PASS 3: Temporal Dynamics
Case 160: Participation in Production of Unsafe Equipment
Timeline Overview
OWL-Time Temporal Structure 12 relations time: = w3.org/2006/time
Extracted Actions (8)
Volitional professional decisions with intentions and ethical contextDescription: Company A's engineers prepared plans and specifications for manufacturing machinery and Company A turned them over to Company B for production.
Temporal Marker: Beginning of the case timeline, before Company B's review interval
Fluent Transitions:
- Plans Available for Production
Mental State: deliberate professional judgment that the design was adequate
Intended Outcome: Provide complete plans and specifications so Company B could produce the machinery
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
requiresCapability: Machinery design; Preparation of plans and specificationsinitiates: Plans Available for Production
descriptioncontent: Company A's engineers prepared plans and specifications for manufacturing machinery and Company A turned them over to Company B for production.hasAgentcontent: Engineers of Company AtemporalMarkercontent: Beginning of the case timeline, before Company B's reviewhasMentalStatecontent: deliberate professional judgment that the design was adequateintendedOutcomecontent: Provide complete plans and specifications so Company B could produce the machinerytextReferencescontent: Engineers of Company "A" prepared plans and specifications for machinery to be used in a manufacturing process and Company "A" turned them over to Company "B" for production.temporalExtentcontent: intervaltemporalSequencecontent: 1withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
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},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Plan_Preparation",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.479614+00:00",
"proeth:description": "Company A\u0027s engineers prepared plans and specifications for manufacturing machinery and Company A turned them over to Company B for production.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineers of Company A",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate professional judgment that the design was adequate",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Plans Available for Production"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Provide complete plans and specifications so Company B could produce the machinery",
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Machinery design",
"Preparation of plans and specifications"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Beginning of the case timeline, before Company B\u0027s review",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 1,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"Engineers of Company \"A\" prepared plans and specifications for machinery to be used in a manufacturing process and Company \"A\" turned them over to Company \"B\" for production."
],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Plan Preparation"
}
Description: Company B's engineers reviewed the plans and specifications and concluded they contained miscalculations and technical deficiencies that could make the equipment unsuitable and dangerous to persons in proximity.
Temporal Marker: Early in Company B's involvement, upon receipt of the plans interval
Fluent Transitions:
- Identified Safety Deficiency
Mental State: deliberate professional evaluation
Intended Outcome: Assess the adequacy and safety of the plans before production
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- Potential disagreement with Company A's engineers
Guided By Principles:
- Duty to the Public Welfare as Paramount
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
guidedByPrinciple: Duty to the Public Welfare as ParamountrequiresCapability: Technical review of plans and specifications; Safety hazard assessmentinitiates: Identified Safety Deficiency
descriptioncontent: Company B's engineers reviewed the plans and specifications and concluded they contained miscalculations and technical deficiencies that could make the equipment unsuitable and dangerous to persons in proximity.hasAgentcontent: Engineers of Company BtemporalMarkercontent: Early in Company B's involvement, upon receipt of the planshasMentalStatecontent: deliberate professional evaluationintendedOutcomecontent: Assess the adequacy and safety of the plans before productionforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: Potential disagreement with Company A's engineerstextReferencescontent: The engineers of Company "B" in reviewing the plans and specifications came to the conclusion that they included certain miscalculations and technical deficiencies of a nature that the final product might be unsuitable for the purposes of the ultimate users, and that the equipment, if built according to the original plans and specifications, might endanger the lives of persons in proximity to it.temporalExtentcontent: intervaltemporalSequencecontent: 3withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Design_Review",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.479750+00:00",
"proeth:description": "Company B\u0027s engineers reviewed the plans and specifications and concluded they contained miscalculations and technical deficiencies that could make the equipment unsuitable and dangerous to persons in proximity.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"Potential disagreement with Company A\u0027s engineers"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Duty to the Public Welfare as Paramount"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineers of Company B",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate professional evaluation",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Identified Safety Deficiency"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Assess the adequacy and safety of the plans before production",
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Technical review of plans and specifications",
"Safety hazard assessment"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Early in Company B\u0027s involvement, upon receipt of the plans",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 3,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"The engineers of Company \"B\" in reviewing the plans and specifications came to the conclusion that they included certain miscalculations and technical deficiencies of a nature that the final product might be unsuitable for the purposes of the ultimate users, and that the equipment, if built according to the original plans and specifications, might endanger the lives of persons in proximity to it."
],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Design Review"
}
Description: Company B's engineers called the identified deficiencies and safety dangers to the attention of the appropriate officials of their employer rather than remaining silent.
Temporal Marker: Immediately after their review of the plans instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Safety Concerns Reported to Employer
Mental State: deliberate choice to disclose concerns
Intended Outcome: Inform their employer that the project would not be successful as designed and that the equipment might endanger lives
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- Possible friction with Company A
- Possible conflict with employer instructions
Obligation Engagement:
- Advise Employer When Project Will Not Be Successful (Section 1(c))
- Point Out Consequences When Judgment Is Overruled (Section 2)
- Notify Proper Authority of Conditions Endangering Public Safety (Section 2)
Guided By Principles:
- Duty to the Public Welfare as Paramount
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
fulfillsObligation: Advise Employer When Project Will Not Be Successful (Section 1(c)); Point Out Consequences When Judgment Is Overruled (Section 2); Notify Proper Authority of Conditions Endangering Public Safety (Section 2)guidedByPrinciple: Duty to the Public Welfare as ParamountrequiresCapability: Engineering judgment; Professional communicationinitiates: Safety Concerns Reported to Employer
descriptioncontent: Company B's engineers called the identified deficiencies and safety dangers to the attention of the appropriate officials of their employer rather than remaining silent.hasAgentcontent: Engineers of Company BtemporalMarkercontent: Immediately after their review of the planshasMentalStatecontent: deliberate choice to disclose concernsintendedOutcomecontent: Inform their employer that the project would not be successful as designed and that the equipment might endanger livesforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: Possible friction with Company A; Possible conflict with employer instructionstextReferencescontent: The engineers of Company "B" called the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employer; The engineers of Company "B" fulfilled their obligation under Section l(c) of the Code by notifying their employer that they did not believe the project would be successful as designed by the engineers of Company "A".temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 5withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#",
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"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Internal_Safety_Notification",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.479796+00:00",
"proeth:description": "Company B\u0027s engineers called the identified deficiencies and safety dangers to the attention of the appropriate officials of their employer rather than remaining silent.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"Possible friction with Company A",
"Possible conflict with employer instructions"
],
"proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
"Advise Employer When Project Will Not Be Successful (Section 1(c))",
"Point Out Consequences When Judgment Is Overruled (Section 2)",
"Notify Proper Authority of Conditions Endangering Public Safety (Section 2)"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Duty to the Public Welfare as Paramount"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineers of Company B",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate choice to disclose concerns",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Safety Concerns Reported to Employer"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Inform their employer that the project would not be successful as designed and that the equipment might endanger lives",
"proeth:raisesObligation": [],
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Engineering judgment",
"Professional communication"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Immediately after their review of the plans",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 5,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"The engineers of Company \"B\" called the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employer",
"The engineers of Company \"B\" fulfilled their obligation under Section l(c) of the Code by notifying their employer that they did not believe the project would be successful as designed by the engineers of Company \"A\"."
],
"proeth:violatesObligation": [],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Internal Safety Notification"
}
Description: Company B's officials advised Company A of the concerns expressed by Company B's engineers regarding the plans and specifications.
Temporal Marker: Following the engineers' internal notification instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Safety Concerns Communicated to Company A
Mental State: deliberate escalation of the engineers' concerns
Intended Outcome: Obtain Company A's response to the safety concerns before proceeding with production
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
requiresCapability: Inter-company communicationinitiates: Safety Concerns Communicated to Company A
descriptioncontent: Company B's officials advised Company A of the concerns expressed by Company B's engineers regarding the plans and specifications.hasAgentcontent: Officials of Company BtemporalMarkercontent: Following the engineers' internal notificationhasMentalStatecontent: deliberate escalation of the engineers' concernsintendedOutcomecontent: Obtain Company A's response to the safety concerns before proceeding with productiontextReferencescontent: who, in turn, advised Company "A" of the concern expressed by the engineers of Company "B"temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 6withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Concern_Relay",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.479831+00:00",
"proeth:description": "Company B\u0027s officials advised Company A of the concerns expressed by Company B\u0027s engineers regarding the plans and specifications.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:hasAgent": "Officials of Company B",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate escalation of the engineers\u0027 concerns",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Safety Concerns Communicated to Company A"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Obtain Company A\u0027s response to the safety concerns before proceeding with production",
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Inter-company communication"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Following the engineers\u0027 internal notification",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 6,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"who, in turn, advised Company \"A\" of the concern expressed by the engineers of Company \"B\""
],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Concern Relay"
}
Description: Company A replied that its engineers considered the design and specifications adequate and safe and directed that Company B proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified.
Temporal Marker: After receiving Company B's concerns instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Honest Difference of Opinion on Safety
Mental State: deliberate reaffirmation of professional judgment
Intended Outcome: Have the equipment built according to the original plans and specifications
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- Continuation of the disagreement over the safety of the design
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
requiresCapability: Engineering judgment on design adequacy and safetyinitiates: Honest Difference of Opinion on Safety
descriptioncontent: Company A replied that its engineers considered the design and specifications adequate and safe and directed that Company B proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified.hasAgentcontent: Company AtemporalMarkercontent: After receiving Company B's concernseventRoleContextcontent: through its officials and engineershasMentalStatecontent: deliberate reaffirmation of professional judgmentintendedOutcomecontent: Have the equipment built according to the original plans and specificationsforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: Continuation of the disagreement over the safety of the designtextReferencescontent: Company "A" replied that its engineers felt that the design and specifications for the equipment were adequate and safe and that Company "B" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified.temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 7withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
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},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Design_Reaffirmation",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.479858+00:00",
"proeth:description": "Company A replied that its engineers considered the design and specifications adequate and safe and directed that Company B proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:eventRoleContext": "through its officials and engineers",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"Continuation of the disagreement over the safety of the design"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Company A",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate reaffirmation of professional judgment",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Honest Difference of Opinion on Safety"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Have the equipment built according to the original plans and specifications",
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Engineering judgment on design adequacy and safety"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "After receiving Company B\u0027s concerns",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 7,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"Company \"A\" replied that its engineers felt that the design and specifications for the equipment were adequate and safe and that Company \"B\" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified."
],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Design Reaffirmation"
}
Description: Company B's officials instructed their engineers to proceed with the work despite the engineers' unresolved safety concerns about the design.
Temporal Marker: End of the factual narrative, after Company A's reply instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Engineers Instructed to Proceed Despite Safety Concerns
Mental State: deliberate business decision to continue production
Intended Outcome: Complete production of the equipment as designed and specified by Company A
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- Engineers required to work on a design they regard as unsafe to the public
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
requiresCapability: Management authority over production workinitiates: Engineers Instructed to Proceed Despite Safety Concerns
descriptioncontent: Company B's officials instructed their engineers to proceed with the work despite the engineers' unresolved safety concerns about the design.hasAgentcontent: Officials of Company BtemporalMarkercontent: End of the factual narrative, after Company A's replyhasMentalStatecontent: deliberate business decision to continue productionintendedOutcomecontent: Complete production of the equipment as designed and specified by Company AforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: Engineers required to work on a design they regard as unsafe to the publictextReferencescontent: The officials of Company "B" instructed its engineers to proceed with the work.temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 9withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Instruction_to_Proceed",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.479887+00:00",
"proeth:description": "Company B\u0027s officials instructed their engineers to proceed with the work despite the engineers\u0027 unresolved safety concerns about the design.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"Engineers required to work on a design they regard as unsafe to the public"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Officials of Company B",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate business decision to continue production",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Engineers Instructed to Proceed Despite Safety Concerns"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Complete production of the equipment as designed and specified by Company A",
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Management authority over production work"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "End of the factual narrative, after Company A\u0027s reply",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 9,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"The officials of Company \"B\" instructed its engineers to proceed with the work."
],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Instruction to Proceed"
}
Description: The prospective action the Board holds is required of Company B's engineers, that so long as they continue to regard the machinery as unsafe to the public they should refuse to participate in its processing or production and withdraw from further service on the project, even at risk of losing employment.
Temporal Marker: Prospective, following the instruction to proceed, while their safety opinion persists instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Withdrawal from Project
- Participation in Unsafe Production
Mental State: recommended deliberate refusal grounded in continuing safety judgment
Intended Outcome: Avoid participation in engineering operations which endanger the public health and safety
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- A most difficult situation with the employer
- Possible loss of employment
Obligation Engagement:
- Withdraw from Further Service on Unsafe Project (Section 2(c))
- Not Participate in Operations Endangering Public Health and Safety (Section 2(c))
Guided By Principles:
- Duty to the Public Welfare as Paramount
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
fulfillsObligation: Withdraw from Further Service on Unsafe Project (Section 2(c)); Not Participate in Operations Endangering Public Health and Safety (Section 2(c))guidedByPrinciple: Duty to the Public Welfare as ParamountrequiresCapability: Engineering judgment; Professional independenceinitiates: Withdrawal from Projectterminates: Participation in Unsafe Production
descriptioncontent: The prospective action the Board holds is required of Company B's engineers, that so long as they continue to regard the machinery as unsafe to the public they should refuse to participate in its processing or production and withdraw from further service on the project, even at risk of losing employment.hasAgentcontent: Engineers of Company BtemporalMarkercontent: Prospective, following the instruction to proceed, while their safety opinion persistshasMentalStatecontent: recommended deliberate refusal grounded in continuing safety judgmentintendedOutcomecontent: Avoid participation in engineering operations which endanger the public health and safetyforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: A most difficult situation with the employer; Possible loss of employmenttextReferencescontent: So long as the engineers of Company "B" hold to their opinion that the machinery as originally designed and specified would be unsafe to the public they should refuse to participate in its processing or production under the mandate of Section 2(c).; they also "withdraw from further service on the project."temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 10withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Refusal_and_Withdrawal",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.479914+00:00",
"proeth:description": "The prospective action the Board holds is required of Company B\u0027s engineers, that so long as they continue to regard the machinery as unsafe to the public they should refuse to participate in its processing or production and withdraw from further service on the project, even at risk of losing employment.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"A most difficult situation with the employer",
"Possible loss of employment"
],
"proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
"Withdraw from Further Service on Unsafe Project (Section 2(c))",
"Not Participate in Operations Endangering Public Health and Safety (Section 2(c))"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Duty to the Public Welfare as Paramount"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineers of Company B",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "recommended deliberate refusal grounded in continuing safety judgment",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Withdrawal from Project"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Avoid participation in engineering operations which endanger the public health and safety",
"proeth:raisesObligation": [],
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Engineering judgment",
"Professional independence"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Prospective, following the instruction to proceed, while their safety opinion persists",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 10,
"proeth:terminates": [
"Participation in Unsafe Production"
],
"proeth:textReferences": [
"So long as the engineers of Company \"B\" hold to their opinion that the machinery as originally designed and specified would be unsafe to the public they should refuse to participate in its processing or production under the mandate of Section 2(c).",
"they also \"withdraw from further service on the project.\""
],
"proeth:violatesObligation": [],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Refusal and Withdrawal"
}
Description: The suggested alternative action of referring the honest difference of opinion on safety to an impartial body of experts, such as a technical engineering society in the field, for an independent determination. The Board presents this as appropriate, not mandatory.
Temporal Marker: Prospective, proposed in the Discussion as a way to resolve the disagreement instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Independent Safety Determination Pending
Mental State: recommended deliberate referral to resolve the dispute
Intended Outcome: Obtain an independent determination of the safety features of the machinery
Guided By Principles:
- Duty to the Public Welfare as Paramount
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
guidedByPrinciple: Duty to the Public Welfare as ParamountrequiresCapability: Access to a technical engineering society or impartial expert bodyinitiates: Independent Safety Determination Pending
descriptioncontent: The suggested alternative action of referring the honest difference of opinion on safety to an impartial body of experts, such as a technical engineering society in the field, for an independent determination. The Board presents this as appropriate, not mandatory.hasAgentcontent: Company A and Company BtemporalMarkercontent: Prospective, proposed in the Discussion as a way to resolve the disagreementeventRoleContextcontent: their engineers and officialshasMentalStatecontent: recommended deliberate referral to resolve the disputeintendedOutcomecontent: Obtain an independent determination of the safety features of the machinerytextReferencescontent: it would be appropriate for the question to be referred to an impartial body of experts, such as a technical engineering society in the particular field of practice, for an independent determinationtemporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 12withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Expert_Referral",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.479939+00:00",
"proeth:description": "The suggested alternative action of referring the honest difference of opinion on safety to an impartial body of experts, such as a technical engineering society in the field, for an independent determination. The Board presents this as appropriate, not mandatory.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
"proeth:eventRoleContext": "their engineers and officials",
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Duty to the Public Welfare as Paramount"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Company A and Company B",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "recommended deliberate referral to resolve the dispute",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Independent Safety Determination Pending"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Obtain an independent determination of the safety features of the machinery",
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Access to a technical engineering society or impartial expert body"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Prospective, proposed in the Discussion as a way to resolve the disagreement",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 12,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"it would be appropriate for the question to be referred to an impartial body of experts, such as a technical engineering society in the particular field of practice, for an independent determination"
],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Expert Referral"
}
Extracted Events (4)
Occurrences that trigger ethical considerations and state changesDescription: The plans and specifications prepared by Company A's engineers came into Company B's possession for production, placing Company B's engineers in the position of reviewers and producers.
Temporal Marker: After plan preparation by Company A, at the start of the case timeline instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Plans Under Company B Control
- Production Responsibility
Caused By Action: Action_Plan_Preparation
Field classification (triples vs literals)
causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Plan_Preparationinitiates: Plans Under Company B Control; Production Responsibility
descriptioncontent: The plans and specifications prepared by Company A's engineers came into Company B's possession for production, placing Company B's engineers in the position of reviewers and producers.temporalMarkercontent: After plan preparation by Company A, at the start of the case timelinetextReferencescontent: Company "A" turned them over to Company "B" for productioneventTypecontent: outcometemporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 2confidenceassessment: 0.82
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
"time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Event_Plan_Transfer_Completion",
"@type": "proeth:Event",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480036+00:00",
"proeth:causedByAction": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Plan_Preparation",
"proeth:confidence": "0.82",
"proeth:description": "The plans and specifications prepared by Company A\u0027s engineers came into Company B\u0027s possession for production, placing Company B\u0027s engineers in the position of reviewers and producers.",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:eventType": "outcome",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Plans Under Company B Control",
"Production Responsibility"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "After plan preparation by Company A, at the start of the case timeline",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 2,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"Company \"A\" turned them over to Company \"B\" for production"
],
"rdfs:label": "Plan Transfer Completion"
}
Description: During review, Company B's engineers came to the conclusion that the plans and specifications contained miscalculations and technical deficiencies that could make the final product unsuitable and could endanger lives of persons in proximity to the equipment.
Temporal Marker: During Company B's review of the plans and specifications instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Design Deficiency Identified
- Public Safety Risk
Caused By Action: Action_Design_Review
Field classification (triples vs literals)
causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Design_Reviewinitiates: Design Deficiency Identified; Public Safety Risk
descriptioncontent: During review, Company B's engineers came to the conclusion that the plans and specifications contained miscalculations and technical deficiencies that could make the final product unsuitable and could endanger lives of persons in proximity to the equipment.temporalMarkercontent: During Company B's review of the plans and specificationstextReferencescontent: came to the conclusion that they included certain miscalculations and technical deficiencies of a nature that the final product might be unsuitable for the purposes of the ultimate users; the equipment, if built according to the original plans and specifications, might endanger the lives of persons in proximity to iteventTypecontent: outcometemporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 4confidenceassessment: 0.93
RDF JSON-LD
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"Public Safety Risk"
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"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "During Company B\u0027s review of the plans and specifications",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 4,
"proeth:textReferences": [
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"the equipment, if built according to the original plans and specifications, might endanger the lives of persons in proximity to it"
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"rdfs:label": "Deficiency Discovery"
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Description: After Company A reaffirmed its design as adequate and safe while Company B's engineers continued to regard it as unsafe, an honest difference of opinion between the two engineering groups came to exist regarding the safety of the machinery.
Temporal Marker: After Company A's reply to Company B's expressed concerns instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Honest Difference of Opinion
- Unresolved Safety Dispute
Caused By Action: Action_Design_Reaffirmation
Field classification (triples vs literals)
causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Design_Reaffirmationinitiates: Honest Difference of Opinion; Unresolved Safety Dispute
descriptioncontent: After Company A reaffirmed its design as adequate and safe while Company B's engineers continued to regard it as unsafe, an honest difference of opinion between the two engineering groups came to exist regarding the safety of the machinery.temporalMarkercontent: After Company A's reply to Company B's expressed concernstextReferencescontent: there is an apparent honest difference of opinion as to the safety features of the machinery between the engineers of Company "A" and the engineers of Company "B"eventTypecontent: outcometemporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 8confidenceassessment: 0.88
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:temporalSequence": 8,
"proeth:textReferences": [
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],
"rdfs:label": "Professional Disagreement Emergence"
}
Description: The discussion identifies a possible future consequence of the engineers' refusal to proceed, namely a most difficult situation or even loss of employment. The case presents this as a possibility, not as a completed occurrence.
Temporal Marker: Hypothetical future, following any refusal by Company B's engineers to proceed instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Employment Jeopardy
Caused By Action: Action_Refusal_and_Withdrawal
Field classification (triples vs literals)
causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#Action_Refusal_and_Withdrawalinitiates: Employment Jeopardy
descriptioncontent: The discussion identifies a possible future consequence of the engineers' refusal to proceed, namely a most difficult situation or even loss of employment. The case presents this as a possibility, not as a completed occurrence.temporalMarkercontent: Hypothetical future, following any refusal by Company B's engineers to proceedtextReferencescontent: such refusal to comply with the instruction of their employer may cause a most difficult situation, or even lead to the loss of employmenteventTypecontent: outcometemporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 11confidenceassessment: 0.6
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:confidence": "0.6",
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"proeth:textReferences": [
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"rdfs:label": "Potential Employment Loss"
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Causal Chains (10)
NESS test analysis: Necessary Element of Sufficient SetCausal Language: Engineers of Company "A" prepared plans and specifications for machinery to be used in a manufacturing process and Company "A" turned them over to Company "B" for production.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Company A's engineers producing the plans and specifications
- Company A's decision to contract Company B for production
Sufficient Factors:
- Completed plans combined with the transfer decision to Company B
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company A's engineers and Company A officials
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Plan Preparation
Company A's engineers prepare plans and specifications for the machinery -
Plan Transfer Completion
Company A turns the plans and specifications over to Company B for production
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Plan Preparationeffect: Plan Transfer CompletionresponsibleAgent: Company A's engineers and Company A officials
causalLanguagecontent: Engineers of Company "A" prepared plans and specifications for machinery to be used in a manufacturing process and Company "A" turned them over to Company "B" for production.necessaryFactorscontent: Company A's engineers producing the plans and specifications; Company A's decision to contract Company B for productionsufficientFactorscontent: Completed plans combined with the transfer decision to Company Bcounterfactualcontent: Without the preparation of the plans by Company A's engineers, there would have been nothing to turn over to Company BagentKnowledgecontent: Company A's engineers believed the design and specifications were adequate and safecausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Plan Preparation', 'proeth:description': "Company A's engineers prepare plans and specifications for the machinery"}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Plan Transfer Completion', 'proeth:description': 'Company A turns the plans and specifications over to Company B for production'}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480184+00:00",
"proeth:agentKnowledge": "Company A\u0027s engineers believed the design and specifications were adequate and safe",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "Engineers of Company \"A\" prepared plans and specifications for machinery to be used in a manufacturing process and Company \"A\" turned them over to Company \"B\" for production.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
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"proeth:description": "Company A\u0027s engineers prepare plans and specifications for the machinery",
"proeth:element": "Plan Preparation",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Company A turns the plans and specifications over to Company B for production",
"proeth:element": "Plan Transfer Completion",
"proeth:step": 2
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Plan Preparation",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the preparation of the plans by Company A\u0027s engineers, there would have been nothing to turn over to Company B",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Plan Transfer Completion",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Company A\u0027s engineers producing the plans and specifications",
"Company A\u0027s decision to contract Company B for production"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Company A\u0027s engineers and Company A officials",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
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Causal Language: The engineers of Company "B" in reviewing the plans and specifications came to the conclusion that they included certain miscalculations and technical deficiencies of a nature that the final product might be unsuitable for the purposes of the ultimate users, and that the equipment, if built according to the original plans and specifications, might endanger the lives of persons in proximity to it.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Company B's engineers conducting a technical review of the received plans
- Presence of perceived miscalculations and technical deficiencies in the plans
- Sufficient competence of Company B's engineers to detect the deficiencies
Sufficient Factors:
- Competent review of plans that contained apparent miscalculations and safety-relevant deficiencies
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company B's engineers
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Plan Transfer Completion
Plans and specifications come into Company B's possession -
Design Review
Company B's engineers review the plans and specifications -
Deficiency Discovery
Engineers conclude the plans contain miscalculations and deficiencies that might endanger lives
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Design Revieweffect: Deficiency DiscoveryresponsibleAgent: Company B's engineers
causalLanguagecontent: The engineers of Company "B" in reviewing the plans and specifications came to the conclusion that they included certain miscalculations and technical deficiencies of a nature that the final product might be unsuitable for the purposes of the ultimate users, and that the equipment, if built according to the original plans and specifications, might endanger the lives of persons in proximity to it.necessaryFactorscontent: Company B's engineers conducting a technical review of the received plans; Presence of perceived miscalculations and technical deficiencies in the plans; Sufficient competence of Company B's engineers to detect the deficienciessufficientFactorscontent: Competent review of plans that contained apparent miscalculations and safety-relevant deficienciescounterfactualcontent: Without the review by Company B's engineers, the deficiencies and safety dangers would not have been identified before productionagentKnowledgecontent: Knew their professional duty to evaluate plans for suitability and safety before productioninterveningFactorscontent: Quality of the plans prepared by Company A's engineerscausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Plan Transfer Completion', 'proeth:description': "Plans and specifications come into Company B's possession"}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Design Review', 'proeth:description': "Company B's engineers review the plans and specifications"}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Deficiency Discovery', 'proeth:description': 'Engineers conclude the plans contain miscalculations and deficiencies that might endanger lives'}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:causalLanguage": "The engineers of Company \"B\" in reviewing the plans and specifications came to the conclusion that they included certain miscalculations and technical deficiencies of a nature that the final product might be unsuitable for the purposes of the ultimate users, and that the equipment, if built according to the original plans and specifications, might endanger the lives of persons in proximity to it.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
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"proeth:step": 1
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"proeth:description": "Company B\u0027s engineers review the plans and specifications",
"proeth:element": "Design Review",
"proeth:step": 2
},
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"proeth:description": "Engineers conclude the plans contain miscalculations and deficiencies that might endanger lives",
"proeth:element": "Deficiency Discovery",
"proeth:step": 3
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"proeth:cause": "Design Review",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the review by Company B\u0027s engineers, the deficiencies and safety dangers would not have been identified before production",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Deficiency Discovery",
"proeth:interveningFactors": [
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"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Company B\u0027s engineers conducting a technical review of the received plans",
"Presence of perceived miscalculations and technical deficiencies in the plans",
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],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Company B\u0027s engineers",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
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Causal Language: The engineers of Company "B" called the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employer
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Engineers' conclusion that the design was deficient and potentially dangerous
- Engineers' recognition of ethical obligation under Section 1(c) and Section 2
- Existence of appropriate officials within Company B to receive the notification
Sufficient Factors:
- Discovery of life-endangering deficiencies combined with the engineers' adherence to their Code obligations
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company B's engineers
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Deficiency Discovery
Engineers conclude plans contain miscalculations and safety dangers -
Internal Safety Notification
Engineers call the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employer
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Deficiency Discoveryeffect: Internal Safety NotificationresponsibleAgent: Company B's engineers
causalLanguagecontent: The engineers of Company "B" called the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employernecessaryFactorscontent: Engineers' conclusion that the design was deficient and potentially dangerous; Engineers' recognition of ethical obligation under Section 1(c) and Section 2; Existence of appropriate officials within Company B to receive the notificationsufficientFactorscontent: Discovery of life-endangering deficiencies combined with the engineers' adherence to their Code obligationscounterfactualcontent: Without the discovery of deficiencies, there would have been no safety concern to report to the employeragentKnowledgecontent: Believed the equipment, if built as designed, might endanger the lives of persons in proximity to itcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Deficiency Discovery', 'proeth:description': 'Engineers conclude plans contain miscalculations and safety dangers'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Internal Safety Notification', 'proeth:description': 'Engineers call the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employer'}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#CausalChain_3",
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"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480239+00:00",
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"proeth:cause": "Deficiency Discovery",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the discovery of deficiencies, there would have been no safety concern to report to the employer",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Internal Safety Notification",
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Causal Language: The engineers of Company "B" called the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employer who, in turn, advised Company "A" of the concern expressed by the engineers of Company "B".
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Engineers' internal notification providing officials with knowledge of the concerns
- Officials' decision to communicate the concerns to Company A
Sufficient Factors:
- Officials' receipt of credible safety concerns combined with their willingness to advise the client
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company B's officials
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Internal Safety Notification
Engineers notify Company B officials of the deficiencies and dangers -
Concern Relay
Company B officials advise Company A of the engineers' concerns
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Internal Safety Notificationeffect: Concern RelayresponsibleAgent: Company B's officials
causalLanguagecontent: The engineers of Company "B" called the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employer who, in turn, advised Company "A" of the concern expressed by the engineers of Company "B".necessaryFactorscontent: Engineers' internal notification providing officials with knowledge of the concerns; Officials' decision to communicate the concerns to Company AsufficientFactorscontent: Officials' receipt of credible safety concerns combined with their willingness to advise the clientcounterfactualcontent: Without the internal notification, Company B's officials would have had no concerns to relay to Company AagentKnowledgecontent: Knew of their engineers' concerns about miscalculations, deficiencies, and danger to lifecausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Internal Safety Notification', 'proeth:description': 'Engineers notify Company B officials of the deficiencies and dangers'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Concern Relay', 'proeth:description': "Company B officials advise Company A of the engineers' concerns"}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#CausalChain_4",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480259+00:00",
"proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew of their engineers\u0027 concerns about miscalculations, deficiencies, and danger to life",
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"proeth:description": "Engineers notify Company B officials of the deficiencies and dangers",
"proeth:element": "Internal Safety Notification",
"proeth:step": 1
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"proeth:cause": "Internal Safety Notification",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the internal notification, Company B\u0027s officials would have had no concerns to relay to Company A",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Concern Relay",
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"proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
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Causal Language: Company "A" replied that its engineers felt that the design and specifications for the equipment were adequate and safe and that Company "B" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Company B's communication of safety concerns to Company A
- Company A's engineers' continued confidence in their own design
Sufficient Factors:
- Receipt of the concerns combined with Company A's independent judgment that the design was adequate and safe
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company A and its engineers
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Concern Relay
Company B officials advise Company A of the safety concerns -
Design Reaffirmation
Company A replies that the design is adequate and safe and instructs Company B to proceed
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Concern Relayeffect: Design ReaffirmationresponsibleAgent: Company A and its engineers
causalLanguagecontent: Company "A" replied that its engineers felt that the design and specifications for the equipment were adequate and safe and that Company "B" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified.necessaryFactorscontent: Company B's communication of safety concerns to Company A; Company A's engineers' continued confidence in their own designsufficientFactorscontent: Receipt of the concerns combined with Company A's independent judgment that the design was adequate and safecounterfactualcontent: Without the relay of concerns, Company A would have had no occasion to reply and reaffirm its designagentKnowledgecontent: Knew of Company B's engineers' concerns but its engineers felt the design was adequate and safeinterveningFactorscontent: Honest professional difference of opinion between the two engineering teamscausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Concern Relay', 'proeth:description': 'Company B officials advise Company A of the safety concerns'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Design Reaffirmation', 'proeth:description': 'Company A replies that the design is adequate and safe and instructs Company B to proceed'}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew of Company B\u0027s engineers\u0027 concerns but its engineers felt the design was adequate and safe",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "Company \"A\" replied that its engineers felt that the design and specifications for the equipment were adequate and safe and that Company \"B\" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified.",
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"proeth:cause": "Concern Relay",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the relay of concerns, Company A would have had no occasion to reply and reaffirm its design",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Design Reaffirmation",
"proeth:interveningFactors": [
"Honest professional difference of opinion between the two engineering teams"
],
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Company B\u0027s communication of safety concerns to Company A",
"Company A\u0027s engineers\u0027 continued confidence in their own design"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Company A and its engineers",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"Receipt of the concerns combined with Company A\u0027s independent judgment that the design was adequate and safe"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: Company "A" replied that its engineers felt that the design and specifications for the equipment were adequate and safe and that Company "B" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified. The officials of Company "B" instructed its engineers to proceed with the work.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Company A's reaffirmation and directive that Company B should proceed
- Company B officials' business decision to comply with the client's instruction
Sufficient Factors:
- Client's insistence on proceeding combined with the officials' willingness to override their engineers' safety concerns
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company B's officials
Type: shared
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Design Reaffirmation
Company A insists the design is safe and directs Company B to build as specified -
Instruction to Proceed
Company B officials instruct their engineers to proceed with the work
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Design Reaffirmationeffect: Instruction to ProceedresponsibleAgent: Company B's officials
causalLanguagecontent: Company "A" replied that its engineers felt that the design and specifications for the equipment were adequate and safe and that Company "B" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified. The officials of Company "B" instructed its engineers to proceed with the work.necessaryFactorscontent: Company A's reaffirmation and directive that Company B should proceed; Company B officials' business decision to comply with the client's instructionsufficientFactorscontent: Client's insistence on proceeding combined with the officials' willingness to override their engineers' safety concernscounterfactualcontent: Without Company A's reaffirmation and instruction to build as designed, Company B's officials would likely not have instructed their engineers to proceed over the stated safety objectionsagentKnowledgecontent: Knew their own engineers believed the equipment might endanger lives, yet instructed them to proceedinterveningFactorscontent: Company A's insistence that the design was adequate and safe; Commercial pressure to fulfill the production contractcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Design Reaffirmation', 'proeth:description': 'Company A insists the design is safe and directs Company B to build as specified'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Instruction to Proceed', 'proeth:description': 'Company B officials instruct their engineers to proceed with the work'}responsibilityTypeassessment: sharedwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#CausalChain_6",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480298+00:00",
"proeth:agentKnowledge": "Knew their own engineers believed the equipment might endanger lives, yet instructed them to proceed",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "Company \"A\" replied that its engineers felt that the design and specifications for the equipment were adequate and safe and that Company \"B\" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specified. The officials of Company \"B\" instructed its engineers to proceed with the work.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Company A insists the design is safe and directs Company B to build as specified",
"proeth:element": "Design Reaffirmation",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Company B officials instruct their engineers to proceed with the work",
"proeth:element": "Instruction to Proceed",
"proeth:step": 2
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Design Reaffirmation",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without Company A\u0027s reaffirmation and instruction to build as designed, Company B\u0027s officials would likely not have instructed their engineers to proceed over the stated safety objections",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Instruction to Proceed",
"proeth:interveningFactors": [
"Company A\u0027s insistence that the design was adequate and safe",
"Commercial pressure to fulfill the production contract"
],
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Company A\u0027s reaffirmation and directive that Company B should proceed",
"Company B officials\u0027 business decision to comply with the client\u0027s instruction"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "shared",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Company B\u0027s officials",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"Client\u0027s insistence on proceeding combined with the officials\u0027 willingness to override their engineers\u0027 safety concerns"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: Where, as in this case, there is an apparent honest difference of opinion as to the safety features of the machinery between the engineers of Company "A" and the engineers of Company "B"
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Company B's engineers' continued belief that the design was unsafe
- Company A's engineers' contrary conclusion that the design was adequate and safe
Sufficient Factors:
- Two competent engineering teams holding directly opposing technical judgments about the same design's safety
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company A's engineers and Company B's engineers (jointly)
Type: shared
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Deficiency Discovery
Company B's engineers conclude the design is unsafe -
Concern Relay
Concerns are transmitted to Company A -
Design Reaffirmation
Company A's engineers maintain the design is adequate and safe -
Professional Disagreement Emergence
An honest, unresolved difference of professional opinion on safety exists between the two engineering teams
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Design Reaffirmationeffect: Professional Disagreement EmergenceresponsibleAgent: Company A's engineers and Company B's engineers (jointly)
causalLanguagecontent: Where, as in this case, there is an apparent honest difference of opinion as to the safety features of the machinery between the engineers of Company "A" and the engineers of Company "B"necessaryFactorscontent: Company B's engineers' continued belief that the design was unsafe; Company A's engineers' contrary conclusion that the design was adequate and safesufficientFactorscontent: Two competent engineering teams holding directly opposing technical judgments about the same design's safetycounterfactualcontent: Had Company A conceded or revised the design after the concern relay, no unresolved professional disagreement would have emergedagentKnowledgecontent: Each team knew of the other's contrary technical judgment about the machinery's safetyinterveningFactorscontent: Absence of any impartial third-party technical determinationcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Deficiency Discovery', 'proeth:description': "Company B's engineers conclude the design is unsafe"}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Concern Relay', 'proeth:description': 'Concerns are transmitted to Company A'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Design Reaffirmation', 'proeth:description': "Company A's engineers maintain the design is adequate and safe"}; {'proeth:step': 4, 'proeth:element': 'Professional Disagreement Emergence', 'proeth:description': 'An honest, unresolved difference of professional opinion on safety exists between the two engineering teams'}responsibilityTypeassessment: sharedwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#CausalChain_7",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480317+00:00",
"proeth:agentKnowledge": "Each team knew of the other\u0027s contrary technical judgment about the machinery\u0027s safety",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "Where, as in this case, there is an apparent honest difference of opinion as to the safety features of the machinery between the engineers of Company \"A\" and the engineers of Company \"B\"",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Company B\u0027s engineers conclude the design is unsafe",
"proeth:element": "Deficiency Discovery",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Concerns are transmitted to Company A",
"proeth:element": "Concern Relay",
"proeth:step": 2
},
{
"proeth:description": "Company A\u0027s engineers maintain the design is adequate and safe",
"proeth:element": "Design Reaffirmation",
"proeth:step": 3
},
{
"proeth:description": "An honest, unresolved difference of professional opinion on safety exists between the two engineering teams",
"proeth:element": "Professional Disagreement Emergence",
"proeth:step": 4
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Design Reaffirmation",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Had Company A conceded or revised the design after the concern relay, no unresolved professional disagreement would have emerged",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
"proeth:effect": "Professional Disagreement Emergence",
"proeth:interveningFactors": [
"Absence of any impartial third-party technical determination"
],
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Company B\u0027s engineers\u0027 continued belief that the design was unsafe",
"Company A\u0027s engineers\u0027 contrary conclusion that the design was adequate and safe"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "shared",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Company A\u0027s engineers and Company B\u0027s engineers (jointly)",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"Two competent engineering teams holding directly opposing technical judgments about the same design\u0027s safety"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: it would be appropriate for the question to be referred to an impartial body of experts, such as a technical engineering society in the particular field of practice, for an independent determination.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Existence of an honest difference of opinion on safety between the two engineering teams
- Availability of an impartial expert body in the relevant field of practice
Sufficient Factors:
- An unresolved safety dispute between two qualified engineering teams that neither party can adjudicate impartially
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Officials of Company A and Company B (jointly, as the parties who could initiate referral)
Type: shared
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Professional Disagreement Emergence
Honest difference of opinion on the machinery's safety persists between the two teams -
Expert Referral
The safety question is referred to an impartial body of experts for independent determination
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Professional Disagreement Emergenceeffect: Expert ReferralresponsibleAgent: Officials of Company A and Company B (jointly, as the parties who could initiate referral)
causalLanguagecontent: it would be appropriate for the question to be referred to an impartial body of experts, such as a technical engineering society in the particular field of practice, for an independent determination.necessaryFactorscontent: Existence of an honest difference of opinion on safety between the two engineering teams; Availability of an impartial expert body in the relevant field of practicesufficientFactorscontent: An unresolved safety dispute between two qualified engineering teams that neither party can adjudicate impartiallycounterfactualcontent: Without the unresolved professional disagreement, there would be no dispute requiring independent expert determinationagentKnowledgecontent: Both companies knew of the conflicting engineering judgments on safetyinterveningFactorscontent: Board's guidance recommending referral as the appropriate resolution mechanismcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Professional Disagreement Emergence', 'proeth:description': "Honest difference of opinion on the machinery's safety persists between the two teams"}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Expert Referral', 'proeth:description': 'The safety question is referred to an impartial body of experts for independent determination'}responsibilityTypeassessment: sharedwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#CausalChain_8",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480335+00:00",
"proeth:agentKnowledge": "Both companies knew of the conflicting engineering judgments on safety",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "it would be appropriate for the question to be referred to an impartial body of experts, such as a technical engineering society in the particular field of practice, for an independent determination.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Honest difference of opinion on the machinery\u0027s safety persists between the two teams",
"proeth:element": "Professional Disagreement Emergence",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "The safety question is referred to an impartial body of experts for independent determination",
"proeth:element": "Expert Referral",
"proeth:step": 2
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Professional Disagreement Emergence",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the unresolved professional disagreement, there would be no dispute requiring independent expert determination",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
"proeth:effect": "Expert Referral",
"proeth:interveningFactors": [
"Board\u0027s guidance recommending referral as the appropriate resolution mechanism"
],
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Existence of an honest difference of opinion on safety between the two engineering teams",
"Availability of an impartial expert body in the relevant field of practice"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "shared",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Officials of Company A and Company B (jointly, as the parties who could initiate referral)",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"An unresolved safety dispute between two qualified engineering teams that neither party can adjudicate impartially"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: So long as the engineers of Company "B" hold to their opinion that the machinery as originally designed and specified would be unsafe to the public they should refuse to participate in its processing or production under the mandate of Section 2(c).
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Officials' instruction to proceed with production of the unsafe design
- Engineers' continued belief that the machinery would be unsafe to the public
- Section 2(c)'s mandate not to participate in operations endangering public health and safety
Sufficient Factors:
- An instruction to proceed on a design the engineers still regard as unsafe, combined with the binding ethical mandate of Section 2(c)
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company B's engineers
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Design Reaffirmation
Company A insists the design is safe and directs production to proceed -
Instruction to Proceed
Company B officials instruct their engineers to proceed despite unresolved safety concerns -
Professional Disagreement Emergence
The safety dispute remains unresolved between the two engineering teams -
Refusal and Withdrawal
Engineers are ethically required to refuse participation and withdraw under Section 2(c)
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Instruction to Proceedeffect: Refusal and WithdrawalresponsibleAgent: Company B's engineers
causalLanguagecontent: So long as the engineers of Company "B" hold to their opinion that the machinery as originally designed and specified would be unsafe to the public they should refuse to participate in its processing or production under the mandate of Section 2(c).necessaryFactorscontent: Officials' instruction to proceed with production of the unsafe design; Engineers' continued belief that the machinery would be unsafe to the public; Section 2(c)'s mandate not to participate in operations endangering public health and safetysufficientFactorscontent: An instruction to proceed on a design the engineers still regard as unsafe, combined with the binding ethical mandate of Section 2(c)counterfactualcontent: Had the officials not instructed the engineers to proceed, or had the safety concerns been resolved, no refusal and withdrawal would have been requiredagentKnowledgecontent: Continued to regard the plans and specifications as unsafe and knew Section 2(c) required withdrawal from further service on the projectinterveningFactorscontent: Employer's insistence on proceeding; Company A's reaffirmation of the designcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Design Reaffirmation', 'proeth:description': 'Company A insists the design is safe and directs production to proceed'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Instruction to Proceed', 'proeth:description': 'Company B officials instruct their engineers to proceed despite unresolved safety concerns'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Professional Disagreement Emergence', 'proeth:description': 'The safety dispute remains unresolved between the two engineering teams'}; {'proeth:step': 4, 'proeth:element': 'Refusal and Withdrawal', 'proeth:description': 'Engineers are ethically required to refuse participation and withdraw under Section 2(c)'}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#CausalChain_9",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480353+00:00",
"proeth:agentKnowledge": "Continued to regard the plans and specifications as unsafe and knew Section 2(c) required withdrawal from further service on the project",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "So long as the engineers of Company \"B\" hold to their opinion that the machinery as originally designed and specified would be unsafe to the public they should refuse to participate in its processing or production under the mandate of Section 2(c).",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Company A insists the design is safe and directs production to proceed",
"proeth:element": "Design Reaffirmation",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Company B officials instruct their engineers to proceed despite unresolved safety concerns",
"proeth:element": "Instruction to Proceed",
"proeth:step": 2
},
{
"proeth:description": "The safety dispute remains unresolved between the two engineering teams",
"proeth:element": "Professional Disagreement Emergence",
"proeth:step": 3
},
{
"proeth:description": "Engineers are ethically required to refuse participation and withdraw under Section 2(c)",
"proeth:element": "Refusal and Withdrawal",
"proeth:step": 4
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Instruction to Proceed",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Had the officials not instructed the engineers to proceed, or had the safety concerns been resolved, no refusal and withdrawal would have been required",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
"proeth:effect": "Refusal and Withdrawal",
"proeth:interveningFactors": [
"Employer\u0027s insistence on proceeding",
"Company A\u0027s reaffirmation of the design"
],
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Officials\u0027 instruction to proceed with production of the unsafe design",
"Engineers\u0027 continued belief that the machinery would be unsafe to the public",
"Section 2(c)\u0027s mandate not to participate in operations endangering public health and safety"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Company B\u0027s engineers",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"An instruction to proceed on a design the engineers still regard as unsafe, combined with the binding ethical mandate of Section 2(c)"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: While such refusal to comply with the instruction of their employer may cause a most difficult situation, or even lead to the loss of employment, we must conclude that these considerations are subordinate to the requirements of the Code.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Engineers' refusal to comply with their employer's instruction
- Employer's authority to terminate employment in response to non-compliance
Sufficient Factors:
- Refusal to follow a direct employer instruction combined with the employer's disciplinary power
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Company B's officials (as the party who could impose the employment consequence)
Type: indirect
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Instruction to Proceed
Company B officials instruct engineers to proceed with production -
Refusal and Withdrawal
Engineers refuse to participate and withdraw under the Section 2(c) mandate -
Potential Employment Loss
Refusal may cause a most difficult situation or even lead to loss of employment
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Refusal and Withdrawaleffect: Potential Employment LossresponsibleAgent: Company B's officials (as the party who could impose the employment consequence)
causalLanguagecontent: While such refusal to comply with the instruction of their employer may cause a most difficult situation, or even lead to the loss of employment, we must conclude that these considerations are subordinate to the requirements of the Code.necessaryFactorscontent: Engineers' refusal to comply with their employer's instruction; Employer's authority to terminate employment in response to non-compliancesufficientFactorscontent: Refusal to follow a direct employer instruction combined with the employer's disciplinary powercounterfactualcontent: If the engineers complied with the instruction to proceed, they would not face this employment risk, but they would violate Section 2(c)agentKnowledgecontent: Officials knew the engineers regarded the design as unsafe and that refusal was grounded in the Code's mandateinterveningFactorscontent: Company A's insistence on the original design; Absence of an independent expert determinationcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Instruction to Proceed', 'proeth:description': 'Company B officials instruct engineers to proceed with production'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Refusal and Withdrawal', 'proeth:description': 'Engineers refuse to participate and withdraw under the Section 2(c) mandate'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Potential Employment Loss', 'proeth:description': 'Refusal may cause a most difficult situation or even lead to loss of employment'}responsibilityTypeassessment: indirectwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/160#CausalChain_10",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"generatedAtTime": "2026-07-12T03:40:50.480372+00:00",
"proeth:agentKnowledge": "Officials knew the engineers regarded the design as unsafe and that refusal was grounded in the Code\u0027s mandate",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "While such refusal to comply with the instruction of their employer may cause a most difficult situation, or even lead to the loss of employment, we must conclude that these considerations are subordinate to the requirements of the Code.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Company B officials instruct engineers to proceed with production",
"proeth:element": "Instruction to Proceed",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Engineers refuse to participate and withdraw under the Section 2(c) mandate",
"proeth:element": "Refusal and Withdrawal",
"proeth:step": 2
},
{
"proeth:description": "Refusal may cause a most difficult situation or even lead to loss of employment",
"proeth:element": "Potential Employment Loss",
"proeth:step": 3
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Refusal and Withdrawal",
"proeth:counterfactual": "If the engineers complied with the instruction to proceed, they would not face this employment risk, but they would violate Section 2(c)",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
"proeth:effect": "Potential Employment Loss",
"proeth:interveningFactors": [
"Company A\u0027s insistence on the original design",
"Absence of an independent expert determination"
],
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Engineers\u0027 refusal to comply with their employer\u0027s instruction",
"Employer\u0027s authority to terminate employment in response to non-compliance"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "indirect",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Company B\u0027s officials (as the party who could impose the employment consequence)",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"Refusal to follow a direct employer instruction combined with the employer\u0027s disciplinary power"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Allen Temporal Relations (12)
Interval algebra relationships with OWL-Time standard properties| From Entity | Allen Relation | To Entity | OWL-Time Property | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company A engineers prepare plans and specifications |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
transfer of plans to Company B |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Engineers of Company "A" prepared plans and specifications for machinery to be used in a manufacturi... [more] |
| transfer of plans to Company B |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
Company B engineers' review of plans |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Company "A" turned them over to Company "B" for production. The engineers of Company "B" in reviewin... [more] |
| identification of miscalculations and deficiencies |
during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 |
Company B engineers' review of plans |
time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring |
The engineers of Company "B" in reviewing the plans and specifications came to the conclusion that t... [more] |
| Company B engineers' review of plans |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
engineers notify Company B officials |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
came to the conclusion that they included certain miscalculations... The engineers of Company "B" ca... [more] |
| engineers notify Company B officials |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
Company B officials advise Company A of concerns |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
called the matter to the attention of appropriate officials of their employer who, in turn, advised ... [more] |
| Company B officials advise Company A of concerns |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
Company A replies that design is adequate and safe |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
advised Company "A" of the concern... Company "A" replied that its engineers felt that the design an... [more] |
| Company A replies that design is adequate and safe |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
Company B officials instruct engineers to proceed with the work |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Company "A" replied that... Company "B" should proceed to build the equipment as designed and specif... [more] |
| Company B officials instruct engineers to proceed |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
Discussion's ethical analysis of whether engineers must refuse to continue |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
The further and more difficult question, however, is whether the engineers of Company "B" are requir... [more] |
| engineers' opinion that machinery is unsafe |
overlaps
Entity1 starts before Entity2 and ends during Entity2 |
obligation to refuse participation in production |
time:intervalOverlaps
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalOverlaps |
So long as the engineers of Company "B" hold to their opinion that the machinery as originally desig... [more] |
| notification of proper authority of dangers |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
withdrawal from further service on the project |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
the engineers not only notify proper authority of the dangers which they believe to exist, but that ... [more] |
| honest difference of opinion between Company A and Company B engineers |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
proposed referral to an impartial body of experts |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Where, as in this case, there is an apparent honest difference of opinion as to the safety features ... [more] |
| cited Code sections in force |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
note stating Code sections no longer exist |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Note: The following Code sections no longer exist |
About Allen Relations & OWL-Time
Allen's Interval Algebra provides 13 basic temporal relations between intervals. These relations are mapped to OWL-Time standard properties for interoperability with Semantic Web temporal reasoning systems and SPARQL queries.
Each relation includes both a ProEthica custom property and a
time:* OWL-Time property for maximum compatibility.