Forum: Unit II discussion: Unpacking the NSPE code of ethics

5.1 Introduction

The idea behind this quad comes from the forum discussion about the ``Code of Ethics for Engineers'' of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).

In the reading exercise you're asked to consider what the different parts of the code represent. You should come to see that the parts can be mapped on to the framework we're using for talking about normative ethics.

That is, there is a part which represents the values that the NSPE endorses. And then there are three parts which represent a consequentialist theory to promote those values, a deontological theory to promote them, and a virtue ethics theory for promoting the values.

Looking at the values themselves, in the first section, you should be able to recognize that some of the values are located in consequences, some are located in the actions, and the rest are located in the actor.

This is the way the textbook sets up the big three theories of normative ethics. Actions have three parts: consequences, the action itself, and the actor. Values can be located in each of the three parts. Theories in normative Ethics are theories for promoting values. Different kinds of theories exist for promoting values located in each of the three parts.

So the whole point of the exercise is to see how that framework is built right in to the code of ethics for a nationally important organization of engineers.

The exercise makes one other point. In the text this point is found at the end of the Making Decisions chapter, in the section titled ``Concluding moral'': all normative ethics, at the end of the day, comes down to character.

The main argument for this point is that, no matter which theory you use to make your normative decisions, you also have to be the type of person who is willing to use that theory. If you're not thinking about what you're doing, or you're just blindly and slavishly applying rules, then you're not truly being ethical. Using a theory means using it reflectively, and using it reflectively is a matter of character. So no theory gets used without character.

There is, though, a different way of understanding the point. We might want to say something less strong. We might want to say that using the other theories doesn't require a theory of Virtue ethics. You have to choose to use it, sure, but that's not a full-blown theory.

But we can read the NSPE in the following way. Section III is required because Sections II cannot cover all cases. Rules about consequences and practices alone are not enough. A Code of Ethics must also include character traits like honesty and integrity, honor, service.

And that's because no list of rules is ever going to be cover precisely all of the cases where you will have to make a normative engineering decision. The rules will require you to fill in the details, to figure out which one to apply, and what it means in your particular case. The best we can hope for is that the person figuring all that out is a person of good character, who will make good choices.

EXERCISE: The remaining parts of this quad are what you will figure out in the discussion forum. The titles of those parts are:

1. 5.1 The NSPE code maps on to the ethical framework of the course

2. 5.2 Part III is required because Part II does not cover all cases

3. 5.3 Part III addresses values of character

and there are discussion threads for each of these in the forum