Defining Professional Ethics Professional ethics can be defined as a code of conduct or set of moral principles that professionals are expected to uphold in their professional lives. It includes values such as integrity, objectivity, competence, confidentiality, and respect for others. These ethics ensure that professionals act not just in their own interest or that of their organization but in the interest of the public, clients, and society at large. Professional ethics is not merely about adhering to written codes or legal standards; it involves internalizing values that guide decision-making even in ambiguous or high-stakes situations. --- 3. Core Principles of Professional Ethics The architecture of professional ethics is built on several core principles: 3.1. Integrity Integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles. It compels professionals to act with honesty in all professional dealings, avoiding deception, fraud, or manipulation. 3.2. Objectivity This principle ensures that professionals remain impartial and free from conflicts of interest. It emphasizes the importance of decisions being based on merit and factual evidence. 3.3. Professional Competence Competence involves maintaining the required knowledge and skills to provide services effectively. It mandates continuous learning and adaptation to changes in the field. 3.4. Confidentiality Professionals are entrusted with sensitive information. Ethical practice demands that such information be protected from unauthorized disclosure. 3.5. Professional Behavior This covers conduct that upholds the reputation of the profession. It means complying with laws, regulations, and standards, and avoiding any action that discredits the profession. 4. Importance of Professional Ethics 4.1. Trust Building Trust is the currency of professional relationships. Ethical behavior builds trust with clients, stakeholders, employees, and the public. 4.2. Enhancing Professional Reputation Organizations and individuals that uphold ethical standards enjoy greater respect, client loyalty, and a strong brand image. 4.3. Legal and Regulatory Compliance Ethical conduct minimizes the risk of legal issues. Many industries are heavily regulated, and compliance with ethical standards helps avoid penalties and sanctions. 4.4. Decision-Making Framework Ethics offers a structured framework to handle complex dilemmas where legal codes may be silent or insufficient. 5. Professional Ethics Across Various Sectors Ethical principles may be universal, but their application varies across professions: 5.1. Medical Profession Doctors adhere to the Hippocratic Oath. Ethics in this field is about patient confidentiality, informed consent, and prioritizing patient well-being over personal or institutional gains. 5.2. Legal Profession Lawyers must uphold justice, fairness, and client confidentiality. Misconduct in this domain can distort justice and erode public trust. That's all we need

1. INTRODUCTION TO
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Environmental Ethics

2. Environmental Ethics
 Ethics are discussed by Philosophers, Lawyers,
Conservationists etc.
 “Sustainable Development” - growth that meets the
needs of the present generation without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their needs

3. An Ecospheric Ethos
 Engineering* is a tool for living well in
the world.
 This world is alive, interconnected and
crowded.
 The tool is limited by ethics, ignorance,
and the net primary production of
ecosystems.
* Or science, politics, economics, etc.

4. 21st
Century
Professional Engineers
 Green Engineering Principles
 The Earth as a living system
 Precautionary

5. Environmental Ethics
 Can Economic Growth and Environmental Protection
occur simultaneously?
 A Business is in business to make a profit, not usually to
protect the environment. Environmental Regulations force
them to care!
 Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are required
by legislature
 Prior to design stage
 Impact on water quality, wetlands, and endangered species
 Long term ecological damage

6. Environmental Ethics
 An ethic –
 Common misconception: an ethical person is not a good
person or bad person
 Ethics –
 provide a systematic framework for making decisions where
values conflict
 dependent upon the individuals moral value, based on
personal ethical system
 For example: system of ethics to maximize pleasure
(hedonist)

7. Environmental Ethics
 Many systems of ethics exist, but the key is that a
system must be a defensible one
 If not, a rational person would abandon and find a
better system
 Three different systems are presented here

8. Environmental Ethics
 Consequentialist ethical theory
 (early 1800’s) a.k.a. Utilitarianism
 maximize pleasure/minimize pain
 Benefit/Cost Analysis is Utilitarian since money equals
happiness (based on hedonism)
 Don’t believe in rules, the consequences must be weighed
against gains

9. Environmental Ethics
 Deontological theory
 acts must be judged as good or bad, and you do good
for the sake of doing good, for the good itself,
regardless of the consequence (Ten Commandments,
Just obey)

10. Environmental Ethics
 Categorical imperative
 value-laden rules based on the hope that all people would
follow the rule
 Key Point: Universalizability – if an act is acceptable for
one it is acceptable for all

11. Environmental Ethics
 The three are in conflict:
 Consequentialists believe in the suffering of a few for
the benefit of many
 i.e. the sacrifice of an innocent life to prevent the deaths of
others
 While Categorical imperative theorists say that if life is
valued all life has to be.
 Common Question: The little white lie? Do I look good?
 Utilitarian – hurts feelings to tell the truth, so why bother

12. Environmental Ethics
 Common Question: The little white lie?
 Utilitarian – hurts feelings to tell the truth, so why bother
 Deontologists – hurting feelings in the short term is better,
the trust that is built will be stronger
 Categorical Imperative theorists – also tell the truth because
you wouldn’t want to walk around looking ugly as well,
everyone would dress bad
 All based on human interaction, but there are other
beings on earth

13. Environmental Ethics
 Environmental Ethic
 concerns itself with the attitude of people towards other
living things and towards the natural environment
 Decisions not only for ourselves, but the rest of the
world
 Plants, animals, rocks, mountains, do any of them
matter to us?

14. Environmental Ethics
 Engineers are not traditionally trained to think in
terms of ethics
 Traditionally Engineers don’t deal with policy but
perform duties to society
 Design, Build, and Economic Feasibility of Public and
Private Projects
 Anthropocentric
 nature is here for us to command

15. Environmental Ethics
 Quote from Aristotle, “Plants exist to give food to
animals, and animals to give food to men. Since
nature makes nothing purposeless or in vain, all
animals must have been made by nature for the sake
of men.”
 Instrumental value – measured in dollars or how that
nature supports us

16. Environmental Ethics
 Instrumental Values flaws
 Would not prevent the torture of animals (quick kill)
 Led to the “Rape of Nature” in the U.S. (1800’s)
 Rapid Deforestation – Destruction of Natural Habitats

17. Environmental Ethics
 Extensionist Theory
 extending the moral world to other animals and nature
 Do non-human creatures have rights?
 No. In order to have rights there must be reciprocity.
 Reciprocity – have to have the ability to act morally
 However, there are human beings that can not reciprocate,
babies, comatose, the senile, why not the other sentient beings?

18. Environmental Ethics
 Problem: Where would it stop?
 Sentience and the ability to feel pain.
 Biocentric – view that all life has value
 Not really possible. Human being valued at the same
level of a Roach?
 True controversy in Philosophy, not just Engineering!

19. Environmental Ethics
 The Engineer has to
have their belief
system established
clearly and on an
individual level
determine how much
tampering with the
Environment is
acceptable.
 Long term effects vs.
Short term economic
gains
 For every action there
will be consequences
for someone or
something.

20. Principles
 People have a duty to take anticipatory action
to prevent harm. "If you have a reasonable
suspicion that something bad might be going to
happen, you have an obligation to try to stop
it.”
 The burden of proof of harmlessness of a new
technology, process, activity, or chemical lies
with the proponents, not with the general
public.

21. Principles
 Before using a new technology, process, or
chemical, or starting a new activity, people have
an obligation to examine "a full range of
alternatives" including the alternative of doing
nothing.
 Decisions applying the precautionary principle
must be "open, informed, and democratic" and
"must include affected parties.“

22. Applications
 Explore alternatives to possibly harmful actions,
especially “clean” technologies that eliminate waste
and toxic substances
 Set and work toward goals that protect health and the
environment
 Bring democracy and transparency to decisions
affecting health and the environment.

23. Eight Steps of Precautionary Action
• Set goals
• Monitor
• Heed early warnings (be prepared
to act on results of monitoring)
• Consider all the evidence

24. Eight Steps of Precautionary Action
• Engage the affected people in
decisions
• Evaluate all reasonable alternatives
• Give the benefit of the doubt to
nature and public health (reverse
the burden of proof)
• Monitor (again!)

25. Conclusion
 The Precautionary Principle is an important tool in
effecting this change.
 The Precautionary Principle is consistent with the
engineering professions commitment to safety.
 The Precautionary Principle should be considered as a
Fundamental Canon in the NSPE Code of Ethics.

27. The most meaningful work that we can do is to
The most meaningful work that we can do is to
“
“Build receptivity into the still unlovely
Build receptivity into the still unlovely
human mind.”*
human mind.”*
Beginning with our own…..
Beginning with our own…..
*Aldo Leopold,
*Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
A Sand County Almanac