The ethics of engineering I

HUM-412 / 3 credits

Language: English

Remark: Une seule inscription à un cours SHS+MGT autorisée. En cas d'inscriptions multiples elles seront toutes supprimées sans notification.

Summary

This course provides engineers entering the workforce with a hands-on approach to figuring out what to do in ethically challenging professional situations.

Content

This is a course on the professional ethics of engineering. Engineering is here regarded as a profession characterised by its own set of principles governing appropriate conduct, with a primary focus on the promotion of the public good or interest. Following an introduction to the key ethical concepts of value and norm, as well as a survey of the major ethical theories (consequentialism, deontological theories, virtue ethics and care ethics), the course progresses to an examination of core values such as welfare, health, public interest and sustainability. The NSPE (National Society for Professional Engineers) Code of Ethics is then studied through the resolution of real-world cases during class. Particular emphasis will be placed on whistleblowing, sexual harassment, and cost-benefit analysis.

Keywords

Ethics of engineering

Codes of Practice / Codes of Ethics

National Society for Professional Engineers

Ethical Theories

Values

Public good / public interest

Well-being

Health

Sustainability

Whistleblowing

Sexual Harassment

Const-Benefit Analysis

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

No prequisites

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

Identify the ethical issues that engineers may encounter in their professional activities.
Use ethical concepts and tools in order to form their own ethical judgement in the matter.
Propose practicable solutions

Transversal skills

Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
Take responsibility for health and safety of self and others in a working context.
Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.
Take account of the social and human dimensions of the engineering profession.
Make an oral presentation.

Teaching methods

1. In class discussion of the reading material
2. Presentation by the lecturer of the subject
3. Group work and class discussion on real life engineering ethics cases