Virtue Ethics At Texas A & M University

From a societal perspective, engineers are generally perceived as technical beings who support society in a concealed fashion, and are often neglected for their contribution beyond their technical nature. This categorization of engineers stem from the mindset that engineering ethics are a set of procedures that designs must be follow. However, this mindset lacks the motivation that will allow engineers to pursue an influential role in the technologically advanced society. Virtue ethics offers a perspective that promotes excellence in character and action towards societal flourishing. Virtues such as curiosity, perseverance, open-mindedness, technical competence, effective communication, awareness to safety, resilience, and courage are all

Technical competence stems from the expectation of engineers’ role responsibility to “use their specialized knowledge and skills in ways that benefit employers, clients, and the public and that do not betray the trust in them”. Texas A&M University provides the opportunity for engineering students to hone their technical competence during senior capstone project. As an electrical engineer, I am trained to reference and understand technical datasheets prior to the use of an electrical component. For example, I am aware of the significance in comprehending the minimum and maximum voltage, current, and power rating of devices before implementing the device in a circuit system. Failure to check the datasheet may result in damages to the board and sensitive components which consume time and resources. In an industrial context, the failure to understand the load of a power system could result in a blackout or a power surge, both with detrimental effects to the surrounding community. Effective communication is a virtue that can influence the success of a project, a company, or the collective society. Engineers who are specialized in technical roles are consulted for their unchallenged knowledge. However, without effective communication, it is meaningless for these engineers to hold such knowledge because it cannot be shared and implemented with others. For example, Roger Boisjoly’s inability to effectively communicate his safety concerns to Thiokol managers prior to the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger resulted in the deaths of seven crew members. Although many external factors played a role in the Challenger disaster, effective communication could have allowed Boisjoly to present a more compelling argument that would grant him support from his