Final Exam Q&A - Engineering Ethics (ENGR001) - 2019/2020
134 views 0 purchase
Course
Engineering Ethics (ENGR001)
Institution
Beirut Arab University
This documents contains the questions and answers of my final exam of the engineering ethics course at Beirut Arab University during 2019/2020. The questions are about conflicts of interest, nepotism at work, environmental saftey, and the responsibilities and duties of ethical engineers.
Engineering Ethics ENGR001 – Sample
Final Exam Q&A
Question 1:
Why do we study engineering ethics?
Answer 1:
Engineers are responsible for the amazing innovations that advance societies
and communities. Hence, it is no surprise that their work influences business practices
and political statements. That is why it is that a general set of rules and regulations
that focuses on honesty and safety has been established. This set of rules and
regulations is referred to as the code of ethics. The code serves three important
purposes. First, it introduces and familiarizes engineers to the highest standards of
honesty and integrity expected of them. Furthermore, it encourages them to be honest,
fair, and impartial while performing services, for their work influences greatly the
public’s health and safety. Lastly, it enhances not only their critical and independent
thinking about moral issues (especially those of safety vs cost) but also their handling
of conflicts of interests; hence, they develop what is termed as “moral autonomy”. As
a conclusion, every engineer should know the code of ethics regulated by the society
he/she belongs to, for it ensures that he/she adheres to the highest standards of
professionalism. [1], [2]
Question 2:
Give an example of a conflict of interest and discuss.
Answer 2:
Simply put, a conflict of interest is a situation that arises when the aims of two
different parties are incompatible. An example of a conflict of interest is when an
employee using his/her company’s product/service formula for personal gain by
producing similar goods that compete with those of his/her company. This is clearly a
conflict of interest as both parties (the employee and the company) have contrasting
interests, for the employee will benefit from selling the similar services/products be it
directly through him/her or indirectly through his/her company (such as bonuses,
1
, raises, etc.). On the other hand, the company will suffer a decrease in revenues due
to the competition it is facing. Besides, that company spends time and money on
research and development, pays the salaries of that employee and others, and has to
go through rigorous paperwork; whereas, he/she does not pay for anything and then
takes the finalized proven formula to apply it for his/her own personal gain. [3], [4]
Question 3:
Why environmental ethics is essential to the engineering profession? Discuss
using example(s).
Answer 3:
The noticeable destruction of the environment due to human activities over the
last several decades has led to questioning whether humans are morally obligated
towards preserving and restoring the environment surrounding them, for deforestation,
depletion of ozone layer, global warming, multiple types of pollution, degradation of
ecosystems, and others are all consequences of humans taking the environment for
granted and without considering the consequences of their actions. Consequently, a
new branch of philosophy termed as “Environmental Ethics” has been established to
deal with the moral relationship between humans and the environment; it dictates that
humans are responsible for relieving the environmental damages they inflict. The
NSPE code of ethics conveys this as it states that an engineer should always hold
paramount the public safety and wellbeing, and it obliges engineers to ponder about
the environmental effects of their projects when designing them. Since the
environment is key for humans’ survival, one could say that the public safety is ensured
only when the surrounding environment is safe and in balance. Fortunately, the
increasing popularity of green trends in the last few years shows that new generations
of engineers are gaining awareness about the need to save the environment and
protect it. [2], [5], [6]
There are multiple examples that come to mind when discussing
environmentally ethical dilemmas. One such example is removing a significant patch
of land to build a commercial center on it. Suppose that this land is a natural habitat
for an endangered species of animals or plants. Thus, an ethical engineer should
decline this assignment in favor of protecting the wildlife. Moreover, they should notify
2
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller mohammadomarshehab. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $6.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
