Lecture on Ethics

Jul 5, 2024

Lecture on Ethics

Introduction

  • Ethics in Engineering: Different perspectives and educational approaches.
    • Professors often pointed to professional society ethics pages or ethical dilemma tests.
    • University now offers entire classes on ethics, analyzing real-life cases and discussions.

Lecturer’s Personal Disclaimer

  • Uses personal examples not because they are a paragon of ethics, but to illustrate points.
  • Admits personal flaws and brokenness like everyone else.
  • The lecture is personally challenging due to self-disclosure without knowing the audience.

Structure of the Lecture

  1. Where You're From: Family of origin.
  2. Who You Say You Are: Self-identity and choices.
  3. Who You Show You Are: Actions and behaviors that define you.

Family of Origin

  • Operating System Analogy: Parents install your initial 'operating system'—values, humor, interests, etc.
    • Example: Food traditions and cultural differences encountered in school.
  • Growing and Changing: College is a time for discovering who you are beyond the installed operating system.
    • Accepting or challenging the initial system is a personal choice.

Personal Experience and Background

  • Upbringing: Did not graduate high school; married at 16.
  • Early Life Struggles: Early pregnancy, various relocations, and eventual decision to attend community college without prior family precedent.
  • College Transition: Feeling out of place and struggling with educational context. Highlights the feeling of discrepancy and disconnection from family of origin and old friends.

First-Generation College Student Challenges

  • Social Disconnection: Experiencing a sense of discomfort when visiting family or old friends due to educational and experiential changes.
  • Culture Shock and Expectations: Different backgrounds leading to different worldviews and the discomfort of bridging the gap.
    • Personal anecdote: Feeling out of sync with her mother and community after gaining new experiences in college.

Discovering Personal Values and Identity

  • Decision-Making: Emphasized the importance of oneself making decisions about personal values and identity.
    • Example: Choosing college despite no family precedent or support.
  • Phases and Trials: College as a time for trying on different identities and values to see what fits.

Long-term Change

  • Continual Process: Personal growth and change continue beyond college years.
    • Example: Educational journey and life changes recounting the decision to pursue higher education.
  • Achieving Success through Personal Effort: Importance of integrity and self-driven success.

Behavior and Ethics in Practice

  • Actions Define You: Emphasizes that actions speak louder than words—who you show yourself to be through actions is your true identity.
    • Example: Refusing to cheat on an exam because it didn’t align with personal values.
  • Career Choices Based on Values: Making career decisions that align with personal ethics and values.
    • Example: Avoiding industries that manufacture weapons or medical devices where failure could cost lives.

Conclusion

  • Incorporating Ethics: Urges students to align their professional life with their personal values.
  • Continuous Growth: Learning and adapting values is a continuous process and shouldn't be rushed.

Closing Remarks

  • Encouragement to Reflect: Encourages students to reflect on their own values and how they live them out in real life.
  • Shared Experiences: Highlights the importance of shared experiences and normalizing feelings of change.