Is the Code of Ethics Still Relevant this 21st Century for the Practice of

Architecture?

Author/s: Garcia, Lindalyn C.

Rizal Technological University, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
lindalyn.garcia@gmail.com

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to give an answer to the question, “Is the Code of Ethics still relevant in the 21 st century for
the practice of Architecture?” On how should people from new generation adjust to the Code of Ethics? It guides every
individual and society to absorb the values in Code of ethics. Since this paper will serve as an instrument to state if ethical
conduct is still relevant in the 21st century, the author considered to discuss first the meaning of ethics. On how it will affect
each and every profession especially to those working with a team for a company and of course, highlighting the profession
of architecture. We’re used to know that ethics was already connected to our lives. People adopted the meanings of ethics
that also connected to the duties and responsibilities in the code of ethics that guides every individual to perform well not
only to their professional aspects but also on how they should interact to the people without doing any harm to physical or
psychological aspects. Without commanding them on what should they do and not to do. It is important to know the
meaning and the use of code of ethics.
Keywords: Ethics, Code of Ethics, Professionally, Responsibility, Govern, Principle, Organization, Responsibilities, Practice,
Architecture
INTRODUCTION
Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending
concepts of right and wrong conduct. The term ethics derives from Ancient Greek ἠθικός (ethikos), from ἦθος (ethos),
meaning 'habit, custom'. The branch of philosophy axiology comprises the sub-branches of ethics and aesthetics, each
concerned with values.
Ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong,
virtue and vice, justice and crime. As a field of intellectual enquiry, moral philosophy also is related to the fields of
moral psychology, descriptive ethics, and value theory.1
Ethics can be defined as the critical structured examination of how an individual should behave. It can be guide
decision-making to increase the likelihood. The advantage of having of having previously decided on the course one
will take in an ethical dilemma gives strength to resist the immediate temptation to act unethically. And at an
organizational level, ethical principles communicate what is expected of members without to spell out every individual
behavior. Ethics affects every individual personal beliefs on what is good is also defined as moral philosophy. For
further understanding to the importance of ethics, Code of Ethics is created.
Code of Ethics is a guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct business honestly and with integrity. A
code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or organization, how professionals are
supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles based on the organization's core values and the standards to
which the professional will be held2. Since the birth of professionalism, code of ethics has been developed. In the
modern time of human race, does Code of Ethics still relevant?

CONTENT
For more than almost 2000 years, ethics reign within the human race. It does have different adoptions in different
times in different countries. Ethics is properly the scope of the history of civilization, and of ethnology. The relevance
of ethical conduct on today’s professional work is a big consideration, specifically, in the field of architecture. An
architect should be sensitive regarding this due to working with different clients is his nature. On the other hand, the
client should be responsible also. This is the reason why code of ethical conduct for architecture was established. The
main purpose of this is to inform both the architect and the client of their responsibilities in accordance with honestly
and integrity. The thing about this is that both of them will work with no deceit and corruption.

1.0 Importance of Ethics

Primarily it is the individual, the consumer, the employee or the human social unit of the society who benefits from
ethics. In addition ethics is important because of the following:

1. Satisfying Basic Human Needs: Being fair, honest and ethical is one the basic human needs.
2. Creating Credibility: An organization that is believed to be driven by moral values is respected in the
society even by those who may have no information about the working and the businesses or an organization.
3. Uniting People and Leadership: An organization driven by values is revered by its employees also. They
are the common thread that brings the employees and the decision makers on a common platform. This goes
a long way in aligning behaviours within the organization towards achievement of one common goal or
mission.
4. Improving Decision Making: A man’s destiny is the sums total of all the decisions that he/she takes in
course of his life. The same holds true for organizations. Decisions are driven by values.

1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics

2
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/code-of-ethics.asp#ixzz3znTDwybw
 5. Long Term Gains: Organizations guided by ethics and values are profitable in the long run, though in the
short run they may seem to lose money.
6. Securing the Society: Often ethics succeeds law in safeguarding the society. The law machinery is often
found acting as a mute spectator, unable to save the society and the environment. Technology, for example
is growing at such a fast pace that the by the time law comes up with a regulation we have a newer technology
with new threats replacing the older one. Lawyers and public interest litigations may not help a great deal
but ethics can. 3

2.0 Importance of Ethics as an Architect

Architects must cooperate in the best interest of the community. No architect shall knowingly injure falsely or
maliciously the professional reputation, prospects or practice of another architect. Architects have ethical as well as
professional responsibilities to protect the health, safety, and welfare of others. Protecting the public’s health, safety,
and welfare, which provides the primary justification for the licensure of architects, has ethical implications that go
beyond those of running a business to encompass the design, construction, and operation of buildings.

The Architects Act allows for the creation of a code of ethics to maintain the “dignity and honor of the profession”
and protect the public interest. Of all the architect’s responsibilities, welfare remains a less well defined. Not to be
confused with the system of governmental support for unemployed people, the welfare obligations of architects does
share with those governmental programs the goal of helping people thrive and prosper. The areas of ethics most closely
related to that goal are social contract ethics, which addresses the agreements that individuals enter into as members
of a society, and duty ethics, which argues that we should treat others as we would want to be treated were we in their
situation.

The architect’s responsibilities for the health, safety, and welfare of others makes the practice of architecture
inherently ethical, in a profession that encounters ethical dilemmas almost continuously in the course of designing and
constructing buildings. Understanding the basic systems and principles of ethics can help architects resolve those
dilemmas by helping practitioners determine what is the right thing to do in a particular situation. 4

3.0 Development of Ethics and Establishment of Code of Ethics

From the historical overview about ethics, it seems that the development of the concept of ethics came from different
philosophies of the wise men and has been improved as time pass by. Some philosophers think that ethics do affect
the how the human beings behave. The dominant view of the development of ethics or morality from the history is the
social view of the people. Socializing perhaps is an important factor in human’s individuality, it greatly affect the
development of the ethics throughout the time. In fact of course, moral concept changes as social life changes. It might
be influenced by different norms known by the people. Accordingly, the development of morality is the matter of
learning the norms of one’s culture, of accepting them and internalizing with them. 5

Our responses through these dilemmas are resulted as ethics. As we continue to face and answer the situations, the
ethics we do have developed. To protect the morality and to have a proper guide in practicing the ethical norms, code
of ethics has created. Many different disciplines, institutions, and professions have standards for behavior that suit
their particular aims and goals. These standards also help members of the discipline to coordinate their actions or

3
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/importance-of-ethics.htm

4
http://ethicsforarchitects.blogspot.com/
5
G.R. Claveria “Why a Code of Ethics is Important”. Guidance for Writing Code of Ethics. edited by James R. Rest ,
Darcia Narv ez. Moral Development in the Professions: Psychology and Applied Ethics Used by arrangement with John
Wiley & Sons , Inc.
6
David B. Resnik , J.D., Ph.D. “what is ethics is research and why is it important”
activities and to establish the public's trust of the discipline. For instance, ethical standards govern conduct in medicine,
law, engineering, and business. 6

CONCLUSION
"Is the Code of Ethics still relevant in the 21st Century for the Practice of Architecture?"

The Code of Ethics is, without a doubt, still relevant in the 21st Century. And it should stay relevant for the betterment
of the society. The Code of Ethics makes decision-making easier at all levels of an organization by reducing ambiguity
and considerations of individual perspectives in ethical standards. Breaches of ethics can land architectural firms in
serious trouble with clients, other organizations or government authorities. It establishes responsibility, integrity and
credibility in both the architect and the client. A code of ethics is a set of standards adopted to govern the conduct of
a group of people, it’s a rule book if you will, without it the firm would spiral down and will ultimately fail.
Architecture can always benefit from having a Code of Ethics in place both to avoid potential problems and to address
problems when they arise. One should always consider what would motivate and unite the architects in a culture
consistent with the values you want to maintain throughout your organization. An architectural firm, or anything for
that matter, no matter how big or small, can always benefit from having a clear Code of Ethics.

As an Architect, Code of Ethics is very important for all of aspect in life, in social, in work or in everyday life. We
can’t deny that everyone of us still has honesty and want to live peacefully, we can achieve that by following the code
of ethics, not only for professional but as for individual. Architects have ethical as well as professional responsibilities
to protect the health, safety and welfare of their clients. Therefore, that the code of ethics in 21st century is still relevant.
Ethical conduct should still be practiced until these days so working professionally with pure heart, honesty and honor.

REFERENCES
Hawkes, Dean, and Wayne Forster. 2002. Architecture, engineering and environment. London: Laurence King Pub.
in association with Arup.
https://en.wikipedia.org
https://www.investopedia.com
https://www.managementstudyguide.com
http://ethicsforarchitects.blogspot.com
2012 Edition: Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Code of Ethics is current as of September 2012. Contact the General
Counsel’s Office for further information at (202) 626-7348.
G.R. Claveria “Why a Code of Ethics is Important”. Guidance for Writing Code of Ethics. edited by James R. Rest , Darcia Narv
ez. Moral Development in the Professions: Psychology and Applied Ethics Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons
, Inc.
David B. Resnik , J.D., Ph.D. “what is ethics is research and why is it important”