Lecture-1:

Introduction to
Ethics

Scientific Ethics and

Safety
ENGR / SCI 304

Sherif H. El-Gohary , Phd

Assistant Professor,Biomedical Engineering
shamdy@zewailcity.edu.eg

Quote
A perfect value consists in doing
without witness all that we could have
done in front of the entire world
- Nobel Laureate Gabriela Mistral

What do you
expect?

Ethical Dilemma

Course Requirement
Assessment Type

Percentage

Attendance & Participation

10-15%

Assignments

10%

Midterms

30%

Project

5%

Final Exam

35-30%

Poster

10%

Total

100%

Aristotle:

Happiness is a virtuous activity of the soul

Moral virtue is a mean (or balance)

It is he who knows the whatness of the

thing who has understanding in the
highest degree

Measure of Success
The measure of success is how much new we
learn and if we can notice any change in the
attitudes (sensitivity) to the problems of
professional ethics.

Definition
[ethos]
Greek word for custom or habit, the characteristic
conduct of an individual human life.
A Dictionary of Philosophical Terms and Names

Why is Ethics important?

Ethics is a requirement for human life. It is our
means of deciding a course of action.
Sense of Life Objectives. The importance of philosophy
10

Morality and Ethics

Concerns the goodness of voluntary human
conduct that affects the self or other living
things
Morality (Latin mores) usually refers to any
aspect of human action
Ethics (Greek ethos) commonly refers only
to professional behavior

Why study ethics?

When students enter the professional
world, they will be expected to follow an
explicit or implicit ethical code.
To responsibly confront moral issues
raised by technological activity
How to deal with ethical dilemmas in
their professional lives?
To achieve moral autonomy

What Is Ethics?
Josephson Institute of Ethics
Ethics refers to standards of
conduct . . . that indicate how one
should behave based on . .
.principles of right and wrong. As
a practical matter, ethics is about
how we meet the challenge of
doing the right thing

What Are Ethics?

Ethics can be defined broadly as
a set of moral principles or values.
Each of us has such a set of values.
We may or may not have considered
them explicitly.

Need for Ethics

Ethical behavior is necessary for a society
to function in an orderly manner.
The need for ethics in society is sufficiently
important that many commonly held
ethical values are incorporated into laws.

Illustrative Prescribed
Ethical Principles
Trustworthiness

Respect

Responsibility

Fairness

Caring

Citizenship

Why People Act Unethically

The persons ethical standards are different
from those of society as a whole.
The person chooses to act selfishly.

In many instances, both reasons exist.

Forms of ethics
Descriptive ethics (what morals people follow)
Metaethics (what is good? etc)
Normative ethics (what should we do?)
Applied ethics (how do we apply ethics to work and
lives?)
Moral psychology (the biological and psychological
bases)

Moral Theory
Moral Philosophy include the sub-disciplines:
1. Normative ethics
Which is the study of moral standards, general
principles, concepts, values, and theories.
2. Applied ethics
Which is the study of ethical dilemmas, choices,
and standards in various occupations, professions,
concrete (particular, not general) situations, and
the application of moral theories and concepts in
particular contexts. Such as medical ethics have
mentioned above.
3. Meta-ethics
Which studies the nature and justification of
moral standards, values, principles, and theories
and the meaning of moral concepts and terms.
Such as is morality objective? and why should
we obey moral obligations?

Different or similar
Ethics
What is it?

Source
Why we do it?

What if we dont do
it?

Flexibility

The rules of conduct recognized in

respect to a particular class of
human actions or a particular
group, culture, etc. it defines how
thing are according to the rules.

Morals

Principles or habits with

respect to right or wrong
conduct. It defines how things
should work according to an
individual ideas and
principles.
Social system/ external
Individual / internal
Because society says it is the right Because we believe in
thing to do.
something being right or
wrong.
We will face peer/ societal
Doing something against ones
disapproval, or even be fired from morals and principles can have
our job.
different effects on different
people, they may feel
uncomfortable, remorse,
depressed etc.
Ethics are dependent on others
Usually consistent, although
for definition. They tend to be
can change if an individuals
consistent within a certain
beliefs change.
context, but can vary

How Ethical Decisions are

Made
Throughout your life, you will face many
ethical problems
Adopting a consistent ethical standard can
help you with big or small moral problems

Feelings and Opinions

Some people base their ethical standards on
whether or not the act feels right

The Greatest Good

Some people feel that an action that creates
the greatest good for the greatest number of
people is a sound basis for making ethical
decisions.

The Golden Rule

Others base their ethical standards on the
Golden Rule, which states:
Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you.

How Ethics works inside..

Character
of a man

Decided by

Conduct
of a person

Leads to

Series of
Actions

Taken
together
Considered As

By which
we can
Judge
again

Good or
Bad,
Right or
wrong,
Moral or
Immoral

Known as
Moral
Judgement
Moral
Standards

Requires

Sources of Ethical Norms

Fellow
Workers

Regions of
Country

Family

Profession

The Individual
Friends

The Law

Conscience
Employer

Religious
Beliefs

Society at
Large

Practical Ethics
Engineering ethics
Ethics of science
Bioethics
Medical ethics
Environmental ethics
Public ethics
Media ethics
Political ethics
27

Our Central question: Is

Morality Objective?
About 65 million years ago an asteroid collided with
the earth, and this led to the extinction of the
dinosaurs.
There is a prime number between 123,456 and 654,321.
All the shots fired at John F. Kennedy the day he
was killed were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Saddam Hussein will be executed before Jan. 1, 2009.
On Wednesday, 5th of November, 2008, Mr.
Thirkill wore odd socks during his Philosophy class.

Objective
Note two things about these sentences:
Each of these sentences is either true or
false.
The truth or falsity of these sentences does
not depend at all on who makes the claim,
when the claim is made or where the claim
is made.
When a sentence has these properties, well
say that it makes an objective claim.

Some sentences are not

objective
Example of a sentence that
isnt true or false:
Please pass the ketchup.
Go to hell!

Some sentences are not

objective
Examples of a sentences
whose truth depends on
who makes them or when
/ where they are made:
Im the oldest person
in this room.
Its raining.

Im the
oldest

Im the
oldest

The Appeal and the Puzzles

of the View that Morality is
Objective
The Appeal: It would make sense of the fact that we often talk
and act as though moral claims are correct or incorrect, and
that we sometimes seem to think that people (including people
in different cultures) have moral views which are mistaken.
Capital
punishment is
right (in some
cases).

No! Capital
punishment is
always wrong.

Ethical Choices
What you find is that the tough ethical
choices are not between good and evil, but
rather between two goods:

Truth versus Loyalty

Individual versus Community

Short-term versus Long-term

Justice versus Mercy

Good manners

Always say your full name.

In a business situation, you should use your full

name, but you should also pay attention to how others want
to be introduced.

A handshake is still the professional standard.

Not only does this simple gesture demonstrate that

youre polite, confident and approachable, it also sets the tone
for any potential future professional relationship.

Watch your language.

Verbal and written communications are often much less formal than in times
past, but be careful to choose your words wisely. Of course, derogatory, rude or
offensive language is unacceptable, but so is slang. While it may be commonplace
in our society, its never acceptable in a professional atmosphere.

Dont yell and scream at others.

Compassion and empathy will serve you much

better to earn respect.

Be on time.

Were all busy. Being punctual shows others that you value
their time. Being late doesnt mean that youre busier than other
people; it just means that youre inconsiderate.

Don't cross your legs.

Both men and women

do it, but it can be distracting and
even too sexy for a professional
setting. Crossing your legs is bad
for your circulation because it
increases the pressure on your
veins.

Ladies dont wear revealing clothing.

Let others see your skills, not private body parts.

Dont gossip.
Its so hard sometimes to resist engaging in a little
harmless gossip. Its natural to be curious and interested in
what other people are doing, but talking about someone who
is not present is disrespectful.

Dont eavesdrop.
Everyone is entitled to private conversations, in person or
over the phone. The same goes for e-mail; dont stand over
someones shoulder and read their e-mails.

No phone during meetings.

When youre in a meeting, focus on the meeting

discussion. Dont take calls, text or check e-mail. Its
disrespectful to the other attendees, not to mention, extremely
annoying. It also makes meetings last longer because the
participants keep losing focus.

Always say Please and Thank you.

This should go without saying, but even in a very

casual professional atmosphere, this basic form of courtesy is
still imperative. Today, sending a thank you e-mail is perfectly
acceptable, but a handwritten thank you note is always a nice
touch.

Please

Thank you

CONCLUSION

The role of ethics in society cant be overestimated because

improvement in terms of this sphere has no boundaries. It deals
particularly with entrepreneurship and business. Business ethics as
never before should interfere in the business relationship of modern
businessmen. Improving of the ethical standards of business should be
provided by the appropriate education and upbringing. That is why in
any business schools and universities it is important to treat the study
of business ethics and education of future entrepreneurs with all
responsibility.

HOW ETHICAL ARE YOU?

Quiz time
Quiz rules:
Do not put your name on this quiz
Do not put your name on this quiz
Do not put your name on this quiz

48

1-CALLED IN SICK WHEN

NOT ILL?

49

2- TAKEN OFFICE SUPPLIES

FROM AN EMPLOYER FOR
PERSONAL USE?

50

3- TAKEN ANYTHING
VALUABLE FROM AN
EMPLOYER FOR PERSONAL
USE?

51

4- MISSTATED FACTS ON A
RESUME/JOB
APPLICATION?

52

5- SHIFTED BLAME TO A COWORKER FOR SOMETHING

YOU DID?

53

6- BEEN UNDERCHARGED
OR RECEIVED TOO MUCH
CHANGE FROM A CASHIER
AND NOT TOLD THEM?
54

7- DOWNLOADED MUSIC
FROM AN INTERNET SITE
WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT?

55

8-CHEATED ON YOUR TAX

RETURN (NOT DECLARED
INCOME OR OVERREPORTED DEDUCTIONS?
56

9- SWITCHED PRICE TAGS TO

GET A LOWER PRICE ON
SOMETHING YOU WANTED
TO BUY?

57

10- LIED TO FRIENDS OR

FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT
THEIR APPEARANCES TO
AVOID HURTING THEIR
FEELINGS?
58

11- KNOWING YOU HAD

LITTLE CHANCE OF
GETTING CAUGHT, DRIVEN
MORE THAN 20 MPH OVER
THE SPEED LIMIT OR RAN A
RED LIGHT?
59

12- LIED TO YOUR SPOUSE,

PARTNER, SIGNIFICANT
OTHER, AND/OR PARENT,
ABOUT THE COST OF A
RECENT PURCHASE?
60

13- LIED TO YOUR SPOUSE,

PARTNER, SIGNIFICANT
OTHER, ABOUT YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH
ANOTHER PERSON?
61

1. 63% 2. 63%
4. 18% 5. 13%
7. 37% 8. 17%
10. 71% 11.
12. 32% 13.

3. 16%
6. 50%
9. 12%
71%
28%
62