Professional Engineering Practice: Ethical Aspects

William Glassman is a professor of psychology at Ryerson Polytechnical
University in Toronto.

Regardless of field, the training of professionals today has become a complex process, concerned with standards of conduct as well as standards of knowledge. While doctors are often the focus of media reports of unethical behavior, the issue also arises in engineering, albeit with different applications. The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (APEO), as part of the certification process for new engineers, requires familiarity with ethical standards, as demonstrated by a written exam. Carson Morrison and Philip Hughes, professors emeriti at the University of Toronto, have provided a textbook for students, based on a course offered at the University of Toronto previously.

Ideally, ethics involves broad moral issues; in the present context, perhaps by necessity, it implies at least an awareness of legal standards for ethical behavior. Issues are raised which could be complex, such as dealings with other professions and the possible conflicts between new technologies and human welfare. In general, the treatment is adequate (the discussion of cases is very clear), but it suffers from an over-reliance on definitions as a structural device, and a conciseness (sometimes verging on vagueness) which suggests a lecturer’s notes. As neither a lawyer nor an engineer, I cannot comment on the technical accuracy of the treatment, but given the authors’ distinguished background, I suspect there are few difficulties in this regard. Intended as it is for a specific purpose, the book will have limited appeal for more casual readers; within the profession, it is hoped it will be read closely.