civil engineering

What happens when the different theories seem to give different answers? What happens when the different theories seem to give different answers? This scenario can be illustrated by the discussion of WIPP presented previously. Rights ethics indicated that transporting wastes through communities is not a good idea, whereas utilitarianism concluded that WIPP would be benefi […]

Which Theory to Use? Now that we have discussed four different ethical theories, the question arises: How do we decide which theory is applicable to a given problem? The good news is that in solving ethical problems, we don’t have to choose from among these theories. Rather, we can use all of them to analyze

How, then, do we resolve this problem? In their capacity to deal with individuals, corporations should be considered pseudo-moral agents and should be held account- able in the same way that individuals are, even if the ability to do this within the legal system is limited. In other words, with regard to an ethical problem,

Can a company truly be expected to display honesty or loyalty? This dilemma comes most sharply into focus in a discussion of virtue ethics. Can a company truly be expected to display honesty or loyalty? These are strictly human traits and cannot be ascribed to a corporation. In the strictest defi nition of moral agency,

Put another way, can a corporation be a moral agent as an individual can? 3.3.6 Personal vs. Corporate Morality This is an appropriate place to discuss a tricky issue in engineering ethics: Is there a distinction between the ethics practiced by an individual and the ethics practiced by a corporation? Put another way, can a

Is there a distinction between the ethics practiced by an individual and the ethics practiced by a corporation? 3.3.6 Personal vs. Corporate Morality This is an appropriate place to discuss a tricky issue in engineering ethics: Is there a distinction between the ethics practiced by an individual and the ethics practiced by a corporation? Put

Personal vs. Corporate Morality 3.3.6 Personal vs. Corporate Morality This is an appropriate place to discuss a tricky issue in engineering ethics: Is there a distinction between the ethics practiced by an individual and the ethics practiced by a corporation? Put another way, can a corporation be a moral agent as an individual can? This

As with any ethical theory, it is important to be careful in applying virtue ethics. Problems can arise with words that on the face seem to be virtues, but can actually lead to vices. For example, the concept of “honor” has been around for centuries and is often viewed positively. One sense of the word

Have I acted in a responsible fashion? In many ways, this theory may seem to be mostly personal ethics and not par- ticularly applicable to engineering or professional ethics. However, personal moral- ity cannot, or at any rate should not, be separated from professional morality. If a behavior is virtuous in the individual’s personal life,

Will this action demonstrate loyalty to my community and/or my employer? In many ways, this theory may seem to be mostly personal ethics and not par- ticularly applicable to engineering or professional ethics. However, personal moral- ity cannot, or at any rate should not, be separated from professional morality. If a behavior is virtuous in