Ethics in Engineering Profession

Document Type : Conceptual Paper

Authors

• neda Sheikh Rezazadeh Nikou ¹
• Kamran Davary ¹
• Bijan Ghahraman ²
• Ali Naghi Ziaei ²
• Shahdad Safavi ³

¹ Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

² Ferdowsi Univ. of Mashhad

³ Water Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

10.22067/jwsd.v6i3.71839

Abstract

Human achievements have led to large advancements in technology which along with the beneficial and valuable effects have also had catastrophic social consequences due to the lack of proper use and management. Therefore, ethics are considered as one of the critical components in the growth of science and culture. Engineers have a high social status with privileges that come with it. In return, it is expected from them to be responsible in their profession and carry out their duties as well as satisfying expectations of the public, protection of the environment, preventing the occurrence of catastrophes, and acting as role models for the next generation which incorporates both macro and micro dimensions of ethics. Training ethics in different educational levels (primary, secondary, and high school) facilitates the compliance at university level, which then increases the students’ flexibility in learning ethical problems in the engineering profession. The participation of students and engineers in compiling ethical instructions increases their effectiveness, and enables each generation to solve their social and professional problems. In this paper, some case studies such as the collapse of the Quebec bridge, the Chernobyl disaster, the Fukushima catastrophe, the gradual drying of Lake Urmia, groundwater table drop, land subsidence, and unsustainable development of modern irrigation are investigated. The engineering mistakes, the decisions taken, and how the crisis was managed based on the ethical aspects of each of the aforementioned test cases are investigated for their carelessness, negligence, ignorance, and deliberate mistakes.

Keywords

• Microethics
• Macroethics
• Training
• Participation

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