Introduction
Codes of conduct are significant in shaping the standards of any given profession. They allow professionals to fulfil their roles and duties in an ethical manner. For engineers, codes of conduct are critical because of the fact that their work has a direct influence on people’s everyday life.
Engineers work activities help in shaping the present and future life aspects of people as they are involved in creating and supporting new technical processes. Hence, the role of code of conducts cannot be underestimated in this case; they serve as a guiding principle while commissioning their duties.
This paper seeks to find out whether the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) codes of conducts are supported by the moral ethics of Aristotle, Kant and Bentham. In achieving this goal, the writer points out some of the NSPE practices that are in- line with the perspectives of Aristotle, Kant and Bentham moral reasoning. Through deep analysis, the writer affirms that Aristotle, Kant and Bentham moral reasoning support some of the NSPE code of standards.
Discussion
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) has outlined fundamental practices which are essential for an engineering profession. NSPE points out some canons which guide an engineer as; an engineer should be a person who holds paramount safety, health and welfare of the public, performs competently in services where he/she is capable, carry themselves ethically, responsibly and honorably, and avoids deceptive acts among others (NSPE).
Additionally, on rules of practice, the NSPE outlines that engineers should uphold honesty and integrity, strive to serve the public, act for each employer in faith as trustees, and avoid all conducts which deceives the public among others (NSPE).
Lastly, on professional obligations, NSPE appoints that engineers should personally accept responsibility for their professional activities, give credit for engineering work to those whom credit is due, and avoid unprofessional engagement by using untruthful means among other acts.
NSPE: Engineers should uphold safety, health and welfare of the public
Kant terms humans as independent. Thus, they are privileged to have a coherent ability which is important for decision making, aptitude to take execute action sensibly and they are important for compelling an action (Kant 75).
Therefore, as instruments for prompting an action, humans execute an action with full knowledge, reasoning and ability aimed at upholding generosity. Kant moral reasoning are duty bound because he views humans have a duty to execute some actions which can have impact on others.
The NSPE code of conduct, engineers should uphold safety, health and welfare of the public resonate well with Kant’s reasoning (NSPE). In this case, engineers should primarily be concerned with the safety and welfare of the public. On Kant’s approach, it would be unethical to execute an ‘action’ which fails to address the safety, health and welfare of other human beings.
Bentham, in his ethical reasoning claims the goal of every action is to provide the greatest balance of ‘good’ over ‘bad’ (Harrison 66). This is a core principle of every action.
Bentham supports this claim. In his ethical reasoning, he opines the idea of an individual aiming for happiness cannot be affirmed ‘right’ because such an individual quest can perpetuate more pain and less pleasure for him/her, and the society (Harrison 98). Thus, on Bentham perspective, the health, safety and welfare of all people should be considered equal.
Equally, Aristotle is simple on issues about moral ethics. He asserts a virtue is an approach of choosing the right decision (Aristotle 37). Hence, in a favourable condition, a virtue blended with rational assessment of situation fixes a justified course of action that guarantee’s safety, health and welfare of the public
NSPE: Engineers should aim in increasing public knowledge and appreciating engineering achievement
The NSPE also draws that engineers should aim in increasing public knowledge and recognising engineering achievements. This code of conduct shows value in augmenting the image of engineering profession as well as the safety of the public (NSPE).
This virtue appoints the natural habit of what professional should aim for; he/she should share his knowledge and skills with others. Bentham might approve this code of conduct because it is consistent with addressing the needs of the greatest number in a given situation (Harrison 83).
On the other hand, he might not support it by asserting it is in contrast with the best interests of an engineer and his/her immediate environment.
On Aristotle, reasoning is limited to enlightening human to embrace virtues if they have been raised with correct habits. Aristotle view learning is critical in upholding virtues (Aristotle 58). Hence, a virtuous being is naturally prone to a fitting behaviour in any situations without pleasing to maxims.
This code, therefore, advances Aristotle’s thinking because consistency in acquiring knowledge and achievement fixes or creates new experiences and encounters, thus, forming new habit.
NSPE: Engineers should avoid deceptive acts
NSPE illustrates that engineers should avoid deceptive acts (NSPE). This code of standards would be embraced by Aristotle, Kant and Bentham. Being deceptive in achieving ‘something’ is not certainly a positive character trait.
An engineer who achieves ‘something’ through deceptive means, he/she is possibly not competent in the area. Hence, inept practice of an engineer is something that can hurt many people besides contradicting Bentham moral ethics, because a deceptive act does not respect the rights of other people.
Kant draws that at the center of ethics lies a moral obligation to obey the dictates of rationale. Humans can understand the reasons that support moral and intuition (Kant 89). Hence, the categorical imperative, which illustrates that moral actions are consistent with the moral standing that humans would want others to emulate, maybe violated.
Kant cites lying is a vice because a rational human would like the same vice to replicate on others. He opines that ‘by lying a person throws away….his dignity as a person’ (Kant 92). Kant wants humans to be truthful in all situations. His perspective is respect for others is critical; hence it’s wrong to exploit others.
On Bentham view, a ‘good’ goal of ethics is the one which produces happiness, good and pleasure, hence, the best action is one which creates or produces the greatest possible happiness for the greatest number (Harrison 73).
Behaviours are not always immoral or moral; rather, morality is based on specific variables which are unique to each context. To Bentham, deceptive acts such as lying might fix overall good than telling the truth, however, in other situation, telling the truth would produce more good.
Aristotle illustrates that pleasures which deprive or restrict ones happiness can cause more pains. To be guaranteed of happiness human beings should abstain from pain causing pleasures (Aristotle 193). This is because pleasures cause pain.
Therefore, on engineers should avoid deceptive acts, Aristotle claim that involving oneself in deceptive acts is morally wrong because they cause ‘pain’ and thwarts the efforts of happiness.
NSPE: Engineers should perform services in areas of their expertise and carry themselves ethically
NSPE holds that engineers should perform services in areas of their expertise and carry themselves ethically. This practice asserts Aristotle’s view on how intellectual virtues are acquired and put into practice.
The thinking of Aristotle does suggest that professionals should embrace moral ethics because they become a habit out of them. Basing on Aristotle’s approach, a virtuous being is naturally inclined on fitting behaviours in any situations without pleasing to maxims.
Aristotle, for instance, says a man is not intended by nature to live a solitary life, but rather seeks the good life with his parents, wife, fellow citizens and friends, ‘since man is born for citizenship’ (Aristotle 10). Hence, the NSPE provide a constructive insight for engineers and cultivate integrity.
Kant asserts that an action is morally right if it is done with intentions which every rational person would approve. The NSPE practices entails that an engineer should be a person of honesty and integrity. Although Kant’s assertion on this intention is good, it is successful in capturing good intention as a feature of morally right action, there are some challenges with it.
Conclusion
Aristotle, Kant and Bentham support the NSPE code of conducts. By applying their standpoints, engineers are easy to find a reliable defense for issues such as safety, health and welfare of the public which they encounter daily in line of their duties. When their perspectives are properly embraced by engineers, they will help them fix a course of action and how to act.
Works Cited
Aristotle. The Nicomachean Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.
Harrison, Ross. Bentham. New York: Taylor & Francis, 1999. Print.
Kant, Immanuel. Doctrine of Virtue: Part II of the Metaphysic of Morals, 2nd Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. Print.
NSPE. National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethical for Engineers, 2012. Web.