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INSTRUCTOR: 
Carlos Bertha, Ph.D, COL (USA, Ret.), AM.ASCE

Purpose and Background

Many engineering ethics presentations out there consist of a case study followed by an analysis of what went wrong, what should have been done, etc. This seminar will take a different approach. As an engineer-turned-philosopher, Carlos Bertha will start with theory and then say something about the application of it. What moral theories underpin the analysis of case studies? What happens when different moral theories recommend different ways to resolve a dilemma? Why is understanding this important to engineers and other professionals?

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the difference between "morals" and "ethics"
• Explain the difference between "episteme" and "phronesis" (types of knowledge)
• Describe the three major theories in moral philosophy
• Describe the various approaches to morality
• Explain the function of casuistic analysis
• Explain how the ASCE Code of Ethics helps with the application of moral philosophy
• Consider how moral theories can be “applied” to specific moral dilemmas in engineering settings

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Achievement of the learning outcomes by attendees will be assessed through short quizzes and a final exam.

Who Should Attend?

ALL (but those in academia - especially those who incorporate ethics into their teaching curriculum - might find it particularly useful)

Outline

• Overall introduction and agenda
• How we learn things ("episteme" and "phronesis")
• An introduction to moral philosophy (a bit of episteme)
• Ethical triangle
• Three major moral theories
• Special case: morality and religion
• General approaches to morality
• Casuistic analysis
• Shift: From theory to practice (now for some phronesis)
• Helpful tool - The ASCE Code of Ethics
• Case Study: US Army Corps of Engineers construction efforts in Afghanistan
• Closing thoughts
• Q&A

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs

This course is worth .1 CEU / 1 PDH. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 30 days of the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]