Is it possible for an engineer to be casually responsible but not necessarily morally responsible?

Casual responsibility refers to the idea that an individual may be held accountable for the consequences of their actions due to their involvement or participation in an event. This type of responsibility does not always carry a moral dimension. In engineering, it is possible for an engineer to fulfill the basic requirements of their role or comply with regulations, thus meeting the threshold for casual responsibility. However, that does not necessarily imply they have acted with moral integrity or ethical considerations in mind.

For instance, an engineer might complete a project on time while adhering to technical specifications but might overlook ethical concerns such as safety or environmental impacts. Therefore, while they may be casually responsible for the successful completion of the project, they do not bear moral responsibility for any negative outcomes that arise from ignoring ethical issues. This nuance illustrates how an engineer can be in a position of responsibility without embodying the moral obligations that come with it.

This distinction is critical in the field of engineering, where ethical decision-making is paramount to protect public welfare and uphold professional standards.