Ethics of the Electrical Engineer

Author(s): Carl Hering

Source: The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science , May, 1922,
Vol. 101, The Ethics of the Professions and of Business (May, 1922), pp. 86-89
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of
Political and Social Science

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1014591

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S6 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

Ethics of the Electrical Engineer

By CARL HERING, D.Sc.
Consulting Electrical Engineer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

extending
PROFESSIONAL engineers deal over many years, conscien-
primarily with the forces oftiousness, and regard for the effect of
nature and are, therefore, governedhisinwork on others.
their work by the laws of nature; asTraining in such an atmosphere
mother nature demands and insists cannot fail to have an important
upon absolute obedience to her laws bearing on the ethics of engineering
conduct; the records of the profes-
from which there is no appeal and which
sional lives of many noted engineers
cannot be circumvented, the engineer
bear this out, as does also the ruination,
is, by the very nature of his profession,
brought up to respect and obey the
professionally as engineers, of those
laws which are fundamental to his who have violated the principles of a
work. Any violation of these lawshighis code of ethics. "The engineer's
certain to bring its own punishmentintellectual relations with his subject
involve
with it, even without a trial, either in a contact with nature and her
showing the ignorance and thereforelaws that breeds straight thinking and
unfitness of the violator, or, whatdirectness
is of character and for these
worse, the deliberate practice of what
the world is constantly according him a
he knew was wrong. Moreover, many higher and more honorable place." 1
human lives are often at stake when an
ENGINEERING AS A PROFESSION
engineering structure fails; hence the
engineer realizes that his responsibility That engineering is recognized as one
in many cases is very great. of the so-called "learned professions"
As has often been said by way of and as such is in a class with the
comparison, the physician can bury medical, legal and other professions
his mistakes six feet under the ground, is probably now generally conceded,
the lawyer can pass the blame to the least when the nature of the work is
jury, court, or witnesses, and the limited to true engineering as distin-
minister can often find a quotation guished from commercial work, and is
from the Bible which, taken literally, based on high educational qualifications
may seem to uphold him in a mistake acquired at a college of good standing,
he may have made; but when the supplemented by years of experience
engineer makes a mistake or violates and training and the intelligent appli-
the laws which are fundamental to his cation of such knowledge. The re-
quirements in educational qualifica-
profession, he cannot hide the blame or
pass it to others. Since, then, there tions
is and training are quite as great,
generally no question who is respon- if not greater than for some of the
sible, and no escape from censure, he other professions. But to the mind of
must be doubly sure of what he does the public, unfortunately, the term
and how he does it. His profession is "engineer" often means the mechanic
therefore by its very nature on a highwho operates a locomotive or some
plane, as far as it concerns obedienceother form of engine.
to the laws of nature, a thorough The preceding statements apply to
knowledge of his branch of learning,the profession of engineering in general,
which involves a higher education 1 (Gano Dunn.)

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 ETHICS OF THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER 87

embracing four main divisions,

That elec-
its members have respect for
high principles
trical, mechanical, civil and mining, with of proper professional
many sub-divisions. Thoughconduct the par-
is indicated by the fact that
ticular codes of ethics of the various no member has ever yet been expelled,
branches may differ somewhat, owing though in one case a member whose
to the differences in the nature of the conduct was being investigated by the
work, in general they are based on Committee on Professional Conduct,
the leading, centuries-old principle, resigned before the case was concluded,
"Do unto others as you would be done and his resignation was promptly
by," and not on that modern version accepted. A small number of other
of it, used by some business men, "Do cases have been considered by this
others or they will do you." Committee from time to time. At
The "Code of Principles of Pro- present a recommendation is under
fessional Conduct" adopted by the consideration that a brief statement
American Institute of Electrical En- of such cases and the actions taken be
gineers is published elsewhere in this
published in the monthly publication
volume.2 The present article will ofbe the Institute, without giving any
limited to replies to some of the ques-
names.

tions which the author has been asked,The clause in the constitution
concerning his profession. governing the subject of expulsion is
The American Institute of Electrical as follows:
Engineers, organized in 1884 and Sec. 15. Upon the written request of
having a membership of between ten or more Fellows, Members or Associates
12,000 and 13,000, is the only large, that, for cause stated therein, a Fellow,
national society of electrical engineers, Member or Associate of the Institute be
including in its membership all the expelled, the Board of Directors shall
leading men of this division of the consider the matter, and if there appears to
engineering profession. It may be be sufficient reason, shall advise the ac-
said to be the law-making organization cused of the charges against him. He shall
of this division, and its high motives then have the right to present a written
defence, and to appear in person or by
may be relied upon. It is supported duly authorized representative before a
by membership dues and has three meeting of the Board of Directors, of which
grades of members, of which the much meeting he shall receive notice at least
coveted highest grade, that of fellow, twenty days in advance. Not less than
is restricted to those who have certain two months after such meeting, the Board
high qualifications. Young men have of Directors shall finally consider the case,
easy access to associate membership; and if in the opinion of the Board of
for the advancement to full member- Directors a satisfactory defence has not
ship definite requirements are neces- been made, and the accused member has
not in the meantime tendered his resigna-
sary, referring chiefly to the applicant's
tion, he shall be expelled.
record and to the reputation he has
gained by his work in the past. There THE NEED FOR PRINCIPLES OF
are many other societies and organiz.-- ENGINEERING CONDUCT
tions dealing with special branches From the nature of the different
and they may have their own code of engineering branches, differences arise
ethics, but this is the senior or parent which have some bearing on pro-
institution for the electrical engineering fessional conduct. Under the broad
profession. term of electrical engineers, there are
2 See Appendix, page 974. included salesmen, contractors, manu-

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88 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

City, which states as a conception of

facturers, administrators, organizers,
financiers, promoters, etc., many of
engineering: "Engineering-the art of
organizing and directing men, and
whom may have started as college-bred
engineers, but have branchedof off into
controlling the forces and materials
of nature
these other vocations, for which theyfor the benefit of the human
race."
were often very well fitted by The last part of this legend was
reason
of their engineering training. Their one of the definitions of an
formerly
interests are, however, sometimes
engineer;di-the former clause has more
recently
rectly opposed. To manufacturers andbeen added, though not by
unanimous
those entrusted with the selling of aconsent. In the opinion
of some, of
product or project, "the exigencies the term engineering is being
broadened
selling are so constantly forced upontoo far.
them, that it produces in theirIt circles
is often difficult to draw sharp
lines between
a commercial atmosphere quite at the many different
practices,
variance with strict professional views," as to where true engineering
begins and ends. The title of "en-
to quote from a leading engineering
journal. Technical journals gineer"
them- is a coveted one, and- rightly
so, as long
selves may not always be free from the as it implies a long and
influence of their advertisers. difficult
Another course of education and train-
technical journal last year ing,
saidand
edi-
it is therefore natural that its
torially, "It is to be hoped appropriation
that the is broadening. A code
year 1921 will see real progress in the
of ethics is naturally a different matter
establishment of codes of ethics in the for one who deals with the application
various engineering societies, or, better, of nature's laws of matter and energy
the establishment of general funda- for the benefit of mankind, than for
mental principles of engineering ethics one who deals merely with getting the
on which the individual societies may largest number of dollars; though of
build." Still another technical journal course the true engineer must of ne-
asks, "Is engineering a profession or a cessity also consider the cost of projects.
business?" and implies that it must For the purposes of the present article,
be one or the other, stating that "vwe however, the term professional en-
are at the parting of the ways." gineer may be supposed to apply to
This distinction refers to the modern those who occupy themselves ex-
large organizations, as distinguishedclusively with the true profession of
from the individual engineer, in con-engineering, in its older sense of ap-
ducting engineering work; it impliesplying the laws of matter and energy
the old saying that "corporations haveto the benefit of mankind by the
no souls." The differences between design, construction and use of en-
the ethics of such large organizationsgineering structures. The statement
and of the individual engineer of is aFrancis Bacon in the preface to his
subject of discussion which space does"Maxims of the Law" applies to
not permit going into here. professional engineers as well: "I
Within the near past, another hold
de- every man a debtor to his pro-
fession, from the which as men of
parture of a somewhat psychological
course do seek to receive contenance
nature has been added to the engineer-
ing profession, that of the scienceand
of profit, so ought they of duty
dealing with men, as exemplifiedtoinendeavor themselves by way of
the legend in the great National
amends to be a help and ornament
Engineering Library in New York
thereunto."

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 ETHICS OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ENGINEERS 89

THE ENGINEER AND PUBLIC SERVICE lous superior officer, perhaps a politi-
cian, a contractor or a financier, has
As the progress of the world, the
comforts of man and his ability to many an engineer his position.
cost
Untiring efforts are made by those
produce, are so very largely due to the
of experience in the profession to
work of the engineer, his work is of the
advance the standards of education
very greatest importance; he therefore
and training of the rising generation
naturally interests himself also in the
of engineers in the schools and colleges;
public welfare in behalf of which lie
should "be ready to apply his specialthe subject is frequently discussed at
the sessions of the American Institute
knowledge, skill and training for the
use and benefit of mankind," and withof Electrical Engineers between those
who know what is needed in actual
loyalty to his country, evidence of
which was shown in the recent War, practice and those who do the teaching
which, to a greater extent than ever and training; both willingly cobperate
before, was dependent on the skill ofto the great advantage of the student.
the engineer. Any special recruiting for the pro-
In connection with testimony by fession of electrical engineering seems
engineers in legal cases, a clause in hardly necessary, as the great interest
one of the engineering codes says: "Totaken by many young men in this
render reports or testimony intendedbranch of engineering seems to be
sufficient.
to deceive is highly unprofessional,"
a maxim which contrasts with the An employment service is conducted
guiding principle of some lawyers: by the Institute; in general, any form
ofyou
"Win the case; win it honestly if service pertaining to electrical
can, but win it." engineering, either to its members,
The engineer's work is often con- the profession, the public, or the
nected with some form of public government, which is of such a nature
service and he is therefore concerned that it can best be done by this large
with the public and with public welfare. national organization, including in its
His obligations to serve the public con- membership all the leading electrical
scientiously to the best of his abilities engineers
are of the country and many
thereby instilled into him; his natural in foreign countries, is willingly under-
repugnance to act against the interest taken and intelligently carried out.
of the public, or of those in his charge, In many instances, the Institute has
when urged to do so by his less scrupu- set an example to others.

Procedure in Developing Ethical Standards Adopted

by the American Association of Engineers
By H. W. CLAUSEN
Treasurer of the American Association of Engineers; Chairman, Practice Committee, American
Association of Engineers

develop the service of the engineer to its

T HE maintenance
ethical relations of
of the proper
the profes- maximum of usefulness. Clearly, one
sional engineer both with the public of the essentials to a constructive and
and with his fellow engineers is becom- vigorous policy leading to the har-
ing of great importance in the effort to monious cobperation of all concerned,

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