Engineering Ethics of Titanic Sinking Essay - 1756 Words

Steven Miller Phl 3221 Professor Tapp 5/24/2007 Utilitarianism Look at the Titanic When engineers design a product many things go in to the decision making process when it comes to selecting materials, design, and the manufacturing processes. One concern that has always been in the decision making process is trying to make sure the outcome will always be ethically good, although this isn’t always the case. Try as they might, no person is perfect, and accidents do happen. When engineering disasters happen there are many factors that may be involved, such as human factors, design flaws, extreme conditions, and materials failures. When these things do happen it is important to look at the ethical aspect of each part of the failure and†¦show more content†¦Jeremy Bentham created an algorithm to determine the degree or amount of pleasure that a specific action is likely to cause. He called this Hedonic Calculus and it was divided into seven different categories. Bentham based this calculation off of intensity, or the strength of the pleasure, duration or how long the pleasure will last, certainty or how likely it is pleasure will occur, propinquity or how soon the pleasure will occur, fecundity or the likeliness it will be followed by pleasures, purity or probability that feelings of the opposite will occur, and extent or how many people will be affected. I will try to put some of the major failures of the Titanic in to these categories to determine the ethical standing of the engineers responsible for the Titanic. When analyzing this disaster the first thing to consider is the engineer’s design of the Titanic. The Titanic was employing many new and innovative designs that were believed to make the Titanic the safest ship ever built at that time. The engineer’s of the vessel made claims that the Titanic was â€Å"unsinkable† and that â€Å"even in the worst possible accident at sea, the ship should have stayed afloat for two to three days.† One of the features that lead them to this claim was the 16 wate rtight compartments in the hull of the ship. The way they were designed allowed for up to four compartments to be breached and they ship would still carryShow MoreRelatedEthics And Ethics Of Engineering Ethics2079 Words   |  9 Pagesaddresses the importance of engineering ethics as it pertains to the health, safety, and well-being of not only individuals but society. By beginning with the root needs of engineering ethics by first discussing its history and then moving on to how unethical choices can and have had a deadly impact on communities. Once a basis is established the document states the core fundamentals, instructions, and responsibilities of engineering ethics. I. INTRODUCTION What is engineering ethics and what is its importanceRead MoreCan Human Error Be Prevented By Technology?2369 Words   |  10 Pagesâ€Å"Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry; ‘advances in computer technology, machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge, the branch of knowledge dealing with engineering or applied sciences.† There has been talk of needing reusable space transportation since the late 1960’s. But support politically and economically was never strong. NASA was making promises to the American people of increased national security andRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagespresident of Chile, was murdered in 1973 and her WOMEN IN THE TWENTIETH- CENTURY WORLD †¢ 113 family had to flee to safety abroad. In 1985, her novel, House of the Spirits, captured not only the titanic struggles of Chilean politics but also the activism of generations of titanic women, who are, among other fantastic qualities, clairvoyant. Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate (1989) was translated into two dozen languages and became a hit film because of its setting in a Mexican