The issues to address: What is the Biblical Worldview concerning ethics? What is “Professional Engineering Ethics”? How do they align in practice? Then select one or more case studies from a reputable source and discuss the ethical dilemma, how you would approach the situation, and the ultimate course of action. Include the provisions addressed within the Code of Ethics (ASCE or NSPE). Your paper should demonstrate an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts (ABET SO4).
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Biblical Worldview Concerning Ethics and Professional Engineering Ethics: Aligning Principles in Practice
Introduction
Ethics plays a crucial role in various aspects of human life, including professions such as engineering. While engineering ethics is based on professional codes, it is also essential to consider how these principles align with broader ethical frameworks, such as the Biblical worldview. This essay explores the Biblical worldview concerning ethics and professional engineering ethics, analyzing their alignment in practice. Additionally, a case study will be examined to demonstrate the application of ethical principles in a real-world engineering dilemma.
The Biblical Worldview Concerning Ethics
The Biblical worldview provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and evaluating ethical behavior. According to this perspective, ethics is grounded in God’s nature and his revealed moral principles. The Bible outlines various ethical principles, such as love, justice, honesty, and stewardship. These principles form the foundation of a moral life and guide individuals in making decisions that align with God’s will.
The Biblical worldview emphasizes the intrinsic value and dignity of every human being, created in God’s image. This principle highlights the importance of treating others with respect, fairness, and compassion. Moreover, the concept of stewardship calls for responsible management of resources and care for the environment. This holistic view of ethics provides a solid foundation for evaluating professional conduct in any field, including engineering.
Professional Engineering Ethics
Professional engineering ethics refers to a set of principles and guidelines that govern the conduct of engineers. These codes are established by professional organizations like the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). The ASCE Code of Ethics and NSPE Code of Ethics outline the ethical obligations and responsibilities that engineers must uphold.
The ASCE Code of Ethics includes provisions that emphasize the responsibility of engineers to protect public health and safety, promote sustainability, and provide unbiased professional services. Similarly, the NSPE Code of Ethics underscores the importance of serving the public interest, avoiding conflicts of interest, and maintaining professional competence.
Aligning Biblical Worldview Ethics with Professional Engineering Ethics in Practice
When examining the alignment of the Biblical worldview concerning ethics with professional engineering ethics in practice, several key points emerge:
Respect for Human Life: Both the Biblical worldview and professional engineering ethics prioritize the protection of human life. Engineers must ensure that their designs and projects do not compromise public health or safety. This alignment is evident in provisions within the ASCE and NSPE codes that stress the importance of safeguarding human welfare.
Stewardship: The concept of stewardship, central to the Biblical worldview, resonates with sustainability principles in engineering ethics. Both frameworks emphasize responsible resource management to minimize environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability.
Integrity: Honesty and integrity are crucial values emphasized in both the Biblical worldview and professional engineering ethics. Engineers must provide unbiased advice and maintain professional competence. This alignment is reflected in provisions within the ASCE and NSPE codes that highlight honesty, fairness, and transparency in professional conduct.
Social Responsibility: The Biblical worldview underscores the importance of caring for others, especially the marginalized and vulnerable. Professional engineering ethics also emphasizes social responsibility by advocating for equal access to engineering services and considering the impact of engineering solutions on society at large.
Case Study: The Tacoma Narrows Bridge
The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940 serves as a compelling case study highlighting ethical dilemmas faced by engineers and their subsequent actions. The incident raised questions about engineers’ responsibility to public safety and their ethical obligations.
The collapse of the bridge was primarily attributed to aerodynamic instability caused by poor design choices. The engineers involved faced an ethical dilemma: should they proceed with construction despite knowing the potential risks or halt the project to address underlying design flaws?
Approaching this situation ethically would involve:
Recognizing Public Safety as a Priority: Engineers should prioritize public safety over other considerations, even if it means delaying or canceling a project. In this case study, halting construction to address design flaws would have been an ethically responsible decision.
Informed Decision-Making: Engineers should base their decisions on accurate data, sound analysis, and professional judgment. In the Tacoma Narrows Bridge case, an ethical approach would involve thorough evaluation of wind tunnel test results and expert opinions before proceeding.
Learning from Mistakes: Ethical engineers acknowledge their mistakes and take responsibility for them. After the Tacoma Narrows Bridge disaster, engineers extensively studied its causes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The ultimate course of action in this case study would have been to halt construction temporarily to address design flaws before resuming work on the bridge. This decision would have demonstrated a commitment to public safety and responsible engineering practice.
The provisions addressed within the ASCE Code of Ethics (can be found at https://www.asce.org/code-of-ethics/) and NSPE Code of Ethics (can be found at https://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics) directly relate to this case study. Provisions such as “Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public” (ASCE Code of Ethics) and “Engineers shall endeavor to extend public knowledge” (NSPE Code of Ethics) highlight the importance of protecting public safety and promoting transparency in engineering practice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, aligning the Biblical worldview concerning ethics with professional engineering ethics allows engineers to approach their work with a comprehensive framework that considers both technical expertise and moral principles. The ethical principles outlined in both frameworks emphasize respect for human life, stewardship, integrity, and social responsibility. By integrating these principles into their decision-making process, engineers can navigate ethical dilemmas effectively while ensuring public safety and welfare. The case study discussed also illustrates how ethical considerations can guide engineers’ actions when faced with challenging situations. Ultimately, upholding ethical standards is essential for engineers to fulfill their professional responsibilities and make meaningful contributions to society.
