From Personal to Engineering Ethics

For one or two days, keep an ethics-courtesy log where you record your activities along with a brief analysis of the ethical implications of those activities. Many ordinary activities have an ethical component. Do you reflexively tell the truth, or do you make up little stories Do you use registered software, music, and other intellectual property, or do you download or use copies without cost Are you courteous to others by saying please and thank you, or do you order people around, issuing commands when you want something Write a short essay reflecting on your logging experience and the content of this section. 

To better understand this mixture, we should start by understanding the notion of a professional, consider a number of engineering codes of ethics, examine the notion of a conflict of interest, and think about whisfleblowing and its consequences. 

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In most engineering projects, ethical decision-making involves issues ranging from the selection of a variety of alternatives and uncertain circumstances (persons, materials, methods) to the consideration of consequences that may affect other stages, projects, companies or persons and have economic, legal and social implications beyond the client. 

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