A Hitman’s Approach to Ethics: Temptations and Challenges and Topic Overview - Ethical Engineering for International Development and Environmental Sustainability - page 4

Producing substandard cement is not quite the same as being a professional
killer. However, if buildings collapse as a result, this could lead to death and injury,
possibly even on a much wider level than caused by the hitman. This approach
also shows a total lack of respect for other human beings, particularly those in the
majority world countries. In addition, the hitman at least has his professional ethics
and possibly respect for himself as a highly trained professional (killer).

2 The Ethical Engineer

This raises the issue of the essential nature and characteristics of an ethical engineer.
There is no unique answer. This topic explores some of the issues and hopefully will
put readers in a better position to behave ethically in both their professional and
personal lives.
Being an engineer is both an enormous privilege and a very great responsibility.
This gives rise to the question of an engineer's responsibilities. At the simplest level,
this should require using their skills to make a positive difference to people, animals
and/or the environment, as well as drawing attention to abuses, preferably with col-
leagues to avoid victimisation (Hersh 2002 ).
Unlike being a hitman, engineering should be an equal opportunities profession,
but currently tends not to be (Hackett et al. 1992 ; Hersh 2000 ; Wynarczyk and
Renner 2006 ). In addition to issues of justice, there is also the case of benefi tting
from the different perspectives of a wider section of the population. People may also
design better for those who are similar to themselves. Therefore, involving a wider
section of the community as engineers and designers may lead to products which
more closely approach the ideal of design for all (Connell et al. 1997 ). In addition,
it is only people in a particular community who fully understand the requirements
and preferences of that community, giving rise to the need for end-user involvement
in project design and the incorporation of material in engineering courses on working
with diverse groups of end users.
Both the professional hitman and the substandard cement producer illustrate the
temptations faced by engineers which must be resisted in order to remain ethical
and to be true to themselves. One important temptation is to be interested purely in
solving problems and involvement with an interesting state-of-the-art technology
while not paying attention to the nature of the application and its ethical and other
implications, as well as potential misuses. Another important temptation is to cut
corners in order to make a quick profi t. I like symbols, though I recognise that not
everyone does, and therefore, I fi nd the symbols of the hitman and the substandard
cement producer useful in reminding me of what sort of engineer not to be. The
hitman and substandard cement producer are complementary or probably, better
said, an unholy duo. One lacks professional ethics and the other pays no attention to
unethical outcomes.