Muralikrishna Patibandla

Ethics Essay

In every field of engineering, ethics is one of the most important things an engineer must keep in
mind. Every decision an engineer makes can have far-reaching consequences, not only for the clients
but also for the future of the field. During our class discussion, we learned about various real-world
issues that only reinforced how essential it is for an engineer to adhere to a “Code of Ethics”.

A “Code of Ethics” serves as a guiding set of principles for professionals, helping them make
informed decisions in situations where there might not be a clear right or wrong one. For example,
the IEEE Code of Ethics emphasizes the importance of considering safety, health, and welfare. This
sets a well-defined standard for all engineers, allowing them to maintain public trust in their field
and ensuring that the profession acts for the betterment of society.

When making a decision in an ethical situation, first and foremost I would consider the expectations
of my field and go through relevant ethical codes like the IEEE Code of Ethics. Then, I would weigh
the potential consequences for each involved party, including the customer, the organization and
profession I represent, myself, and the wider community. Finally, I would take into account my
personal moral compass, and force myself to think about whether my decision would violate my own
personal values.

In our class discussions, I had the opportunity to apply this decision-making process as we
considered four major ethical issues. These were the Volkswagen issue, the Pinto issue, the Amazon
Echo issue, and the Big Data issue. Each of these issues highlights an ethical dilemma or violation,
and we analyzed them and came to our own conclusions. The issue I analyzed was the Big Data Issue,
wherein a computer scientist faces ethical confusion when he is given access to sensitive health data
in a big data project. I also contributed to write-ups by my classmates analyzing the other issues, and
found that in almost every case, we agreed on the most ethical response to the situation, even if it
was to varying extents. For example, in the Ford Pinto incident, we unanimously condemned Ford’s
inhuman decision to place profits over their moral obligations to keep their drivers safe.

When looking at these issues, we considered the “Virtue of Ethics”, which emphasizes the virtues
integrity, honesty, fidelity, charity, responsibility, and self-discipline. For each issue we discussed,
various virtues came into question. In my case study, where I discussed the Big Data Issue, the three
virtues I felt were most relevant were:

- Integrity: Marcus, the computer scientist in the scenario, finds himself testing his integrity,
since he has the choice to maintain the confidentiality of information or allow possible
misuse of the sensitive data for the project’s benefits.
- Responsibility: The duty of all professionals is to prioritize the well-being and rights of
individuals above all else. Marcus is responsible for the data he interacts with, and it is his
responsibility to ensure that it is handled in adherence to legal and ethical standards.
- Honesty: I believe Marcus should uphold truth and fairness by being honest, and share his
concerns with his senior researcher, John, regardless of John’s expectations of him.

Although the other virtues are just as important for a professional to keep in mind, they are not as
relevant to this case since virtues like charity and fidelity are not as important to be considered when
Marcus makes his decision. Apart from these virtues, I think a more modern virtue to be considered
that is especially relevant to this case would be “Transparency”. I think in this Information Age it is
becoming more important than ever that engineers, professionals, and organizations remain open
 Muralikrishna Patibandla

and accountable regarding the data they collect and the decisions they make. This virtue emphasizes
the importance of maintaining public trust and ensuring that data and power are not misused.

After our discussion, I believe that every engineer begins their career with a strong moral compass,
and I think that it is usually possible for them to identify the most moral decision in any situation.
However, due to professional expectations and financial pressure, this compass could become
twisted and a professional could find themselves veering away from the ethical virtues expected of
their field. That is why I believe discussions like the one we had, where we took an in-depth look at
real-world issues and ethical violations, are extremely important to reinforce our moral codes. When
engineers actively strive to uphold ethical codes and principles, every product they build has the
potential to have a positive effect on their community while also furthering their field in a morally
upright direction.