Engineering Ethics ENGR001 – Sample
Final Exam Q&A
Question 1:
Why do we study engineering ethics?
Answer 1:
Engineers are responsible for the amazing innovations that advance societies
and communities. Hence, it is no surprise that their work influences business practices
and political statements. That is why it is that a general set of rules and regulations
that focuses on honesty and safety has been established. This set of rules and
regulations is referred to as the code of ethics. The code serves three important
purposes. First, it introduces and familiarizes engineers to the highest standards of
honesty and integrity expected of them. Furthermore, it encourages them to be honest,
fair, and impartial while performing services, for their work influences greatly the
public’s health and safety. Lastly, it enhances not only their critical and independent
thinking about moral issues (especially those of safety vs cost) but also their handling
of conflicts of interests; hence, they develop what is termed as “moral autonomy”. As
a conclusion, every engineer should know the code of ethics regulated by the society
he/she belongs to, for it ensures that he/she adheres to the highest standards of
professionalism. [1], [2]
Question 2:
Give an example of a conflict of interest and discuss.
Answer 2:
Simply put, a conflict of interest is a situation that arises when the aims of two
different parties are incompatible. An example of a conflict of interest is when an
employee using his/her company’s product/service formula for personal gain by
producing similar goods that compete with those of his/her company. This is clearly a
conflict of interest as both parties (the employee and the company) have contrasting
interests, for the employee will benefit from selling the similar services/products be it
directly through him/her or indirectly through his/her company (such as bonuses,
1
, raises, etc.). On the other hand, the company will suffer a decrease in revenues due
to the competition it is facing. Besides, that company spends time and money on
research and development, pays the salaries of that employee and others, and has to
go through rigorous paperwork; whereas, he/she does not pay for anything and then
takes the finalized proven formula to apply it for his/her own personal gain. [3], [4]
Question 3:
Why environmental ethics is essential to the engineering profession? Discuss
using example(s).
Answer 3:
The noticeable destruction of the environment due to human activities over the
last several decades has led to questioning whether humans are morally obligated
towards preserving and restoring the environment surrounding them, for deforestation,
depletion of ozone layer, global warming, multiple types of pollution, degradation of
ecosystems, and others are all consequences of humans taking the environment for
granted and without considering the consequences of their actions. Consequently, a
new branch of philosophy termed as “Environmental Ethics” has been established to
deal with the moral relationship between humans and the environment; it dictates that
humans are responsible for relieving the environmental damages they inflict. The
NSPE code of ethics conveys this as it states that an engineer should always hold
paramount the public safety and wellbeing, and it obliges engineers to ponder about
the environmental effects of their projects when designing them. Since the
environment is key for humans’ survival, one could say that the public safety is ensured
only when the surrounding environment is safe and in balance. Fortunately, the
increasing popularity of green trends in the last few years shows that new generations
of engineers are gaining awareness about the need to save the environment and
protect it. [2], [5], [6]
There are multiple examples that come to mind when discussing
environmentally ethical dilemmas. One such example is removing a significant patch
of land to build a commercial center on it. Suppose that this land is a natural habitat
for an endangered species of animals or plants. Thus, an ethical engineer should
decline this assignment in favor of protecting the wildlife. Moreover, they should notify
2
Final Exam Q&A
Question 1:
Why do we study engineering ethics?
Answer 1:
Engineers are responsible for the amazing innovations that advance societies
and communities. Hence, it is no surprise that their work influences business practices
and political statements. That is why it is that a general set of rules and regulations
that focuses on honesty and safety has been established. This set of rules and
regulations is referred to as the code of ethics. The code serves three important
purposes. First, it introduces and familiarizes engineers to the highest standards of
honesty and integrity expected of them. Furthermore, it encourages them to be honest,
fair, and impartial while performing services, for their work influences greatly the
public’s health and safety. Lastly, it enhances not only their critical and independent
thinking about moral issues (especially those of safety vs cost) but also their handling
of conflicts of interests; hence, they develop what is termed as “moral autonomy”. As
a conclusion, every engineer should know the code of ethics regulated by the society
he/she belongs to, for it ensures that he/she adheres to the highest standards of
professionalism. [1], [2]
Question 2:
Give an example of a conflict of interest and discuss.
Answer 2:
Simply put, a conflict of interest is a situation that arises when the aims of two
different parties are incompatible. An example of a conflict of interest is when an
employee using his/her company’s product/service formula for personal gain by
producing similar goods that compete with those of his/her company. This is clearly a
conflict of interest as both parties (the employee and the company) have contrasting
interests, for the employee will benefit from selling the similar services/products be it
directly through him/her or indirectly through his/her company (such as bonuses,
1
, raises, etc.). On the other hand, the company will suffer a decrease in revenues due
to the competition it is facing. Besides, that company spends time and money on
research and development, pays the salaries of that employee and others, and has to
go through rigorous paperwork; whereas, he/she does not pay for anything and then
takes the finalized proven formula to apply it for his/her own personal gain. [3], [4]
Question 3:
Why environmental ethics is essential to the engineering profession? Discuss
using example(s).
Answer 3:
The noticeable destruction of the environment due to human activities over the
last several decades has led to questioning whether humans are morally obligated
towards preserving and restoring the environment surrounding them, for deforestation,
depletion of ozone layer, global warming, multiple types of pollution, degradation of
ecosystems, and others are all consequences of humans taking the environment for
granted and without considering the consequences of their actions. Consequently, a
new branch of philosophy termed as “Environmental Ethics” has been established to
deal with the moral relationship between humans and the environment; it dictates that
humans are responsible for relieving the environmental damages they inflict. The
NSPE code of ethics conveys this as it states that an engineer should always hold
paramount the public safety and wellbeing, and it obliges engineers to ponder about
the environmental effects of their projects when designing them. Since the
environment is key for humans’ survival, one could say that the public safety is ensured
only when the surrounding environment is safe and in balance. Fortunately, the
increasing popularity of green trends in the last few years shows that new generations
of engineers are gaining awareness about the need to save the environment and
protect it. [2], [5], [6]
There are multiple examples that come to mind when discussing
environmentally ethical dilemmas. One such example is removing a significant patch
of land to build a commercial center on it. Suppose that this land is a natural habitat
for an endangered species of animals or plants. Thus, an ethical engineer should
decline this assignment in favor of protecting the wildlife. Moreover, they should notify
2
