20-10-2012, 04:13 PM
Human Values
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OBJECTIVES (WHY ENGINEERING ETHICS?)
The objectives of this course on ‘Professional Ethics and Human Values’ are: (a) to understand the
moral values that ought to guide the Engineering profession, (b) resolve the moral issues in the profession,
and © justify the moral judgment concerning the profession. It is intended to develop a set of beliefs,
attitudes, and habits that engineers should display concerning morality.
The prime objective is to increase one’s ability to deal effectively with moral complexity in
engineering practice.
Alternatively, the objectives of the study on Professional Ethics may be listed as:
(A) Improvement of the cognitive skills (skills of the intellect in thinking clearly)
1. Moral awareness (proficiency in recognizing moral problems in engineering)
2. Cogent moral reasoning (comprehending, assessing different views)
3. Moral coherence (forming consistent viewpoints based on facts)
4. Moral imagination (searching beyond obvious the alternative responses to issues and
being receptive to creative solutions)
5. Moral communication, to express and support one’s views to others.
(B) To act in morally desirable ways, towards moral commitment and responsible conduct
6. Moral reasonableness i.e., willing and able to be morally responsible.
7. Respect for persons, which means showing concern for the well-being of others, besides
oneself.
8. Tolerance of diversity i.e., respect for ethnic and religious differences, and acceptance
of reasonable differences in moral perspectives.
9. Moral hope i.e., believe in using rational dialogue for resolving moral conflicts.
10. Integrity, which means moral integrity, and integrating one’s professional life and
personal convictions.
MORALS
Morals are the welfare principles enunciated by the wise people, based on their experience and wisdom.
They were edited, changed or modified or evolved to suit the geography of the region, rulers (dynasty),
and in accordance with development of knowledge in science and technology and with time.
Morality is concerned with principles and practices of morals such as: (a) What ought or ought
not to be done in a given situation? (b) What is right or wrong about the handling of a situation? and
© What is good or bad about the people, policies, and ideals involved?
Morality is different from Ethics in the following ways:
VALUES
Definition
Humans have the unique ability to define their identity, choose their values and establish their beliefs.
All three of these directly influence a person’s behavior. People have gone to great lengths to demonstrate
the validity of their beliefs, including war and sacrificing their own life! Conversely, people are not
motivated to support or validate the beliefs of another, when those beliefs are contrary to their own.
People will act congruent with their personal values or what they deem to be important.
A value is defined as a principle that promotes well-being or prevents harm.” Another definition
is: Values are our guidelines for our success—our paradigm about what is acceptable.” Personal values
are defined as: “Emotional beliefs in principles regarded as particularly favorable or important for the
individual.” Our values associate emotions to our experiences and guide our choices, decisions and
actions.