Step 2: Normative Requirements Pass (Facts Section)
Extract principles, obligations, constraints, and capabilities from the facts section
Sustainability - Lawn Irrigation Design
Step 2 of 5
Facts Section
Section Content:
Facts: Engineer Jaylani is a firm principal for Cutting Edge Engineering and is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for a new resort that will be located in a semi-arid region of the southwestern United States. The project’s landscape architect specifies a traditional lawn irrigation system for the resort’s golf course as part of the project. Engineer Intern Wasser is a new employee at Cutting Edge, and Engineer Jaylani assigns Wasser the task of sketching out details for the irrigation system. Wasser refuses to perform the task and says the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water, cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table, and asserts that Cutting Edge should not do this kind of work. In a formal memorandum to Jaylani, Wasser argues the proposed lawn irrigation system is not consistent with several United Nations sustainable development goals including but not limited to Goal 6– Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Goal 11– Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Goal 15– Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss. Further, Wasser points to NSPE Code of Ethics Professional Obligation III.2.d, “Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development,” and claims the proposed lawn irrigation system does not conform to sustainability principles.
Principles Extraction
LLM Prompt
DUAL PRINCIPLE EXTRACTION - Ethical Principles Analysis
THEORETICAL CONTEXT (Chapter 2.2.2):
- Principles are ABSTRACT ethical foundations requiring extensional definition through cases
- They function like constitutional principles - open-textured and requiring interpretation
- Principles mediate moral ideals into concrete reality through context-specific application
- They cannot be applied deductively but require balancing and interpretation
EXISTING PRINCIPLE CLASSES IN ONTOLOGY:
- Competence Principle: Balances professional autonomy with recognition of limitations and need for collaboration.
- Confidentiality Principle: Must be balanced against public safety obligations and legal disclosure requirements.
- Domain-Specific Principle: Examples: Environmental Stewardship (engineering), Patient Autonomy (medicine), Academic Freedom (education). These address domain-specific ethical ch
- Environmental Stewardship Principle: Bridges engineering practice with broader environmental and societal responsibilities.
- Ethical Principle: Legacy synonym for Principle. Use :Principle for new concepts.
- Fundamental Ethical Principle: Examples: Public Welfare Paramount, Respect for Persons, Justice, Beneficence. These require extensive interpretation and balancing in specific contex
- Integrity Principle: Central to professional identity formation and trust maintenance in professional relationships.
- Principle: An information content entity representing ethical values and guidelines for conduct. This is the P component of the formal specification D=(R,P,O,S,R
- Principle Argument: An argument based on fundamental ethical principles or values.
- Principle Refinement: Capability to evolve principles as inconsistencies are resolved and new cases are added (GenEth system, Anderson & Anderson 2018)
- Professional Virtue Principle: Examples: Integrity, Competence, Honesty, Professional Courage, Accountability. These shape professional character and decision-making.
- Public Welfare Principle: Requires contextual interpretation to balance against client confidentiality and employer loyalty when public safety is at risk.
- Relational Principle: Examples: Confidentiality, Loyalty, Fairness, Transparency, Respect for Autonomy. These govern interpersonal professional dynamics.
- Transparency Principle: Essential for maintaining trust and enabling stakeholder participation in professional decisions.
=== TASK ===
From the following case text (facts section), extract information at TWO levels:
LEVEL 1 - NEW PRINCIPLE CLASSES: Identify ethical principles that appear to be NEW types not covered by existing classes above. Look for:
- Fundamental ethical values being invoked
- Abstract moral ideals guiding decisions
- Constitutional-like principles requiring interpretation
- Values that transcend specific rules or obligations
For each NEW principle class, provide:
- label: Clear principle name (e.g., "Environmental Stewardship", "Professional Autonomy")
- definition: What moral ideal this principle represents
- abstract_nature: The abstract ethical foundation (justice, welfare, autonomy, etc.)
- extensional_examples: Concrete cases/situations where this principle applies
- value_basis: Core moral value underlying the principle
- application_context: Professional domains or situations where relevant
- operationalization: How this abstract principle becomes concrete in practice
- balancing_requirements: What other principles it typically must be balanced against
- examples_from_case: How this principle appears in the case text
LEVEL 2 - PRINCIPLE INDIVIDUALS: Identify specific instances where principles are invoked or applied. For each instance:
- identifier: Unique identifier for this principle instance (e.g., "PublicSafety_Case8_Discussion")
- principle_class: Which principle class it instantiates (use existing classes when possible)
- concrete_expression: EXACT text showing how the principle is expressed
- invoked_by: Who invokes or appeals to this principle
- applied_to: What decision/situation/dilemma it applies to
- interpretation: How the principle is interpreted in this specific context
- balancing_with: Other principles that must be balanced against it
- tension_resolution: How conflicts between principles are resolved
- case_relevance: Why this principle matters in this specific case
IMPORTANT:
- Focus on ABSTRACT ethical foundations, not specific rules or procedures
- Principles are broader than obligations - they generate obligations in context
- Use EXACT quotes from case text where principles are expressed
- Distinguish between the abstract principle CLASS and its concrete APPLICATION
CASE TEXT:
Engineer Jaylani is a firm principal for Cutting Edge Engineering and is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for a new resort that will be located in a semi-arid region of the southwestern United States. The project’s landscape architect specifies a traditional lawn irrigation system for the resort’s golf course as part of the project. Engineer Intern Wasser is a new employee at Cutting Edge, and Engineer Jaylani assigns Wasser the task of sketching out details for the irrigation system.
Wasser refuses to perform the task and says the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water, cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table, and asserts that Cutting Edge should not do this kind of work. In a formal memorandum to Jaylani, Wasser argues the proposed lawn irrigation system is not consistent with several United Nations sustainable development goals including but not limited to Goal 6– Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Goal 11– Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Goal 15– Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.
Further, Wasser points to NSPE Code of Ethics Professional Obligation III.2.d, “Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development,” and claims the proposed lawn irrigation system does not conform to sustainability principles.
Respond with valid JSON in this format:
{
"new_principle_classes": [
{
"label": "Sustainable Development",
"definition": "Principle that engineering solutions must balance current needs with long-term environmental and societal impacts",
"abstract_nature": "Intergenerational justice and environmental stewardship",
"extensional_examples": ["Green building design", "Renewable energy projects", "Resource conservation"],
"value_basis": "Responsibility to future generations",
"application_context": ["Infrastructure projects", "Environmental engineering", "Urban planning"],
"operationalization": "Through environmental impact assessments, lifecycle analysis, sustainable design criteria",
"balancing_requirements": ["Economic feasibility", "Immediate safety needs", "Client requirements"],
"examples_from_case": ["Engineer considered long-term environmental impacts", "balanced immediate needs with sustainability"],
"source_text": "Engineer considered long-term environmental impacts and balanced immediate needs with sustainability"
}
],
"principle_individuals": [
{
"identifier": "PublicSafety_Case8_Facts",
"principle_class": "Public Safety",
"concrete_expression": "the safety of the public must be held paramount",
"invoked_by": ["Engineer L"],
"applied_to": ["stormwater management system design"],
"interpretation": "Safety considerations override cost savings in drainage design",
"source_text": "the safety of the public must be held paramount",
"balancing_with": ["Cost Efficiency", "Client Interests"],
"tension_resolution": "Safety takes precedence even if it increases project costs",
"case_relevance": "Critical for evaluating adequacy of proposed drainage solution"
}
]
}
Saved: 2025-12-20 17:57
LLM Response
```json
{
"new_principle_classes": [
{
"label": "Sustainable Development Principle",
"definition": "Principle requiring engineering practices to ensure availability and sustainable management of resources for current and future generations",
"abstract_nature": "Intergenerational justice and resource stewardship",
"extensional_examples": ["Water conservation systems", "Renewable energy infrastructure", "Ecosystem preservation projects", "Green building certification"],
"value_basis": "Responsibility to future generations and ecosystem preservation",
"application_context": ["Water resource management", "Land development", "Infrastructure design", "Environmental engineering"],
"operationalization": "Through adherence to UN sustainable development goals, environmental impact assessments, resource conservation measures",
"balancing_requirements": ["Client preferences", "Economic feasibility", "Contractual obligations", "Traditional design practices"],
"examples_from_case": ["Wasser cites UN sustainable development goals", "argues against traditional irrigation system", "references NSPE Code obligation to sustainable development"],
"source_text": "Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development"
}
],
"principle_individuals": [
{
"identifier": "SustainableDevelopment_Wasser_Refusal",
"principle_class": "Sustainable Development Principle",
"concrete_expression": "Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development",
"invoked_by": ["Engineer Intern Wasser"],
"applied_to": ["Design of golf course irrigation system"],
"interpretation": "Traditional irrigation systems that waste fresh water and lower water tables violate sustainable development principles",
"source_text": "Wasser points to NSPE Code of Ethics Professional Obligation III.2.d, 'Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development,' and claims the proposed lawn irrigation system does not conform to sustainability principles",
"balancing_with": ["Contractual obligations", "Client specifications", "Employment duties"],
"tension_resolution": "Unresolved - Wasser refuses task based on principle violation",
"case_relevance": "Central ethical conflict between sustainable development and contractual/employment obligations"
},
{
"identifier": "EnvironmentalStewardship_Wasser_WaterTable",
"principle_class": "Environmental Stewardship Principle",
"concrete_expression": "the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water, cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table",
"invoked_by": ["Engineer Intern Wasser"],
"applied_to": ["Golf course irrigation system design"],
"interpretation": "Engineering designs must protect water resources and prevent environmental degradation",
"source_text": "Wasser refuses to perform the task and says the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water, cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table",
"balancing_with": ["Client specifications", "Traditional design practices"],
"tension_resolution": "Wasser prioritizes environmental protection over client preferences",
"case_relevance": "Provides scientific basis for ethical objection to traditional irrigation design"
},
{
"identifier": "IntergenerationalJustice_Wasser_UNGoals",
"principle_class": "Sustainable Development Principle",
"concrete_expression": "Goal 6– Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Goal 11– Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Goal 15– Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems",
"invoked_by": ["Engineer Intern Wasser"],
"applied_to": ["Resort development project in semi-arid region"],
"interpretation": "Engineering projects must align with global sustainability goals to ensure resource availability for future generations",
"source_text": "Wasser argues the proposed lawn irrigation system is not consistent with several United Nations sustainable development goals including but not limited to Goal 6– Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Goal 11– Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Goal 15– Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems",
"balancing_with": ["Immediate project requirements", "Landscape architect's specifications"],
"tension_resolution": "Wasser argues UN goals should override traditional design specifications",
"case_relevance": "Provides international ethical framework for evaluating irrigation system design"
},
{
"identifier": "ProfessionalAutonomy_Wasser_Refusal",
"principle_class": "Competence Principle",
"concrete_expression": "Wasser refuses to perform the task",
"invoked_by": ["Engineer Intern Wasser"],
"applied_to": ["Assignment to design traditional irrigation system"],
"interpretation": "Professional judgment includes right to refuse work that violates ethical principles",
"source_text": "Wasser refuses to perform the task",
"balancing_with": ["Employment obligations", "Hierarchical authority"],
"tension_resolution": "Wasser exercises professional autonomy despite being a new employee",
"case_relevance": "Raises question of intern's right to refuse assignments on ethical grounds"
}
]
}
```
Obligations Extraction
LLM Prompt
You are an expert in professional ethics analyzing a case for obligations (professional duties and requirements).
Based on the literature:
- Obligations are CONCRETE PROFESSIONAL DUTIES derived from abstract principles (Hallamaa & Kalliokoski 2022)
- They specify what professionals MUST, SHOULD, or MUST NOT do (Dennis et al. 2016)
- Obligations have deontic force and are enforceable (Wooldridge & Jennings 1995)
- They operationalize principles in specific contexts (Kong et al. 2020)
Your task is to:
1. Identify NEW OBLIGATION CLASSES not in the existing ontology
2. Extract SPECIFIC OBLIGATION INDIVIDUALS from the case
EXISTING OBLIGATIONS IN ONTOLOGY (check if your identified obligations match these before creating new classes):
- Attribution Obligation: Duty to properly cite and acknowledge all sources, tools, and methods used in creating professional deliverables
- Collegial Obligation: Duties toward professional peers including respect, fairness, and credit for work
- Competence Obligation: Requirement to perform services only in areas of competence (NSPE II.2)
- Conditional Obligation: Obligations that apply only when specific conditions are met
- Confidentiality Obligation: Duty to protect confidential information of clients or employers (NSPE III.4)
- Defeasible Obligation: Obligations that admit justified exceptions under specified conditions (Ganascia 2007)
- Disclosure Obligation: Requirement to inform stakeholders about conflicts, limitations, or risks (NSPE II.3.a)
- Ethical Obligation: Obligations arising from ethical principles beyond legal requirements
- Legal Obligation: Obligations arising from legal requirements and regulations
- Mandatory Obligation: Obligations that MUST be fulfilled (deontic force: mandatory)
- Obligation: An information content entity expressing required actions or behaviors in professional contexts. This is the O component of the formal specification D=(R,P,O,S,Rs,A,E,Ca,Cs).
- Prima Facie Obligation: Obligations that hold at first appearance but may be overridden by stronger duties (Anderson & Anderson)
- Professional Obligation: A duty or responsibility arising from professional role or standards
- Quality Assurance Obligation: Requirement to implement appropriate review and verification processes for all professional deliverables before submission
- Reporting Obligation: Duty to report violations or unsafe conditions to appropriate authorities
- Responsible Charge Obligation: Duty to maintain active engagement and personal decision-making authority throughout engineering process from conception to completion
- Safety Obligation: Duty to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public (NSPE I.1)
- Technology Competence Obligation: Requirement to understand and verify the capabilities, limitations, and risks of technological tools used in professional practice
- Technology Verification Obligation: Requirement to thoroughly verify and validate outputs from technological tools including AI before incorporating them into professional work
Analyze this facts section:
Engineer Jaylani is a firm principal for Cutting Edge Engineering and is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for a new resort that will be located in a semi-arid region of the southwestern United States. The project’s landscape architect specifies a traditional lawn irrigation system for the resort’s golf course as part of the project. Engineer Intern Wasser is a new employee at Cutting Edge, and Engineer Jaylani assigns Wasser the task of sketching out details for the irrigation system.
Wasser refuses to perform the task and says the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water, cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table, and asserts that Cutting Edge should not do this kind of work. In a formal memorandum to Jaylani, Wasser argues the proposed lawn irrigation system is not consistent with several United Nations sustainable development goals including but not limited to Goal 6– Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Goal 11– Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Goal 15– Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.
Further, Wasser points to NSPE Code of Ethics Professional Obligation III.2.d, “Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development,” and claims the proposed lawn irrigation system does not conform to sustainability principles.
Extract obligations following this JSON structure:
{
"new_obligation_classes": [
{
"label": "Clear, specific obligation class name",
"definition": "What this type of obligation requires professionals to do",
"derived_from_principle": "Which principle this operationalizes (e.g., 'Public Safety', 'Honesty')",
"duty_type": "professional|legal|ethical|societal",
"enforcement_mechanism": "How this obligation is typically enforced",
"violation_consequences": "What happens when this obligation is violated",
"examples_from_case": ["Example 1 from the case", "Example 2"],
"source_text": "EXACT text snippet from case where this obligation is identified (max 200 characters)",
"confidence": 0.0-1.0,
"reasoning": "Why this is a new class not in existing ontology"
}
],
"obligation_individuals": [
{
"identifier": "Unique name for this specific obligation instance",
"obligation_class": "Name of the obligation class (new or existing)",
"obligated_party": "Who has this obligation (e.g., 'Engineer L', 'All Licensed PEs')",
"obligation_statement": "The specific duty statement (e.g., 'Report safety risks to authorities')",
"derived_from": "Source principle or law (e.g., 'NSPE Code', 'State Law')",
"enforcement_context": "How enforced in this case",
"temporal_scope": "When this obligation applies",
"compliance_status": "met|unmet|unclear|pending",
"case_context": "How this obligation manifests in the specific case",
"source_text": "EXACT text snippet from case where this obligation is mentioned (max 200 characters)",
"is_existing_class": true/false,
"confidence": 0.0-1.0
}
]
}
Focus on:
1. NEW obligation types that represent novel professional duties
2. Specific obligation instances showing how duties apply in this case
3. The relationship between obligations and the principles they operationalize
4. Enforcement mechanisms and compliance status
Return ONLY the JSON structure, no additional text.
Saved: 2025-12-20 17:57
LLM Response
```json
{
"new_obligation_classes": [
{
"label": "Sustainability Obligation",
"definition": "Duty to adhere to principles of sustainable development and consider environmental impact in professional decisions",
"derived_from_principle": "Environmental Stewardship",
"duty_type": "professional",
"enforcement_mechanism": "Professional review boards, environmental regulations, and code of ethics enforcement",
"violation_consequences": "Professional censure, project rejection, environmental damage, reputational harm",
"examples_from_case": ["Adherence to sustainable development principles", "Consideration of water table impact"],
"source_text": "Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development",
"confidence": 0.9,
"reasoning": "While environmental considerations appear in existing classes, a specific sustainability obligation addressing sustainable development principles is not explicitly present"
},
{
"label": "Supervisory Direction Obligation",
"definition": "Duty of supervised professionals to follow lawful and ethical directions from supervising engineers",
"derived_from_principle": "Professional Hierarchy and Authority",
"duty_type": "professional",
"enforcement_mechanism": "Employment contracts, professional supervision standards, workplace policies",
"violation_consequences": "Employment termination, professional development issues, project delays",
"examples_from_case": ["Wasser refusing to perform assigned task", "Intern expected to follow principal's direction"],
"source_text": "Wasser refuses to perform the task",
"confidence": 0.8,
"reasoning": "The case presents a conflict between an intern's duty to follow supervisor directions and other ethical obligations, suggesting a distinct obligation class"
}
],
"obligation_individuals": [
{
"identifier": "Jaylani_Responsible_Charge_MEP",
"obligation_class": "Responsible Charge Obligation",
"obligated_party": "Engineer Jaylani",
"obligation_statement": "Maintain responsible charge over mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for resort project",
"derived_from": "Professional contract and engineering standards",
"enforcement_context": "Contract enforcement and professional liability",
"temporal_scope": "Duration of resort project contract",
"compliance_status": "pending",
"case_context": "Jaylani as firm principal contracted for MEP work must maintain oversight",
"source_text": "Engineer Jaylani is a firm principal for Cutting Edge Engineering and is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work",
"is_existing_class": true,
"confidence": 0.95
},
{
"identifier": "Wasser_Sustainability_Adherence",
"obligation_class": "Sustainability Obligation",
"obligated_party": "Engineer Intern Wasser",
"obligation_statement": "Adhere to principles of sustainable development per NSPE III.2.d",
"derived_from": "NSPE Code of Ethics III.2.d",
"enforcement_context": "Professional ethics review",
"temporal_scope": "During all professional activities",
"compliance_status": "met",
"case_context": "Wasser citing sustainability concerns and refusing work that violates sustainable development goals",
"source_text": "NSPE Code of Ethics Professional Obligation III.2.d, 'Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development'",
"is_existing_class": false,
"confidence": 0.9
},
{
"identifier": "Wasser_Supervisory_Direction",
"obligation_class": "Supervisory Direction Obligation",
"obligated_party": "Engineer Intern Wasser",
"obligation_statement": "Follow lawful and ethical directions from supervising Engineer Jaylani",
"derived_from": "Professional supervision standards and employment relationship",
"enforcement_context": "Employment policies and professional supervision",
"temporal_scope": "During employment at Cutting Edge Engineering",
"compliance_status": "unmet",
"case_context": "Wasser refusing to perform assigned irrigation system task",
"source_text": "Wasser refuses to perform the task",
"is_existing_class": false,
"confidence": 0.85
},
{
"identifier": "CuttingEdge_Environmental_Impact",
"obligation_class": "Sustainability Obligation",
"obligated_party": "Cutting Edge Engineering",
"obligation_statement": "Consider environmental impact including water table effects in engineering decisions",
"derived_from": "Professional responsibility and sustainable development principles",
"enforcement_context": "Environmental regulations and professional standards",
"temporal_scope": "During resort project design and implementation",
"compliance_status": "unclear",
"case_context": "Firm must balance client specifications with environmental concerns raised about water table",
"source_text": "recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table",
"is_existing_class": false,
"confidence": 0.8
}
]
}
```
Constraints Extraction
LLM Prompt
You are an expert in professional ethics analyzing a case for constraints (boundaries, limitations, and restrictions).
Based on the literature:
- Constraints are INVIOLABLE BOUNDARIES that limit acceptable actions (Dennis et al. 2016)
- They differ from obligations by being restrictions rather than requirements
- Constraints can be legal, physical, resource-based, or procedural
- They define the space within which ethical decisions must be made
Your task is to:
1. Identify NEW CONSTRAINT CLASSES not in the existing ontology
2. Extract SPECIFIC CONSTRAINT INDIVIDUALS from the case
EXISTING CONSTRAINTS IN ONTOLOGY (check if your identified constraints match these before creating new classes):
- Attribution Constraint: Requirements and limitations regarding the disclosure and citation of tools, methods, or sources used in professional work products
- Competence Constraint: Boundaries defined by agent capabilities and technical limitations (Hallamaa & Kalliokoski 2022)
- Confidentiality Constraint: Boundaries on information disclosure and privacy (Dennis et al. 2016)
- Constraint: An information content entity expressing limitations or restrictions on professional actions or decisions. This is the Cs component of the formal specification D=(R,P,O,S,Rs,A,E,Ca,Cs).
- Defeasible Constraint: Constraints that admit justified exceptions under specified conditions (Ganascia 2007)
- Ethical Constraint: Professional ethical boundaries beyond legal requirements (Benzmüller et al. 2020)
- Inviolable Constraint: Absolute constraints that cannot be overridden under any circumstances (Dennis et al. 2016)
- Jurisdictional Constraint: Boundaries of authority and geographical or organizational scope (Dennis et al. 2016)
- Legal Constraint: Constraints arising from legal requirements and statutes that establish inviolable boundaries (Kroll 2020, Stenseke 2024)
- Priority Constraint: Constraints establishing precedence when multiple requirements conflict (Scheutz & Malle 2014)
- Procedural Constraint: Requirements for following specific processes or protocols (Furbach et al. 2014)
- Regulatory Constraint: Constraints from regulatory bodies and professional standards organizations (Taddeo et al. 2024)
- Resource Constraint: Limitations on available time, budget, materials, or human resources (Ganascia 2007)
- Safety Constraint: Constraints ensuring safety requirements are met (Arkin 2008)
- Technology Substitution Constraint: Boundaries preventing technology from replacing professional judgment and human oversight in critical decision-making
Analyze this facts section:
Engineer Jaylani is a firm principal for Cutting Edge Engineering and is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for a new resort that will be located in a semi-arid region of the southwestern United States. The project’s landscape architect specifies a traditional lawn irrigation system for the resort’s golf course as part of the project. Engineer Intern Wasser is a new employee at Cutting Edge, and Engineer Jaylani assigns Wasser the task of sketching out details for the irrigation system.
Wasser refuses to perform the task and says the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water, cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table, and asserts that Cutting Edge should not do this kind of work. In a formal memorandum to Jaylani, Wasser argues the proposed lawn irrigation system is not consistent with several United Nations sustainable development goals including but not limited to Goal 6– Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Goal 11– Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Goal 15– Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.
Further, Wasser points to NSPE Code of Ethics Professional Obligation III.2.d, “Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development,” and claims the proposed lawn irrigation system does not conform to sustainability principles.
Extract constraints following this JSON structure:
{
"new_constraint_classes": [
{
"label": "Clear, specific constraint class name",
"definition": "What this type of constraint limits or restricts",
"constraint_type": "legal|physical|resource|temporal|procedural",
"flexibility": "hard|soft|negotiable",
"violation_impact": "What happens if this constraint is violated",
"mitigation_possible": "Whether and how this constraint can be mitigated",
"examples_from_case": ["Example 1 from the case", "Example 2"],
"source_text": "EXACT text snippet from case where this constraint is identified (max 200 characters)",
"confidence": 0.0-1.0,
"reasoning": "Why this is a new class not in existing ontology"
}
],
"constraint_individuals": [
{
"identifier": "Unique name for this specific constraint instance",
"constraint_class": "Name of the constraint class (new or existing)",
"constrained_entity": "What or who is constrained (e.g., 'Engineer L', 'Project')",
"constraint_statement": "The specific limitation (e.g., 'Cannot exceed budget of $X')",
"source": "Origin of constraint (e.g., 'Client budget', 'Environmental law')",
"enforcement_mechanism": "How this constraint is enforced",
"temporal_scope": "When this constraint applies",
"severity": "critical|major|minor",
"case_context": "How this constraint manifests in the specific case",
"source_text": "EXACT text snippet from case where this constraint is mentioned (max 200 characters)",
"is_existing_class": true/false,
"confidence": 0.0-1.0
}
]
}
Focus on:
1. NEW constraint types that represent novel limitations or boundaries
2. Specific constraint instances showing how limitations apply in this case
3. The difference between constraints (boundaries) and obligations (duties)
4. Impact and severity of constraints on decision-making
Return ONLY the JSON structure, no additional text.
Saved: 2025-12-20 17:57
LLM Response
```json
{
"new_constraint_classes": [
{
"label": "Environmental Impact Constraint",
"definition": "Limitations on professional actions based on documented environmental consequences and ecosystem preservation requirements",
"constraint_type": "physical",
"flexibility": "soft",
"violation_impact": "Environmental degradation, water table depletion, ecosystem damage",
"mitigation_possible": "Alternative designs or technologies that minimize environmental impact",
"examples_from_case": ["Water table lowering from irrigation", "Semi-arid region water scarcity"],
"source_text": "cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table",
"confidence": 0.85,
"reasoning": "Distinct from Safety or Regulatory constraints - focuses on physical environmental boundaries and ecosystem limits rather than human safety or regulatory compliance"
},
{
"label": "Contractual Scope Constraint",
"definition": "Boundaries defined by existing contractual obligations that limit the ability to modify or refuse specified work",
"constraint_type": "legal",
"flexibility": "hard",
"violation_impact": "Breach of contract, legal liability, financial penalties",
"mitigation_possible": "Contract renegotiation or amendment with client consent",
"examples_from_case": ["Contract to complete MEP work", "Landscape architect's specifications"],
"source_text": "is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for a new resort",
"confidence": 0.9,
"reasoning": "Different from general Legal Constraint - specifically addresses boundaries created by contractual commitments already in place"
}
],
"constraint_individuals": [
{
"identifier": "Water_Table_Depletion_Constraint",
"constraint_class": "Environmental Impact Constraint",
"constrained_entity": "Cutting Edge Engineering",
"constraint_statement": "Cannot implement irrigation systems that lower the water table in semi-arid regions",
"source": "Hydrogeological study",
"enforcement_mechanism": "Environmental impact assessments and water resource management regulations",
"temporal_scope": "Duration of project and long-term environmental impact",
"severity": "major",
"case_context": "Traditional lawn irrigation system would deplete water resources in semi-arid southwestern US",
"source_text": "cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table",
"is_existing_class": false,
"confidence": 0.85
},
{
"identifier": "MEP_Contract_Obligation",
"constraint_class": "Contractual Scope Constraint",
"constrained_entity": "Engineer Jaylani",
"constraint_statement": "Must complete mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work as specified for the resort project",
"source": "Client contract",
"enforcement_mechanism": "Legal contract enforcement",
"temporal_scope": "Duration of contract",
"severity": "critical",
"case_context": "Jaylani's firm is contractually obligated to complete specified work including irrigation system",
"source_text": "is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for a new resort",
"is_existing_class": false,
"confidence": 0.9
},
{
"identifier": "Semi_Arid_Water_Resource_Limit",
"constraint_class": "Resource Constraint",
"constrained_entity": "Resort project",
"constraint_statement": "Limited water availability in semi-arid region restricts irrigation options",
"source": "Geographic and climatic conditions",
"enforcement_mechanism": "Physical water availability and environmental regulations",
"temporal_scope": "Permanent geographic constraint",
"severity": "critical",
"case_context": "Resort located in water-scarce southwestern United States region",
"source_text": "new resort that will be located in a semi-arid region of the southwestern United States",
"is_existing_class": true,
"confidence": 0.95
},
{
"identifier": "Landscape_Architect_Specification",
"constraint_class": "Procedural Constraint",
"constrained_entity": "Cutting Edge Engineering",
"constraint_statement": "Must follow landscape architect's specifications for traditional lawn irrigation system",
"source": "Project design specifications",
"enforcement_mechanism": "Professional coordination and project requirements",
"temporal_scope": "Project duration",
"severity": "major",
"case_context": "Landscape architect has already specified traditional irrigation system design",
"source_text": "The project's landscape architect specifies a traditional lawn irrigation system for the resort's golf course",
"is_existing_class": true,
"confidence": 0.8
}
]
}
```
Capabilities Extraction
LLM Prompt
You are an expert in professional ethics analyzing a case for capabilities (competencies and skills required for professional practice).
Based on the literature:
- Capabilities are COMPETENCIES that enable norm compliance (Hallamaa & Kalliokoski 2022)
- They represent the skills needed to fulfill professional obligations (Dennis et al. 2016)
- Capabilities include technical, ethical, communicative, and analytical competencies
- They constitute "norm competence" - the ability to act ethically (Kong et al. 2020)
Your task is to:
1. Identify NEW CAPABILITY CLASSES not in the existing ontology
2. Extract SPECIFIC CAPABILITY INDIVIDUALS from the case
EXISTING CAPABILITIES IN ONTOLOGY (check if your identified capabilities match these before creating new classes):
- AI Tool Evaluation Capability: The competency to assess, validate, and appropriately use AI-generated content in professional work
- Capability: A realizable entity that can be realized by specific types of actions or processes in professional contexts. This is the Ca component of the formal specification D=(R,P,O,S,Rs,A,E,Ca,Cs).
- Capability Type: Meta-class for specific capability types recognized by the ProEthica system
- Data Privacy Protection Capability: The competency to safeguard confidential client information when using digital tools and platforms
- Justification Capability: Capability to trace reasoning paths connecting decisions to authoritative sources (McLaren 2003, Anderson & Anderson 2018)
- Regulatory Compliance Capability: The competency to ensure designs and documents meet local regulations and safety standards
- Responsible Charge Capability: The competency to maintain active engagement and supervisory control from conception to completion of engineering work
- Technical Capability: A specialized technical skill or competency in a professional domain
- Technical Writing Capability: The competency to produce clear, accurate, and professional technical documentation and reports
- Technology Integration Capability: The competency to appropriately integrate new technologies while maintaining professional judgment
Analyze this facts section:
Engineer Jaylani is a firm principal for Cutting Edge Engineering and is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for a new resort that will be located in a semi-arid region of the southwestern United States. The project’s landscape architect specifies a traditional lawn irrigation system for the resort’s golf course as part of the project. Engineer Intern Wasser is a new employee at Cutting Edge, and Engineer Jaylani assigns Wasser the task of sketching out details for the irrigation system.
Wasser refuses to perform the task and says the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water, cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table, and asserts that Cutting Edge should not do this kind of work. In a formal memorandum to Jaylani, Wasser argues the proposed lawn irrigation system is not consistent with several United Nations sustainable development goals including but not limited to Goal 6– Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, Goal 11– Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Goal 15– Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.
Further, Wasser points to NSPE Code of Ethics Professional Obligation III.2.d, “Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development,” and claims the proposed lawn irrigation system does not conform to sustainability principles.
Extract capabilities following this JSON structure:
{
"new_capability_classes": [
{
"label": "Clear, specific capability class name",
"definition": "What competency or skill this capability represents",
"capability_type": "technical|ethical|communicative|analytical",
"norm_competence_related": "Which professional obligations this capability enables",
"skill_level": "basic|intermediate|advanced|expert",
"acquisition_method": "How this capability is typically acquired (education, training, experience)",
"examples_from_case": ["Example 1 from the case", "Example 2"],
"source_text": "EXACT text snippet from case where this capability is identified (max 200 characters)",
"confidence": 0.0-1.0,
"reasoning": "Why this is a new class not in existing ontology"
}
],
"capability_individuals": [
{
"identifier": "Unique name for this specific capability instance",
"capability_class": "Name of the capability class (new or existing)",
"possessed_by": "Who has this capability (e.g., 'Engineer L', 'All Licensed PEs')",
"capability_statement": "The specific competency (e.g., 'Design stormwater systems')",
"demonstrated_through": "How shown in the case (e.g., 'Years of experience', 'Professional license')",
"proficiency_level": "basic|intermediate|advanced|expert",
"enables_obligations": "Which obligations this capability enables",
"temporal_aspect": "When this capability is relevant",
"case_context": "How this capability manifests in the specific case",
"source_text": "EXACT text snippet from case where this capability is mentioned (max 200 characters)",
"is_existing_class": true/false,
"confidence": 0.0-1.0
}
]
}
Focus on:
1. NEW capability types that represent novel competencies
2. Specific capability instances showing professional competencies in this case
3. The relationship between capabilities and norm competence
4. How capabilities enable fulfillment of professional obligations
Return ONLY the JSON structure, no additional text.
Saved: 2025-12-20 17:58
LLM Response
```json
{
"new_capability_classes": [
{
"label": "Sustainability Assessment Capability",
"definition": "The competency to evaluate projects and designs against sustainability principles and environmental impact criteria",
"capability_type": "analytical",
"norm_competence_related": "Enables adherence to sustainable development principles and environmental protection obligations",
"skill_level": "intermediate",
"acquisition_method": "Environmental engineering education, sustainability training, professional development courses",
"examples_from_case": ["Evaluating water table impact", "Assessing UN sustainable development goals compliance"],
"source_text": "cites a recent hydrogeological study indicating that the proposed use would lower the water table",
"confidence": 0.9,
"reasoning": "Distinct from existing capabilities - specifically focuses on evaluating sustainability and environmental impacts, not covered by current ontology"
},
{
"label": "Ethical Objection Capability",
"definition": "The competency to formally articulate and document ethical concerns about professional work assignments",
"capability_type": "ethical",
"norm_competence_related": "Enables fulfillment of duty to raise ethical concerns and protect public welfare",
"skill_level": "advanced",
"acquisition_method": "Ethics training, professional experience, mentorship in ethical decision-making",
"examples_from_case": ["Refusing unethical task", "Writing formal memorandum with ethical justification"],
"source_text": "Wasser refuses to perform the task and says the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water",
"confidence": 0.85,
"reasoning": "Not covered by existing Justification Capability - this specifically addresses the ability to object to and document ethical concerns"
},
{
"label": "Resource Conservation Capability",
"definition": "The competency to identify and implement resource-efficient solutions in engineering designs",
"capability_type": "technical",
"norm_competence_related": "Enables compliance with sustainability obligations and resource management standards",
"skill_level": "intermediate",
"acquisition_method": "Environmental engineering coursework, water resource management training, sustainable design certification",
"examples_from_case": ["Identifying water waste", "Proposing alternative to traditional irrigation"],
"source_text": "the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water",
"confidence": 0.8,
"reasoning": "Specific technical capability for resource efficiency not covered by existing Technology Integration or Technical Capability classes"
}
],
"capability_individuals": [
{
"identifier": "Wasser_Sustainability_Assessment",
"capability_class": "Sustainability Assessment Capability",
"possessed_by": "Engineer Intern Wasser",
"capability_statement": "Assess irrigation systems against UN sustainable development goals and water table impacts",
"demonstrated_through": "Formal memorandum citing hydrogeological studies and UN SDGs",
"proficiency_level": "intermediate",
"enables_obligations": "NSPE Code III.2.d - adherence to sustainable development principles",
"temporal_aspect": "During project design phase",
"case_context": "Evaluating golf course irrigation system sustainability",
"source_text": "argues the proposed lawn irrigation system is not consistent with several United Nations sustainable development goals",
"is_existing_class": false,
"confidence": 0.9
},
{
"identifier": "Wasser_Ethical_Objection",
"capability_class": "Ethical Objection Capability",
"possessed_by": "Engineer Intern Wasser",
"capability_statement": "Formally refuse and document ethical concerns about engineering assignments",
"demonstrated_through": "Written refusal and formal memorandum to supervisor",
"proficiency_level": "advanced",
"enables_obligations": "Professional duty to protect public welfare and environment",
"temporal_aspect": "When assigned ethically questionable task",
"case_context": "Refusing to design water-wasting irrigation system",
"source_text": "Wasser refuses to perform the task and says the traditional irrigation system will waste fresh water",
"is_existing_class": false,
"confidence": 0.85
},
{
"identifier": "Jaylani_Responsible_Charge",
"capability_class": "Responsible Charge Capability",
"possessed_by": "Engineer Jaylani",
"capability_statement": "Maintain supervisory control over MEP work for resort project",
"demonstrated_through": "Role as firm principal under contract",
"proficiency_level": "expert",
"enables_obligations": "Professional responsibility for project completion and quality",
"temporal_aspect": "Throughout project duration",
"case_context": "Leading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for resort",
"source_text": "Engineer Jaylani is a firm principal for Cutting Edge Engineering and is under contract to complete the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work",
"is_existing_class": true,
"confidence": 0.95
},
{
"identifier": "Wasser_Regulatory_Compliance",
"capability_class": "Regulatory Compliance Capability",
"possessed_by": "Engineer Intern Wasser",
"capability_statement": "Apply NSPE Code of Ethics provisions to engineering work",
"demonstrated_through": "Citation of specific code provisions in memorandum",
"proficiency_level": "intermediate",
"enables_obligations": "Compliance with professional engineering ethics codes",
"temporal_aspect": "During ethical evaluation of assignments",
"case_context": "Citing NSPE Code III.2.d regarding sustainable development",
"source_text": "points to NSPE Code of Ethics Professional Obligation III.2.d, 'Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development'",
"is_existing_class": true,
"confidence": 0.8
}
]
}
```