For many individuals, it is quite easy to believe in theories, responsibilities of helping others, keeping promises, and treating others reasonably. However, applying such theories in concrete circumstances has never been easy, particularly when choosing between opposing alternatives. Professional engineers usually fall into a dilemma as they endeavor to exercise moral theories in their career, but they can navigate ethical dilemmas better if they apply moral theories appropriately. For instance, a professional can apply deontology to evaluate whether an action is ethical or unethical by checking the rules that define individuals’ responsibilities. By using utilitarianism, a professional engineer can determine whether an action taken brings overall good and causes minimum harm to the subject. In terms of virtue ethics, a professional in engineering should focus on how he approaches a dilemma, rather than focusing on the rules or the consequences of taking a particular action to solve a dilemma.

Professionals should utilize moral theories to evaluate their actions. A civil engineer working on a wastewater system has to ensure that the tunnels will offer maximum benefits to the residents without interfering with the environment. Having studied the theory of utilitarianism would assist the engineer in considering the consequences of leaking tunnels while deontology would help the engineer in adhering to the rules that guide on his professionalism. Lack of previous knowledge on moral theories can make it difficult to a professional engineer, who has to evaluate actions in terms of the effects they create to the concerned people. A professional engineer who applies objective moral reasoning is capable of approaching a dilemma soberly than another professional relying on self-interested thinking because his choice is rational and many people are likely to agree on his proposition. Objective moral reasoning relies on facts while self-interest thinking operates on mere instincts, which might lead to ethical or unethical behavior.