raises profound ethical questions about accountability, the potential for misuse, and the implications for human rights and international law.
Lessons Learned: Engineers must engage in ethical deliberations about the use of emerging technologies, ensuring they are developed and deployed in ways that align with humanitarian principles and ethical standards.
To navigate moral dilemmas effectively, engineers can adopt several strategies:
Ethical considerations are at the heart of responsible engineering. By learning from past examples and committing to ethical principles, engineers can navigate the complex moral landscape of their profession. The goal is not only to advance technology and infrastructure but to do so in ways that enhance public safety, protect the environment, and uphold the highest standards of professional integrity. As the world continues to evolve, the commitment to ethical engineering will remain a cornerstone of progress and a testament to the enduring responsibility of the engineering profession.
In New Jersey, professional engineers are required to engage in continuing education to maintain their licensure. As part of this requirement, engineers must earn 24 Professional Development Hours (PDH) biennially, with two of these credit hours focused on ethics. We offer a comprehensive ethics course available for purchase anytime to help you fulfill this requirement.
