Whitbeck discusses, debates ethical issues in engineering
Caroline Whitbeck of Case Western Reserve University was on campus Monday, Sept. 25, to discuss ethics in engineering.
Her lecture addressed the question: Are ethics any different for engineers?
To define ethics, Whitbeck, founder and director of the Online Ethics Center for Science and Engineering, quoted Socrates, saying ethics are "how one ought to live."
According to Whitbeck, engineering ethics consist of ethical considerations with special relevance to problems in the context of engineering.
Engineering, as stated in the lecture, differs from other professions in its significance for society, especially in regard to society's views on technology.
In order for people to trust technology, engineers must hold themselves to the highest standards.
According to Whitbeck, the environment is also a concern of particular interest to engineers.
Whitbeck argued that engineers are accountable for environmental consequences because of their unique background and knowledge. Also, engineers have a responsibility to the public because the public is part of their clientele.
Part of an engineer's job is to "safeguard users from technology's side effects...to protect the environment," Whitbeck said.
Some lecture attendees felt too much emphasis was placed on this responsibility.
"Engineers are not responsible...to save the world. Everyone has a specific branch...each profession affects [another]," said Ana Ortiz, a second-year Industrial Engineering major.
Whitbeck went on to speak about ethical considerations that are unique to engineering.
"[Engineering problems] do not have uniquely correct solutions," Whitbeck said.
According to Whitbeck, an engineering solution must achieve the desired end, conform to explicit criteria and be reasonably secure against accidents and miscarriages.
What about ethics in other professions?
Whitbeck said that since a profession "requires mastery of expert knowledge," we must rely on others for expertise and knowledge that we do not possess in our own professions. Additionally, every profession must be responsible for holding its members accountable.
Whitbeck also addressed the implications of rapidly changing technology for today's engineers.
She discussed unhelpful tendencies that are common responses when dealing with new technology. The most common tendencies included doing nothing, doing what causes public uproar and doing what closely resembles what worked in the past but is no longer appropriate.
The lesson to be learned here is that continuing change is normal, every new problem should be dealt with in a new way and there are multiple possibilities for each solution.
When faced with a new challenge, engineers should consider others' expectations and anticipate their reactions.
How does society prepare tomorrow's engineers?
Whitbeck pointed out that some engineering programs now consist of a five-year course of study as a minimum for earning a bachelor's degree. Teaching design early in curriculum along with ethics is also crucial, according to Whitbeck.
"Moral problems look strange to those [who are] used to solving problem sets," Whitbeck said.
The lecture sparked different reactions from those in attendance.
Alejandro Suarez, a second-year Electrical Engineering major, said that ethics is "also a problem of management...how they allow you [as the engineer] to do things."
Betty Whitaker, a researcher at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, had the opposite idea.
"[In regards to] their responsibility towards ethics, I was surprised that the students thought it was up to management instead of up to them. Students need more discussion on broader issues [concerning ethics]," Whitaker said.
According to Whitbeck, when it comes to situations that challenge one's morals, there is no cut-and-dry answer.
Whitbeck had the following advice for students who want a formula for making decisions: "I hope you don't expect me to give you an algorithm...Think about a moral situation and be prepared for surprises...we haven't got a recipe."
