Dr.

Aydin Yesildirek

Department Of Electrical Engineering

What is Ethics?
The discipline dealing with
Moral duty
Obligation

A system of moral values addressing all

White
Black
Gray areas

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Some definitions from dictionary

MORAL implies conformity in behavior to established sanctioned
codes or accepted notions of right and wrong
ETHICAL may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle
questions of rightness, fairness, or equity
VIRTUOUS implies the possession of moral excellence in character
RIGHTEOUS stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often
suggests the self-righteous
NOBLE implies moral distinction and freedom from anything petty,
mean, or dubious in conduct and character
All mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good.
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What is good or bad?

A good for some may be bad for some
others
What is your reference frame?
Golden rule "treat others as you would
like to be treated"

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Some reference points

In one of the ancient Greek tribes the ability to steal was
considered as a good behavior
In Viking world you take everything if you posses
enough power, the powerful rules
The steady-state solution under such rules results in a
self-destruction, unstable system, ancient Greek and
Viking civilizations are history now
Create a civilized world: Adhere set of rules in which all
can live with basic human rights, freedom and dignity

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Law and ethics

Forcible set of rules called laws are always generated
based on ethical values to protect a civilized society
A punishment system is defined and enforced to protect
the law and order
Obeying law is a civil and ethical responsibility

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A case study
You are the ruler of the strongest tribe but lacking water and energy
that your people need
Your neighbors have plenty of water and energy
What would you do if you live in Viking world?
What is being done today, in an post Viking era?
This dilemma has been in agenda 1000s years ago, today, and it is
likely to be with us years to come

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Professional ethics
The principles of conduct governing a
group of professionals
Adhere set of rules in professional setting
in which all can live in civilized manner:
peacefully, happily, with basic rights and
dignity

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Engineering ethics
End products of engineering profession effecting almost
every human being and the environment
Having such a broad impact must come with some set
of ethical rules
From problem definition, design, development and
marketing as engineer we need to define and adhere
our set of rules

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Some engineering conflicts of interests

Problem definition
Engineers may choose to work on a problem to destroy
humanity or serve humanity!
Design solutions and analyze systems
Use others design without their permissions
Falsify data to support our standings
Development
During the development we may generate byproducts
destroying environment
Marketing
Deliberately make false claims

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IEEE Code of Ethics

1. to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety,
health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might
endanger the public or the environment;
2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose
them to affected parties when they do exist
3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;
4. to reject bribery in all its forms;
5. to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and
potential consequences.
6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological
tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of
relevant limitations;
7. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and
correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;
8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender,
disability, age, or national origin;
9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or
malicious action;
10.to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to
support them in following this code of ethics.
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Intellectual Property (IP)

Intellectual Property
property that derives from the work of an individual's mind or intellect

This property is not necessarily a physical entity

It has financial value such as house or car
It can be used or sold to others for financial gains
It must be protected as houses or plants

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Protection of IP
Patent: Government grant to an inventor of the exclusive right to
make, use, or sell an invention, usually for a specified term
Trademark: Mark used by a manufacturer or merchant to identify the
origin or ownership of goods and to distinguish them from others

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Ethical Analysis
It is a five stage process
1. Gather Info
2. Identify the stakeholders
3. Consider relevant ethical values
4. Determine course of action
5. Make an ethical decision

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EthicalPrioritiesforEngineers:

1 Societyandpublic
2 Obligationtoemployersandclients
3 Obligationtootherprofessionalcolleagues
4 Theengineerpersonally

Example
Your company has designed a processor for scientific
calculators to 17 digits of accuracy. 500 sent for beta
test and 5000 more manufactured ready to be shipped.
The company finds out a problem. 5 out of 250
operations there will be table errors reflected on 13th to
17th digits. Manager is on your back pressuring for
release and you must make a decision, what to do?

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Case Study Analysis

1)

Gather info: We know error will be 13th to 17th digits

for certain operations. We do not know standard
specs on calculators. We figured out that max 10-12
digit display are used. Higher resolution would only
be needed for scientists and engineers who have
other advanced computing devices, e.g.
supercomputers

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2) Identify Stakeholder:
Everyone involved in the process are called stakeholders
Users: will live with wrong calculations
Public: for safety hazard due to miscalculations
Company: loosing its reputation
Employee: may face career problems

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3) Identify relevant ethical values

to accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the

safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors
that might endanger the public or the environment (IEEE CE 1)

to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available

data (IEEE CE 3)

to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false

or malicious action (IEEE CE 9)

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4) Course of Actions:
a) Dont tell anyone (can company survive?)
b) Throw away faulty chips (may get fired?)
c) Market as a new product that fits the existing capability, i.e. 12-digit accuracy
use chips there ( lose profit, too much extra work?)

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Case 1: High Voltage Lines

http://ethics.tamu.edu/nsfcases/elen/08/ee08.htm
1. A real estate agency hires a contracting firm to build a
subdivision in a certain rural area. The job is worth millions of
dollars to the firm. When the contractors visit the site they see that
there are high voltage power lines in great numbers running over it.
They approach the real estate company with a suggestion of
installing the protective mesh in the homes. After discussing the
price increase involved, the real estate agency refuses to pay for
the protection. Should engineers employed by the contractors
recommend that the contractors build the homes without the mesh
or should they absorb the cost themselves?
2. What about homes that are already built? If power companies put
high voltage power lines in an already existing residential area, who
would the burden of cost fall on?
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Analysis
1. Calculate the magnetic field intensity (H), the magnetic flux density (B), and the
electrical field intensity (E) for various values of line voltage as a function of distance
and plot your answers on a coordinate system. Estimate the corresponding specific
absorption rate (S.A.R.) values for whole body exposure ( [1],[2] ).
2. Calculate the same values as in question 1 for varying values of line current as a
function of distance. Plot your findings.
3. Assume that the subject is completely enclosed in a grounded, mesh screen (1mm2
mesh). What effects would this have on the H, B, and E?
4) Repeat question 3 for a typical home that is protected by the same mesh screen.

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 V. Solutions to Questions on Ethics and Professionalism

The IEEE code requires engineers to "accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety,
health, and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment." True,
the engineer's minimal responsibility is to make it known to employers and perhaps others in authority when they believe
technology poses a threat to public health, safety and welfare.
There is evidence that transmission lines do pose such a threat, so engineers employed by contractors have a
responsibility to make the dangers known and recommend solutions. But, the National Society of Professional Engineers
(NSPE) code requires engineers to "protect" the health and safety of the public. This may require engineers to do more than
simply inform authorities of the problem. Even if it does not, the engineer's personal morality may require more.
If the law does not require the installation of the metallic mesh screens, engineers who might be involved in the design of
the subdivisions or other facilities related to the project have the choice of complying with the contractor's wishes or not
participating in the project. If they back out, they know that their own refusal will not keep the unprotected houses from
being built, they should probably refuse to participate in the project. Otherwise, they will be participating in something they
believe poses a substantial risk to public health.
If engineers are convinced that the transmission lines pose a serious health problem, they should probably also encourage
their professional societies to lobby for legislation requiring installation of the metallic mesh screens in areas exposed to
high intensity electromagnetic fields.
If engineers are asked to design transmission lines through residential areas where the homes are not protected, and if they
are convinced that the lines pose a serious health risk, they should insist that the residents be warned of the danger. Again,
engineers might want to encourage their professional societies to lobby for legislation requiring that transmission lines not
be built near existing homes, or that the homes be properly protected.
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