Richard Skeirik, PE
Chemical Process Consultant
Litigation Consultant/
Expert Witness
Engineering Ethics - From the Great
Philosophers to Professional Practice
a 1.5 hour Workship
Eng Ethics - Great Phil's to Practive (pdf) (Members and friends of the AIChE Del Valley Section may copy this for personal use only. No other use without permission.)
Most chemical engineers have never studied ethics (the exception is those who attended Catholic or Jesuit universities, kudos to you.). Nevertheless, our professional societies and state licensing authorities expect us to comply with codes, which are often called "Codes of Ethics". We can't design a reactor without knowing kinetics, and it seems a stretch for us to comply with codes of ethics without knowing how ethics works.
This workshop gives attendees three insights. First, attendees will learn the core tenets of philosophical systems from five great ethical philosophers, and create their own ethical system. Second, attendees will analyze five systems, to understand, such as whether they are individual, societal, or universal in their dictates, then decide how they can or can't be applied to ethical decision-making in engineering and how they match up with our codes. Third, attendees will apply the most workable ethical system - knows as pluralistic utilitarianism - to choose the "right" or best option for a small rural community that must decide whether and what size and location to build a proposed new chemical plant.
At the end of workshop, attendees should be able to:
- briefly describe 5 normative ethical systems;
- classify them as individual or universal, rule or outcome based, and whether they admit consideration of competing interests;
- Separate the strictures in our codes into ethical mandates vs. behavioral strictures
- Explain why utilitarianism is the only major ethical system that admits consideration of multiple competing interests;
- apply pluralistic utilitarianism to choose the right option from among several engineering design or behavior choices
Materials for this Cont Ed Lecture:
Codes of Ethics used in this Cont Ed Lecture:
If you are not licensed, use: AIChE Code of Ethics (aiche.org)
If you are a PE, or working to become one, use: Delaware PE Code of Ethics (Del Assoc of Prof Engrs)
Other Codes
New Jersey PE Prohibited Acts (NJ Title 13, Prof Engrs)
Pennsylvania PE Code of Ethics (extracted from PA State Reg Board for Prof Engrs, Appln for Temp Practice Permit)