Course Information
OSU Catalog Description
The idea of responsibility and the ethical responsibilities of the engineer. Introduction to value, ethics, and ethical systems. Engineering as value creation and the ethical ramifications of engineering. Codes of engineering ethics. Recognizing and addressing ethical dilemmas in engineering. Examination of the individual, social, and environmental effects of engineering and technology. (Baccalaureate Core Course)
3 credits (3 hours of lecture per week)
This course satisfies the Bacc Core Science, Technology, and Society requirement.
Meeting Times and Location
TTh 10:00-11:20 AM in Rogers Hall 440
Instructor: Dr. Ken Funk
E-mail: funkk@engr.orst.edu Office Hours: Tuesdays
11:30-11:55 AM in Rogers Hall 440
Thursdays 11:30-11:50 AM in Rogers Hall 440
12:00-1:00 PM in Covell Hall 208
or write for an appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Mr. Joshua Erkman
E-mail: erkmanj@oregonstate.edu Office Hours: Tuesdays
12:30-1:30 PM in BAT 050
or write for an appointment.
Required Text
Martin, M.W. and R. Schinzinger. Ethics in Engineering. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2005.
NOTE: This book was out of print for a time and IE 380 used a spiral-bound reprint version titled Martin & Schinziner's Ethics In Engineering Fourth Edition | For IE 380, The Reponsible Engineer. There are probably copies of the reprint version around OSU, so if you happen to get a copy from someone who took the course recently, the page numbers will be a little confusing. See this. One copy of the reprint version is available on 3-hour reserve in the OSU library.
Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to:
- Define and describe the fundamental terms and concepts of ethics and explain how they apply to the practice of engineering.
- Describe,
compare, and contrast several ethical systems (e.g., utilitarianism,
duty ethics, virtue ethics, religious ethics) and apply them to the
examination of ethical issues in engineering.
- Clearly state your own personal ethical principles and apply them to ethical issues in engineering.
- Recognize an engineering ethical dilemma and apply a systematic process of moral reasoning to resolve it.
- Explain the advantages and limitations of engineering ethics codes and apply one to the resolution of an ethical dilemma.
- Define responsibility, identify to whom and to what you will be responsible as a practicing engineer, and give examples of how you might fulfill -- or fail to fulfill -- those responsibilities.
- Describe the effects of technology on individuals, society, and the environment and apply your ethical principles, as well as those of other ethical systems, to the critical examination of technology in light of those effects.
- Analyze relationships among science, technology, and society using critical perspectives or examples from historical, political, or economic disciplines.
- Analyze the role of science and technology in shaping diverse fields of study over time.
- Articulate in writing a critical perspective on issues involving science, technology, and society using evidence as support.
Course Activities
The course format is reading, lecture, and focused discussion. Readings, assigned in the Schedule, will come from the text and the instructor will provide Class Discussion Questions in advance of each discussion. You should read the material, think carefully about it, and answer the questions in writing before coming to class. You may wish to bring two copies of your answers to class, one to turn in at the beginning of class as a record of your preparation and attendance, the other for you to refer to in class discussions.
Class will start on time and it is your responsibility to be on time to class. If you have a long walk from your previous class to this one or if there are other circumstances beyond your control that will make you late to class, let the instructor know so that accommodations can be made.
Phone ringers must be turned off during class. Laptop and tablet
computers may be used for note-taking and other class-related tasks,
but not for surfing the web or sending or receiving email.
Class meetings will usually center around the class discussion questions for that day, sometimes beginning with a lecture summarizing the material in the text and supplementing it with other information. The instructor may ask you to give your answer to a specific class discussion question and sometimes he will pose additional questions in class for you to think, write, and speak about, either individually or in small groups.
When slides are used in class (not often), the instructor will post them on this website in the Slides folder under Resources, but probably not much before class time. Always come prepared to listen carefully and take good notes.
Coursework
The following summarizes the coursework, with the possible points for grading purposes. These coursework elements are described in the paragraphs below and their due dates are given in the Schedule.
Attendance and Class Discussion Question Answers
Midterm Examination Final Examination
Micro issue Essay
Macro issue Essay
Total Instructor adjustment based on punctuality, class participation, etc. points
Preparation and Attendance
Preparation for and attendance at all class meetings (see Schedule) are mandatory, but two unexcused absences are permitted without penalty. As verification of preparation and attendance, you must personally submit a hard copy of your answers to the Class Discussion Questions assigned for that class (see below, plus the Schedule); you may not have your answers submitted by another in your absence. The penalty for missed attendance or missing answers is 10 points per class meeting missed (two excused, per above). Class Discussion Question answers will be collected at the beginning of class, so answers submitted after the beginning of class may not be accepted. Even if answers are submitted on time, repeated failure to provide satisfactory answers to all required questions may result in point penalties.
Class Discussion Questions
Caution: Class
Discussion Questions are questions developed by the instructor
specifically for IE 380 in-class discussions. They are not the same as
the Discussion Questions in the textbook!
Answers to Class Discussion Questions should be complete and clear, but they need not be in grammatically perfect prose (bulleted lists or outlines are fine), but a reader should be able to get your main points and see that you thought carefully about the questions before you answered them. Besides that, when answering Class Discussion Questions,
- any idea in your answer that is not your own should be attributed to its source, for example, "According to the text (p. 261) ..." or "The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'welfare' as ..." or just "... (Oxford English Dictionary)". Although you must use formal MLA-style, in-text citations in your issue papers, informal citations like these are acceptable here. If you want to be perfectly clear that an idea is your own, say so: "In my opinion ..." or "From my experience ..." or just "... (my opinion)".
- do not use a word or its derivative to define a word.
- allow two or three lines beneath each answer to allow the grader to write comments.
- make sure that you answer all parts of all required questions. Typically, answer sets will have a few required questions and several more that are optional.
Examinations
The midterm and final examinations will be closed-book, closed-notes, but you may use one 8½" x 11" (both sides) "cheat" sheet for each exam. The final exam will be comprehensive, but with emphasis on material covered after the midterm.
Micro Issue Essay
You will write two issue essays, one addressing a "micro" engineering ethics issue, one that an individual engineer might (or did) face, the other addressing a "macro" engineering ethics issue. Your Micro Issue Essay must address the following points.
Issue Statement - Provide enough background for the reader to understand the issue (dilemma) the
engineer involved faces. If this is a case drawn from the text or
another source, you may quote the source, but properly indicate that
you are quoting and cite the source. Be sure to state the issue clearly but concisely.
Moral Clarity - What moral or ethical principles do you believe apply to this issue? Justify your reference to these particular principles (i.e., why you have chosen to use them). Cite the sources from which you draw these principles or which you use to justify them. What principles are in conflict?
Conceptual Clarity - Clarify how these principles apply to the issue. For example, if you adopt the principle to hold paramount human welfare, what does "paramount" mean? Whose welfare is at stake here? What does "welfare" mean in this context?
Facts and Assumptions - What additional information is needed to make a reasoned decision on the issue? If this is a hypothetical issue for which there may be no additional information (like one of the cases in the text), state some reasonable assumputions, ones that do not themselves resolve the issue, and proceed with that information.
Options - What are the options open to the individual involved? Besides the obvious ones, use your creativity to come up with others, perhaps involving compromise, that could resolve the issue by reducing the level of conflict among principles or satisfying the most important principle(s).
Decision - Weigh and compare the options with respect to the above considerations (especially the ethical principles) and state a reasoned recommendation on what the individual should do to resolve this issue.
Your Micro Issue Essay should be between three and nine pages long, double-spaced, exclusive of references. Use MLA in-text citation style for citations, MLA works cited style for the Works Cited section.
Macro Issue Essay
Your Macro Issue Essay must address an issue concerning engineering technologiy, one falling within the the broader responsibilities of engineers, technology companies, governments, or society as a whole. Such macro issues might include whether off-shore oil drilling should be more tightly controlled or prohibited, the extent to which we should rely on nuclear power, if and how we should proceed to develop self-driving vehicles, and the pros and cons of social media. Your issue must be one on which you have not yet come to a final pro/con position. Your Macro Issue Essay must address the following points.
Issue Statement - Provide enough information for the reader to understand the issue we face. It should also be clear what the roles of engineers are in the issue and why it is important for an engineer to take a position on it. Be sure to state the issue clearly but concisely. CIte your sources.
Moral Clarity - What moral or ethical principles do you believe apply to this issue? Justify your reference to these particular principles (i.e., why you have chosen to use them). Cite the sources from which you draw these principles or which you use to justify them. What principles are in conflict?
Conceptual Clarity - Clarify how these principles apply to the issue. For example, if you adopt the principle to hold paramount human welfare, what does "paramount" mean? Whose welfare is at stake here? What does "welfare" mean in this context?
Facts and Assumptions - Research the issue to obtain the information needed to make a reasoned decision. Cite your sources. If information is unavailable make and state reasonable assumptions and proceed on those.
Options - What are our options to address this issue? Besides the obvious ones, use your creativity to come up with novel approaches that reduce the conflict among principles or satisfy the most important principle(s).
Decision - Weigh and compare the options with respect to the above considerations (especially the ethical principles) and state a reasoned recommendation on what you believe we should do to resolve this issue.
Your Macro Issue Essay should be between four and 12 pages long, double-spaced, exclusive of references. Use MLA in-text citation style for citations, MLA works cited style for the Works Cited section.
Grading
Each required Class Discussion Question answer will be evaluated for correctness, completeness, and clarity, and graded: + (good), ✓ (satisfactory), or - (unsatisfactory). An overall + / ✓ / - grade will be given to each answer set. Attendance credit will be given for all answer set grades (except when no answers are submitted, indicating absence), but repeated unsatisfactory (-) anwer sets will affect the instructor's grade adjustment at the end of the term (see above).
Your exam question answers will be graded based on correctness, reasoning, and clarity. Your issue essays will be graded on the quality and clarity of the content described above as well as writing quality, specifically the following criteria.
- Format - Your papers must follow the format of the issue paper examples that will be handed out in class.
- Organization - Your essays must follow a clear, logical progression of thought.
- Wording - Words must be carefully chosen to clearly communicate meaning. If you are "reaching" for the right word, use a dictionary to confirm that it means what you think it means.
- Grammar - The essays must conform to the conventional rules of English grammar.
- Spelling and Capitalization - Spellings must conform to American English and capitalization must follow standard conventions.
- Punctuation - Punctuation must conform to the conventional rules of English punctuation.
- Citation Style - Sources of information must be cited and every citation must conform to the MLA in-text citation style. (NB: Citations in the textbook, handouts, and other resources may not follow MLA style, so check the MLA website, above, for instructions and examples.)
- Works Cited - All source cited must be included in a list that conforms to the MLA works cited style. (NB: References in the textbook, handouts, and other resources may not follow MLA style, so check the MLA website, above, for instructions and examples.)
Grading Scale
Points will be assigned to coursework as shown above and each student's final course grade will be based on the percentage of maximum possible points earned, according to the following table.
A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F
Late Work
A penalty of the equivalent of one letter grade will be applied for each day an issue essay is late. A penalty of one level (+ / ✓ / - / missing) will be applied for each day a set of Class Discussion Question answers is late.
Questions about Grading
Any questions or concerns about the grading of specific work must be brought to the attention of the Instructor within one week of when the graded work is returned.
Disabilities Information
Accommodations for students with disabilities are determined and approved by Disability Access Services (DAS). If you, as a student, believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not obtained approval please contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098 or at http://ds.oregonstate.edu. DAS notifies students and faculty members of approved academic accommodations and coordinates implementation of those accommodations. While not required, students and faculty members are encouraged to discuss details of the implementation of individual accommodations.
Academic Honesty
Honesty is a moral responsibility of every professional and therefore of anyone preparing for a profession. It is the expectation of the instructor that any work you submit for this course is the product of your own abilities and efforts with respect to that work. You are free to discuss the Class Discussion Questions and your issue essays with anyone, including other members of the class, and to consult any other honorable sources, but the answers and the essays you turn in must represent your own thoughts and be in your own words, except in those parts of the work where you credit the original sources by proper citation. You are also subject to OSU's CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT, especially section 4.2, which defines and prohibits specific classes of academic misconduct. Any evidence that any of these expectations have not been met will prompt an inquiry, and if the findings support the conclusion that they have not, an academic misconduct report will be filed.
Schedule
Subject to change, so check this often. Caution: Class Discussion Questions are questions developed by the instructor specifically for IE 380 in-class discussions. They are not the same as the Discussion Questions in the textbook!
Week 1 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 7 Jan |
Course introduction | ||
| Thu 9 Jan |
Ch.1 |
Introduction to Engineering Ethics and Responsibility |
Ch. 1 Questions 1-9 |
Week 2 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 14 Jan |
Ch. 2 intro - 2.2 | Resolving Ethical Dilemmas | Ch. 2 Questions 1-6 |
| Thu 16 Jan |
2.3 |
Micro issue essay requirements Engineering Codes of Ethics |
Ch. 2 Questions 7-12 |
Week 3 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 21 Jan |
Applying Engineering Codes of Ethics | In-class exercise | |
| Thu 23 Jan |
2.3.4 (review) Ch. 3 intro and The Natue of Value |
The Nature of Value Moral Frameworks |
Ch. 3 Questions 1-8 |
Week 4 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 28 Jan |
3.1 - 3.2 | Utilitarianism, Rights Ethics, Duty Ethics | Ch. 3 Questions 9-17 |
| Thu 30 Jan |
3.3-3.4.3 | Virtue Ethics, Self-Realization Ethics | Ch. 3 Questions 18-23 |
Week 5 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 4 Feb |
3.4.4 |
Religious Ethics: Buddhist and Christian Ethics Applied To the Design of Good Work |
Micro Issue Essay Ch. 3 Questions 24-26 (answers optional for extra attendance credit) |
| Thu 6 Feb |
Ch. 4 |
Engineering As Social Experimentation Macro issue requirements |
Ch. 4 Questions 1-10 |
Week 6 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 11 Feb |
Midterm Examination | ||
| Thu 13 Feb |
Ch. 5 intro - 5.3 | Safety and Risk |
Ch. 5 Questions 1-16 |
Week 7 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 18 Feb |
Ch. 6 intro - 6.2 | The Engineer's Responsibilities | Ch. 6 Questions 1-8 |
| Thu 20 Feb |
6.2 - 6.3 | The Engineer's Rights | Ch. 6 Questions 9-10 |
Week 8 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 25 Feb |
6.4 - 6.5 | Whistleblowing | Ch. 6 Questions 11-14 |
| Thu 27 Feb |
Ch. 7 |
Honesty: Truthfulness and Trustworthiness |
Ch. 7 Questions 1-11 |
Week 9 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 3 Mar |
Ch. 8 | Environmental Ethics |
Ch. 8 Questions 1-9 |
| Thu 5 Mar |
Ch. 9 |
Global Issues: Humanitarian Engineering | Ch. 9 Questions 1-5 |
Week 10 |
|||
| Meeting | Reading | Topic | Work Due |
| Tue 10 Mar |
Ch. 10 intro - 10.1 and a reading to be provided |
The Titanic Disaster |
Macro Issue Essay Ch. 10 Questions 1-10 |
| Thu 12 Mar |
Technology, the Welfare of the Public, and the Good Life | Ch. 10 Questions TBD | |
Finals Week: |
|||
| Mon 16 Mar |
Final Exam 9:30-11:20 at location TBA
|
||
Resources
- IE 380 Materials
- Codes of Ethics
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
- American Nuclear Society American (ANS)
- Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE)
- National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
- Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) - see pp. 40-41
- World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO)
- Oregon State University
- Engineering Ethics Websites
Last update: 3 March 2020