Contracts, Specification Laws and Ethics in Civil Engineering

CONTRACTS, SPECIFICATION
LAWS AND ETHICS

IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
WHAT IS ETHICS?
Ethics are a set of rules or principles that are generally

considered as standards or good and bad or right and wrong,
which are usually imposed by an external group or a society or
a profession or so.
Engineering Ethics is the study of decisions, policies and

values that are morally desirable in engineering practice and
research.
Behavior of Ethical Profession
 Respect others and ourselves

 Respecting the rights of others
 Keeping promises
 Avoid unnecessary problems to others
 Avoid cheating and dishonesty
 Showing gratitude towards others and encourage them to work.
Steps to deal with Ethical
Issues
1. Moral Awareness − One should be able to recognize the moral problems
and issues that occur in Engineering.
2. Cogent Moral Reasoning − In order to come to a conclusion on an issue,

the argument has to be assessed and comprehended.
3. Moral Coherence − After having gone through all the logical and moral
facts, consistent and comprehensive view points are to be formed based
upon a consideration of relevant facts.
Steps to deal with Ethical
Issues
4. Moral Imagination − The moral issues and the practical issues have
to be dealt separately.
5. Moral Communication − The language to communicate about one’s

moral views should be so precise and clear, that the expression or
words should not alter the original meaning.
Important Skill for Ethical Reasoning
1. Moral Reasonableness − The ability and willingness to be morally

reasonable that one should have while dealing such issues.
2. Respect for Persons − The persons involved in the issue, should be

treated with genuine concern by one.
3. Tolerance of diversity − One should have a broader perspective

towards ethnic and religious differences that the people have.
Important Skill for Ethical Reasoning
4. Moral hope − The moral conflicts can be resolved by using better

communication and having rational dialogue which is evident-based
and open-ended which is acceptable and appreciable by both the
parties.
5. Integrity − The moral integrity has to be maintained. Being honest

and having strong moral principles helps one to resolve an issue in an
efficient manner.
Main Categories of Ethical Theories
o Consequential Ethics
The Consequential ethics are values the outcome of which
determine the morality behind a particular action.
o Non-Consequential Ethics
The non-consequential ethics are values followed where
the source of morality comes from the standard values.
Types of Ethical Theories
o Golden Mean
The Golden Mean virtue can be understood as the virtue of
reaching a proper balance between extremes in conduct,
emotion, desire and attitude.
The Golden Mean ethical theory was proposed by Aristotle.

According to this theory, the solution to a problem is found
by analyzing the reason and the logic.
o Rights-based Ethical Theory

Rights-based ethics is the recognition of human dignity at
its most basic form.
The Rights based ethical theory was proposed by John

Locke. According to this theory, the solution to a problem is
by realizing that every person has a right to live.
o Duty-based Ethical Theory

Duty-based Ethical Theory is based on whether the action
itself is right or wrong under a series of rules, rather than
based on the consequences of the action.
The duty-based ethical theory was proposed by Immanuel

Kant. According to this theory, every person has a duty to
follow which is accepted universally, with no exceptions.
o Utilitarian Ethics
Utilitarian Ethics consider the cost-benefit analysis in
engineering that identifies the good and bad consequences
of some action or policy in a monetary aspect.
The Utilitarian ethics was proposed by John Stuart.

According to this theory, the happiness or pleasure of a
greatest number of people in the society is considered as
the greatest good.
Morals
What is Moral?
Morals are the principles or habits with respect to right or

wrong of one’s own conduct.
Moral Issue can be understood as an issue to be resolved not

only by considering the technical stuff but also by keeping
moral value in mind.
Types of Moral Issues
1. Micro-Ethics
This approach stresses more on the problems that occur on a daily
basis in the field of engineering and its practice by engineers.
2. Macro-Ethics
This approach deals with social problems which are unknown.
However, these problems may unexpectedly face the heat at both
regional and national levels.
Moral Dilemma
Moral Dilemma is a conflict in which you have to choose

between two or more actions and have moral reasons for
choosing each action.
Steps in Facing Moral Dilemmas
1. Identification
Steps of identification involves
• The issue has to be thoroughly understood.
• The duties and responsibilities of the persons involved
are to be clearly known.
• The moral factors related to the issue are to be
understood.
• The conflicting responsibilities, the competing rights and
clashing ideas involved are to be identified.
2. Ranking
Then they have to be ranked according to the priorities. The moral
aspect has to be considered to rank the issues. The advantages of
a single person should never be given any importance unless any
moral reason is there behind it. No partiality is allowed.
3. Inquiries
The inquiry of details involved in the issue is to be completely
made.
4. Discussions
Discussions are to be made with other members as different
minds look at the issue in different views to give different
solution.
5. Final Solution
After analyzing different perspectives and considering the
facts and reasons on the basis of truths and understanding
the flaws which lead to the issue, a final solution has to be
drawn out.
Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics is a guide of principles designed

to help professionals conduct business honestly
and with integrity.
Code of Ethics
A code of ethics document may outline the mission and

values of the business or organization, how
professionals are supposed to approach problems, the
ethical principles based on the organization's core
values, and the standards to which the professional is
held.
Fundamental Principle
1. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human

welfare and the environment.
2. Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public their
employers/employees and clients.
3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil

engineering profession.
4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their discipline

Fundamental Canon
1. Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the
public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable
development in the performance of their duties.
2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and

truthful manner.
4. Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client
as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
Fundamental Canon
5. Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit
of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
6. Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance

the honor, integrity, and dignity of the civil engineering profession.
7. Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development

throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the
professional development of those civil engineers under their
supervision.

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CONTRACTS, SPECIFICATION

LAWS AND ETHICS

Ethics are a set of rules or principles that are generally

Engineering Ethics is the study of decisions, policies and

 Respect others and ourselves

2. Cogent Moral Reasoning − In order to come to a conclusion on an issue,

5. Moral Communication − The language to communicate about one’s

1. Moral Reasonableness − The ability and willingness to be morally

2. Respect for Persons − The persons involved in the issue, should be

3. Tolerance of diversity − One should have a broader perspective

4. Moral hope − The moral conflicts can be resolved by using better

5. Integrity − The moral integrity has to be maintained. Being honest

The Golden Mean ethical theory was proposed by Aristotle.

o Rights-based Ethical Theory

The Rights based ethical theory was proposed by John

o Duty-based Ethical Theory

The duty-based ethical theory was proposed by Immanuel

The Utilitarian ethics was proposed by John Stuart.

Morals are the principles or habits with respect to right or

Moral Issue can be understood as an issue to be resolved not

Moral Dilemma is a conflict in which you have to choose

Code of Ethics is a guide of principles designed

A code of ethics document may outline the mission and

1. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human

3. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil

4. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their discipline

2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.

3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and

6. Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance

7. Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development

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