DERARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING GE035 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS (SEVENTH SEMESTER ECE) UNIT I: Engineering ethics 2 marks

questions 1.Define engineering ethics. Engineering ethics is the study of the moral issues decisions confronting individuals and organizations engaged in engineering ad the study of related questions about the moral ideals, character, policies and relationships of people and corporations involved in technological activity. 2.What are the two approaches to engineering ethics? The two approaches to engineering ethics are: *Micro-ethics: Micro-ethics deals with the everyday problems that can take on significant proportions in an engineers life or an entire engineering office. *Macro-ethics: Macro-ethics deals with the societal problems that are often shunted aside and are not addressed until they unexpectedly resurface on a regional or national scale. 3. What are personal ethics and business ethics? Personal ethics deals with how we treat others in our day- to- day lives. Business ethics deals with the desired norms of behavior that pertain to commercial transactions. 4.What do you mean by normative ethics? Normative ethics deals with the professional codes of ethics that specify role norms or obligations that professions attempt to enforce. It is the recommendations of standards and guidelines for morally right or good behavior. 5.What is descriptive ethics or non-normative ethics? Descriptive ethics deals with the factual investigation of moral behavior and beliefs ie., the study not of what people ought to do but how they reason and how they act. 6. List the factors that make people unethical. Unawareness Insensitivity to issues Selfishness Faulty reasoning Pressure

7.Mention some universally accepted ethical principles. Honesty Integrity Fulfilling commitments Abiding by agreements in both letter and spirit Willing to admit mistakes Being caring and compassionate Having respect for human dignity 8.What do you mean by ethical subjectivism? Ethical subjectivism argues that what is ethically right or wrong for the individual depends on the ethical principles he/she has chosen. In other words, for people who subscribe to ethical subjectivism what is ethically right or wrong is entirely a personnel matter. 9. Discuss the terms ethical and moral. The term ethical refers to professionally virtuous conduct. Ethical misdeeds call for prosecution in civil court. The term moral refers to sexually virtuous conduct. Moral misdeeds land one in criminal court. 10.What are the three types of inquiry? The three types of inquiry are: *Normative inquiry *Conceptual inquiry *Factual/Descriptive inquiry 11.What is normative inquiry? Normative inquiries are aimed at identifying and justifying the morally desirable norms or standards that ought to guide individuals or groups. 12. What is conceptual inquiry? Conceptual inquiries are directed towards clarifying the meaning of concepts, principles, and issues in engineering ethics. 13.What is factual inquiry? Factual or descriptive inquiries seek to uncover information bearing upon value issues. Where possible, researchers attempt to conduct factual inquiries using proven scientific techniques. 14. What is a moral dilemma?

Moral dilemmas are situations in which two or more moral obligations, duties, rights or ideals come into conflict with one another, and it appears that not all of them can be fully respected. 15.What are the steps in confronting moral dilemmas? *Identify the relevant moral factors and reasons *Gather all available facts that are pertinent to the moral factors involved. *Rank the moral considerations in order of importance as they apply to the situation. *Consider alternative course of action as ways of resolving the dilemma, tracing the full implications of each. *Talk with the colleagues seeking their suggestions and alternative perspectives on the dilemma. *Arrive at a carefully reasoned judgment by weighing all the relevant factors and reasons in light of the facts. 16.What is tacit-ethic and Meta -ethics? Tacit ethic deals with the unsaid or unspoken rule of practice. Meta-ethics deals with theories about ethics. 17.What is moral autonomy? Moral autonomy can be viewed as the skill and habit of thinking rationally about ethical issues on the basis of moral concern. 18.What do you mean by a sociopath? Sociopath lack a sense of moral concern and guilt, and can never be morally autonomous no matter how independent their intellectual reasoning about ethics maybe. 19.What are the attributes to a profession? The attributes to a profession are: *Knowledge *Organization *Public good 20.What are the two models of a professional society? The two models of a professional society are: *Social contract model *Business model 21. What are the models of professional roles? The models of professional roles are: *Savior *Guardian *Bureaucratic servant *Social servant

*Social enabler and catalyst *Game player

22.List the theories about right action? *Utilitarianism *Duty ethics *Rights ethics *Virtue ethics 23.What do you mean by ethical relativism and ethical absolutism? Ethical relativism says that actions are morally right when law or custom approves them; they are wrong when they violate laws or customs. Ethical absolutism says that the same ethical standards apply to all societies and cultures. 24.What are the uses of ethical theories? The following are the uses of ethical theories: *Resolving moral dilemmas *Justifying moral obligations *Relating professional and ordinary morality 25.What is ethical pluralism? Ethical pluralism says that there may be alternative moral perspectives that are reasonable, but no one of which must be accepted completely by all rational and morally concerned persons.

16 marks questions 1. Explain Kohl bergs theory of moral development. Answer: Level Pre-conventional Conventional Post-conventional Stage 1 2 3 4 5 6 Social orientation Obedience and Punishment Individualism, instrumentalism and exchange Good boy/Good girl Law and Order Social contract Principled conscience

2.Explain Gilligans theory of moral development. Answer: Stage Pre-conventional Conventional Post-conventional Goal Goal is individual survival Self-sacrifice is goodness Principle of nonviolence-do not hurt others

3.Explain professions and professionalism. Answer: Professions : Knowledge, Organization, Public good. Membership criteria Professionalism as independence Professionalism as serving employers Qualities of professionals Models of professional roles : Savior, Bureaucratic servant, Guardian, Social servant, Social enabler and catalyst, Game player. Professional ideals and virtues : Professional responsibilityself-direction virtues, public-spirited virtues, teamwork virtues,proficiency virtues. 4.Explain the various theories about right action. Also list the uses of ethical theories. Answer: Theories about right action: Utilitarianism :most good for the most people (Act utilitarianism and Rule utilitarianism) Duty ethics :duties to respect persons Rights ethics :human rights Virtue ethics :virtues and vices

Uses of ethical theories: *Resolving moral dilemmas *Justifying moral obligations *Relating professional and ordinary morality 5.Discuss in detail about Self-interest, Customs and Religion. Answer: Self-interest: Ethical egoismIt says that the sole duty of an individual is to maximize his/her own Good. Customs: Ethical relativism Ethical relativism says that actions are morally right when law or custom approves them; they are wrong when they violate laws or customs. Ethical pluralism Ethical pluralism says that there may be alternative moral perspectives that are reasonable, but no one of which must be accepted completely by all rational and morally concerned persons. Descriptive relativism the statement that beliefs about values differ from culture to culture. Moral relationalismthe view that moral judgments should be made in relation to factors that may vary from case to case. Religion: Divine command ethics-it says that an act is right means it is commanded by God, and to say it is wrong means it is forbidden by God. Christianity--virtues of hope, faith and love. Judaism --virtue of righteousness Buddhism --virtue of compassion God centered religion (theistic)Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Not emphasizing belief in God (non-theistic)Buddhism-call for faith in Right path.