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Overview
Provenance Draft

PASS 3: Temporal Dynamics

Case 128: Advertising — Use of Business Cards—P.E. Designation

34 entities 8 actions 4 events 8 causal chains 13 temporal relations
Timeline Overview
Action Event 12 sequenced markers
Incomplete Card Distribution Situation 1, during the business meeting in State E
Transparent Card Distribution Situation 2, during the business meeting in State E
Business Meeting Invitation Situation 2, prior to the business meeting in State E
Disclosed Licensure Card Distribution Situation 3, at the time of card creation and distribution in State C
Social Card Distribution Situation 4, during the social visit to State C
Card Sharing Situation 4, after the social visit to State C
Licensure Board Report Situation 4, after receiving the card and account from Friend X
Card Receipt Situation 4, after Friend X shares the card
Board Notification Situation 4, after Engineer D reports Engineer A
Ethics Codes Legal Challenges 1960s and 1970s, before the present case analysis
Situational Ethics Determination At the time of case review
OWL-Time Temporal Structure 13 relations time: = w3.org/2006/time
prior BER opinions on advertising (30+ cases) time:intervalBefore the Board's analysis in the present case
legal challenges of the 1960s-1970s time:intervalBefore BER cases 79-6, 82-1, and 84-2 incorporating the free speech/antitrust perspective
legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics time:intervalBefore current tempered examination of advertising ethics (including this opinion)
Engineer A handing out business card (Situation 1) time:intervalDuring business meeting in State E
Engineer A handing out business card (Situation 2) time:intervalDuring business meeting in State E
Engineer A giving business card to Friend X (Situation 4) time:intervalDuring social visit to State C
Engineer A giving card to Friend X time:intervalBefore Friend X sharing the card with Engineer D
Friend X sharing the card with Engineer D time:intervalBefore Engineer D reporting Engineer A to the State C licensure board
the fact situations (Situations 1-4) time:intervalBefore the Board's ethical examination of the situations
Engineer A's licensure in States B, C, and D time:intervalOverlaps Engineer A handing out cards at meetings in State E
Engineer A residing and performing non-engineering consulting in State B time:intervalOverlaps Engineer A handing out his business card in State C (Situation 3)
era of calling cards time:intervalBefore contemporary use of business cards
maintaining and updating marketing materials time:intervalAfter the Board's opinion (ongoing future obligation)
Extracted Actions (8)
Volitional professional decisions with intentions and ethical context

Description: Engineer A, licensed in States B, C, and D, hands out a business card at a business meeting in State E indicating he is a P.E. but omitting any mailing address and any identification of the states in which he is licensed.

Temporal Marker: Situation 1, during the business meeting in State E instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Appearance of Deception About Licensure

Mental State: deliberate

Intended Outcome: Introduce himself and provide basic identification and contact information at the business meeting

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

  • Recipients could perceive him as a professional engineer licensed in State E
Obligation Engagement:
Violates (1)
  • Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively
Required Capabilities:
Professional self-representation
Within Competence: Yes
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • violatesObligation: Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively
  • requiresCapability: Professional self-representation
  • initiates: Appearance of Deception About Licensure
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: Engineer A, licensed in States B, C, and D, hands out a business card at a business meeting in State E indicating he is a P.E. but omitting any mailing address and any identification of the states in which he is licensed.
  • hasAgent content: Engineer A
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 1, during the business meeting in State E
  • eventRoleContext content: Professional Engineer licensed in States B, C, and D
  • hasMentalState content: deliberate
  • intendedOutcome content: Introduce himself and provide basic identification and contact information at the business meeting
  • foreseenUnintendedEffects content: Recipients could perceive him as a professional engineer licensed in State E
  • textReferences content: Engineer A participates in a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E.; The business card lists Engineer A’s name, phone, fax, and e-mail address but does not list a mailing address, nor does it identify the states in which Engineer A is licensed.
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 2
  • withinCompetence assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
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  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Incomplete_Card_Distribution",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
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  "proeth:description": "Engineer A, licensed in States B, C, and D, hands out a business card at a business meeting in State E indicating he is a P.E. but omitting any mailing address and any identification of the states in which he is licensed.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "Professional Engineer licensed in States B, C, and D",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "Recipients could perceive him as a professional engineer licensed in State E"
  ],
  "proeth:fulfillsObligation": [],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Appearance of Deception About Licensure"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Introduce himself and provide basic identification and contact information at the business meeting",
  "proeth:raisesObligation": [],
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Professional self-representation"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 1, during the business meeting in State E",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 2,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Engineer A participates in a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E.",
    "The business card lists Engineer A\u2019s name, phone, fax, and e-mail address but does not list a mailing address, nor does it identify the states in which Engineer A is licensed."
  ],
  "proeth:violatesObligation": [
    "Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively"
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Incomplete Card Distribution"
}

Description: Engineer A hands out a business card at a business meeting in State E that identifies the states in which he is licensed (B, C, and D) and lists his State E mailing address, clearly representing that he is not licensed in State E.

Temporal Marker: Situation 2, during the business meeting in State E instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Truthful Licensure Representation

Mental State: deliberate

Intended Outcome: Introduce himself while accurately disclosing where he is licensed and where he is located

Obligation Engagement:
Fulfills (1)
  • Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively
Guided By Principles:
  • Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising
Required Capabilities:
Professional self-representation
Within Competence: Yes
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • fulfillsObligation: Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively
  • guidedByPrinciple: Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising
  • requiresCapability: Professional self-representation
  • initiates: Truthful Licensure Representation
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: Engineer A hands out a business card at a business meeting in State E that identifies the states in which he is licensed (B, C, and D) and lists his State E mailing address, clearly representing that he is not licensed in State E.
  • hasAgent content: Engineer A
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 2, during the business meeting in State E
  • eventRoleContext content: Professional Engineer licensed in States B, C, and D
  • hasMentalState content: deliberate
  • intendedOutcome content: Introduce himself while accurately disclosing where he is licensed and where he is located
  • textReferences content: Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E.; The business card indicates that Engineer A is licensed in States B, C and D and lists Engineer A’s mailing address, etc. in State E.
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 4
  • withinCompetence assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
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  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Transparent_Card_Distribution",
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  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.403016+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Engineer A hands out a business card at a business meeting in State E that identifies the states in which he is licensed (B, C, and D) and lists his State E mailing address, clearly representing that he is not licensed in State E.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "Professional Engineer licensed in States B, C, and D",
  "proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
    "Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively"
  ],
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Truthful Licensure Representation"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Introduce himself while accurately disclosing where he is licensed and where he is located",
  "proeth:raisesObligation": [],
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Professional self-representation"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 2, during the business meeting in State E",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 4,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E.",
    "The business card indicates that Engineer A is licensed in States B, C and D and lists Engineer A\u2019s mailing address, etc. in State E."
  ],
  "proeth:violatesObligation": [],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Transparent Card Distribution"
}

Description: Engineer A, whose card notes offices in State B but licensure in State C only, and who resides and performs non-engineering consulting services in State B, hands out his business card in State C where he is licensed.

Temporal Marker: Situation 3, at the time of card creation and distribution in State C instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Truthful Licensure Representation

Mental State: deliberate

Intended Outcome: Identify his office location while accurately disclosing the state in which he is licensed

Obligation Engagement:
Fulfills (1)
  • Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively
Guided By Principles:
  • Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising
Required Capabilities:
Professional self-representation
Within Competence: Yes
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • fulfillsObligation: Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively
  • guidedByPrinciple: Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising
  • requiresCapability: Professional self-representation
  • initiates: Truthful Licensure Representation
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: Engineer A, whose card notes offices in State B but licensure in State C only, and who resides and performs non-engineering consulting services in State B, hands out his business card in State C where he is licensed.
  • hasAgent content: Engineer A
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 3, at the time of card creation and distribution in State C
  • eventRoleContext content: Professional Engineer licensed in State C
  • hasMentalState content: deliberate
  • intendedOutcome content: Identify his office location while accurately disclosing the state in which he is licensed
  • textReferences content: Engineer A’s business card notes that Engineer A’s offices are in State B but that Engineer A is licensed in State C only.; Engineer A hands out his business card in State C.
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 5
  • withinCompetence assessment: 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/128#Action_Disclosed_Licensure_Card_Distribution",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.403079+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Engineer A, whose card notes offices in State B but licensure in State C only, and who resides and performs non-engineering consulting services in State B, hands out his business card in State C where he is licensed.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "Professional Engineer licensed in State C",
  "proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
    "Obligation to Advertise Truthfully and Not Deceptively"
  ],
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Truthful Licensure Representation"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Identify his office location while accurately disclosing the state in which he is licensed",
  "proeth:raisesObligation": [],
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Professional self-representation"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 3, at the time of card creation and distribution in State C",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 5,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Engineer A\u2019s business card notes that Engineer A\u2019s offices are in State B but that Engineer A is licensed in State C only.",
    "Engineer A hands out his business card in State C."
  ],
  "proeth:violatesObligation": [],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Disclosed Licensure Card Distribution"
}

Description: Engineer A, licensed in State B with a card containing only State B information, gives his business card to non-engineer Friend X during a social visit to State C.

Temporal Marker: Situation 4, during the social visit to State C instant

Mental State: deliberate

Intended Outcome: Provide basic identification and contact information to a friend in a social context

Guided By Principles:
  • Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising
Required Capabilities:
Professional self-representation
Within Competence: Yes
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • guidedByPrinciple: Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising
  • requiresCapability: Professional self-representation
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: Engineer A, licensed in State B with a card containing only State B information, gives his business card to non-engineer Friend X during a social visit to State C.
  • hasAgent content: Engineer A
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 4, during the social visit to State C
  • eventRoleContext content: Professional Engineer licensed in State B
  • hasMentalState content: deliberate
  • intendedOutcome content: Provide basic identification and contact information to a friend in a social context
  • textReferences content: On a social visit to State C, Engineer A provides his business card to a non-engineer Friend X.
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 6
  • withinCompetence assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
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  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
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  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Social_Card_Distribution",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.403116+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Engineer A, licensed in State B with a card containing only State B information, gives his business card to non-engineer Friend X during a social visit to State C.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
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  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising"
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  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Provide basic identification and contact information to a friend in a social context",
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Professional self-representation"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 4, during the social visit to State C",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 6,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "On a social visit to State C, Engineer A provides his business card to a non-engineer Friend X."
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Social Card Distribution"
}

Description: Friend X shares Engineer A's business card with Engineer D and tells Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.

Temporal Marker: Situation 4, after the social visit to State C instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Engineer D Aware of Card Distribution

Mental State: deliberate

Intended Outcome: Convey the card and the circumstances of receiving it to Engineer D

Within Competence: Yes
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • initiates: Engineer D Aware of Card Distribution
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: Friend X shares Engineer A's business card with Engineer D and tells Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.
  • hasAgent content: Friend X
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 4, after the social visit to State C
  • eventRoleContext content: non-engineer
  • hasMentalState content: deliberate
  • intendedOutcome content: Convey the card and the circumstances of receiving it to Engineer D
  • textReferences content: Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 7
  • withinCompetence assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
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    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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  },
  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Card_Sharing",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404021+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Friend X shares Engineer A\u0027s business card with Engineer D and tells Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "non-engineer",
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Friend X",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Engineer D Aware of Card Distribution"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Convey the card and the circumstances of receiving it to Engineer D",
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 4, after the social visit to State C",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 7,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C."
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Card Sharing"
}

Description: Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board after learning from Friend X that Engineer A distributed his State B business card while visiting State C. The Board later finds Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion.

Temporal Marker: Situation 4, after receiving the card and account from Friend X instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Licensure Complaint Pending Against Engineer A

Mental State: deliberate

Intended Outcome: Bring a perceived licensure matter to the attention of the State C engineering licensure board

Foreseen Unintended Effects:

  • Subjecting Engineer A to licensure board scrutiny for conduct that was a social exchange
Guided By Principles:
  • Conformance with State Registration Laws
Required Capabilities:
Professional judgment and discretion
Within Competence: Yes
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • guidedByPrinciple: Conformance with State Registration Laws
  • requiresCapability: Professional judgment and discretion
  • initiates: Licensure Complaint Pending Against Engineer A
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board after learning from Friend X that Engineer A distributed his State B business card while visiting State C. The Board later finds Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion.
  • hasAgent content: Engineer D
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 4, after receiving the card and account from Friend X
  • eventRoleContext content: Professional Engineer
  • hasMentalState content: deliberate
  • intendedOutcome content: Bring a perceived licensure matter to the attention of the State C engineering licensure board
  • foreseenUnintendedEffects content: Subjecting Engineer A to licensure board scrutiny for conduct that was a social exchange
  • textReferences content: Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board.
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 9
  • withinCompetence assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
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    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Licensure_Board_Report",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404082+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board after learning from Friend X that Engineer A distributed his State B business card while visiting State C. The Board later finds Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventRoleContext": "Professional Engineer",
  "proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
    "Subjecting Engineer A to licensure board scrutiny for conduct that was a social exchange"
  ],
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Conformance with State Registration Laws"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer D",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Licensure Complaint Pending Against Engineer A"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Bring a perceived licensure matter to the attention of the State C engineering licensure board",
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Professional judgment and discretion"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 4, after receiving the card and account from Friend X",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 9,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board."
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Licensure Board Report"
}

Description: The Board determines that handing out a business card is an expression of accepted business etiquette and does not, by itself, rise to the level of an offer to do work.

Temporal Marker: At the time of case review instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Business Card Etiquette Standard Established

Mental State: deliberate

Intended Outcome: Establish an interpretive standard distinguishing business card distribution from an offer to perform engineering work

Guided By Principles:
  • Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising
  • Conformance with State Registration Laws
Required Capabilities:
Ethical analysis Code interpretation
Within Competence: Yes
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • guidedByPrinciple: Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising; Conformance with State Registration Laws
  • requiresCapability: Ethical analysis; Code interpretation
  • initiates: Business Card Etiquette Standard Established
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: The Board determines that handing out a business card is an expression of accepted business etiquette and does not, by itself, rise to the level of an offer to do work.
  • hasAgent content: NSPE Board of Ethical Review
  • temporalMarker content: At the time of case review
  • hasMentalState content: deliberate
  • intendedOutcome content: Establish an interpretive standard distinguishing business card distribution from an offer to perform engineering work
  • textReferences content: the act of an engineer handing out a business card is an expression of accepted business etiquette and does not, ipso facto, rise to the level of an offer to do work, either personally or on behalf of an engineer’s firm
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 11
  • withinCompetence assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
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    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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  "@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Business_Etiquette_Determination",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404184+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "The Board determines that handing out a business card is an expression of accepted business etiquette and does not, by itself, rise to the level of an offer to do work.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising",
    "Conformance with State Registration Laws"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "NSPE Board of Ethical Review",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Business Card Etiquette Standard Established"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Establish an interpretive standard distinguishing business card distribution from an offer to perform engineering work",
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Ethical analysis",
    "Code interpretation"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "At the time of case review",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 11,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "the act of an engineer handing out a business card is an expression of accepted business etiquette and does not, ipso facto, rise to the level of an offer to do work, either personally or on behalf of an engineer\u2019s firm"
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Business Etiquette Determination"
}

Description: The Board evaluates the four situations, finding Situation 1 not acceptable because the card lacks a physical address, Situations 2, 3, and 4 ethical and non-deceptive, and noting that Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion in reporting Engineer A.

Temporal Marker: At the time of case review instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Ethical Determinations Rendered

Mental State: deliberate

Intended Outcome: Resolve the ethical acceptability of each fact situation under the NSPE Code of Ethics

Guided By Principles:
  • Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising
  • Conformance with State Registration Laws
  • Dignity and Integrity of the Profession
Required Capabilities:
Ethical analysis Code interpretation
Within Competence: Yes
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • guidedByPrinciple: Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising; Conformance with State Registration Laws; Dignity and Integrity of the Profession
  • requiresCapability: Ethical analysis; Code interpretation
  • initiates: Ethical Determinations Rendered
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: The Board evaluates the four situations, finding Situation 1 not acceptable because the card lacks a physical address, Situations 2, 3, and 4 ethical and non-deceptive, and noting that Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion in reporting Engineer A.
  • hasAgent content: NSPE Board of Ethical Review
  • temporalMarker content: At the time of case review
  • hasMentalState content: deliberate
  • intendedOutcome content: Resolve the ethical acceptability of each fact situation under the NSPE Code of Ethics
  • textReferences content: The business card in Situation (1) does not identify a physical address, and for this reason the scenario is not acceptable.; Under the NSPE Code of Ethics, Engineer A’s actions are truthful and not deceptive.; However, the Board notes in passing that it would appear that Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion by bringing this matter to the State C engineering licensure board.
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 12
  • withinCompetence assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#Action_Situational_Ethics_Determination",
  "@type": "proeth:Action",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404238+00:00",
  "proeth:description": "The Board evaluates the four situations, finding Situation 1 not acceptable because the card lacks a physical address, Situations 2, 3, and 4 ethical and non-deceptive, and noting that Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion in reporting Engineer A.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
    "Truthful and Non-Deceptive Advertising",
    "Conformance with State Registration Laws",
    "Dignity and Integrity of the Profession"
  ],
  "proeth:hasAgent": "NSPE Board of Ethical Review",
  "proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Ethical Determinations Rendered"
  ],
  "proeth:intendedOutcome": "Resolve the ethical acceptability of each fact situation under the NSPE Code of Ethics",
  "proeth:requiresCapability": [
    "Ethical analysis",
    "Code interpretation"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "At the time of case review",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 12,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "The business card in Situation (1) does not identify a physical address, and for this reason the scenario is not acceptable.",
    "Under the NSPE Code of Ethics, Engineer A\u2019s actions are truthful and not deceptive.",
    "However, the Board notes in passing that it would appear that Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion by bringing this matter to the State C engineering licensure board."
  ],
  "proeth:withinCompetence": true,
  "rdfs:label": "Situational Ethics Determination"
}
Extracted Events (4)
Occurrences that trigger ethical considerations and state changes

Description: Legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s occurred, after which examination of advertising ethics became tempered with cautions about commercial free speech and antitrust considerations.

Temporal Marker: 1960s and 1970s, before the present case analysis interval

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Advertising Ethics Tempered by Free Speech and Antitrust Considerations
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • initiates: Advertising Ethics Tempered by Free Speech and Antitrust Considerations
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: Legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s occurred, after which examination of advertising ethics became tempered with cautions about commercial free speech and antitrust considerations.
  • temporalMarker content: 1960s and 1970s, before the present case analysis
  • textReferences content: As a result of legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s, the examination of ethical issues relating to advertising are now tempered with strong cautions relating to commercial free speech and antitrust considerations.
  • eventType content: exogenous
  • temporalExtent content: interval
  • temporalSequence content: 1
  • confidence assessment: 0.8
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#Event_Ethics_Codes_Legal_Challenges",
  "@type": "proeth:Event",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404413+00:00",
  "proeth:confidence": "0.8",
  "proeth:description": "Legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s occurred, after which examination of advertising ethics became tempered with cautions about commercial free speech and antitrust considerations.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:eventType": "exogenous",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Advertising Ethics Tempered by Free Speech and Antitrust Considerations"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "1960s and 1970s, before the present case analysis",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 1,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "As a result of legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s, the examination of ethical issues relating to advertising are now tempered with strong cautions relating to commercial free speech and antitrust considerations."
  ],
  "rdfs:label": "Ethics Codes Legal Challenges"
}

Description: In Situation 2, Engineer A receives an invitation to a business meeting in State E, a state in which he is not licensed, setting the occasion for the transparent card distribution.

Temporal Marker: Situation 2, prior to the business meeting in State E instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Business Meeting Attendance in Unlicensed State
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • initiates: Business Meeting Attendance in Unlicensed State
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: In Situation 2, Engineer A receives an invitation to a business meeting in State E, a state in which he is not licensed, setting the occasion for the transparent card distribution.
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 2, prior to the business meeting in State E
  • textReferences content: Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E.
  • eventType content: exogenous
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 3
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#Event_Business_Meeting_Invitation",
  "@type": "proeth:Event",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404327+00:00",
  "proeth:confidence": "0.85",
  "proeth:description": "In Situation 2, Engineer A receives an invitation to a business meeting in State E, a state in which he is not licensed, setting the occasion for the transparent card distribution.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventType": "exogenous",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Business Meeting Attendance in Unlicensed State"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 2, prior to the business meeting in State E",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 3,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E."
  ],
  "rdfs:label": "Business Meeting Invitation"
}

Description: In Situation 4, Engineer D comes into possession of Engineer A's business card and learns that Engineer A gave it to Friend X while visiting State C, as a downstream consequence of Friend X's sharing.

Temporal Marker: Situation 4, after Friend X shares the card instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Engineer D Awareness of Card Distribution

Caused By Action: Action_Card_Sharing

Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Card_Sharing
  • initiates: Engineer D Awareness of Card Distribution
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: In Situation 4, Engineer D comes into possession of Engineer A's business card and learns that Engineer A gave it to Friend X while visiting State C, as a downstream consequence of Friend X's sharing.
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 4, after Friend X shares the card
  • textReferences content: Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.
  • eventType content: outcome
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 8
  • confidence assessment: 0.9
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#Event_Card_Receipt",
  "@type": "proeth:Event",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404365+00:00",
  "proeth:causedByAction": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Card_Sharing",
  "proeth:confidence": "0.9",
  "proeth:description": "In Situation 4, Engineer D comes into possession of Engineer A\u0027s business card and learns that Engineer A gave it to Friend X while visiting State C, as a downstream consequence of Friend X\u0027s sharing.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventType": "outcome",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Engineer D Awareness of Card Distribution"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 4, after Friend X shares the card",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 8,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C."
  ],
  "rdfs:label": "Card Receipt"
}

Description: The State C engineering licensure board receives Engineer D's report about Engineer A's business card distribution, placing Engineer A's conduct before the board.

Temporal Marker: Situation 4, after Engineer D reports Engineer A instant

Fluent Transitions:
Initiates (1)
  • Engineer A Conduct Under Board Scrutiny

Caused By Action: Action_Licensure_Board_Report

Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Licensure_Board_Report
  • initiates: Engineer A Conduct Under Board Scrutiny
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • description content: The State C engineering licensure board receives Engineer D's report about Engineer A's business card distribution, placing Engineer A's conduct before the board.
  • temporalMarker content: Situation 4, after Engineer D reports Engineer A
  • textReferences content: Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board.
  • eventType content: outcome
  • temporalExtent content: instant
  • temporalSequence content: 10
  • confidence assessment: 0.85
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#Event_Board_Notification",
  "@type": "proeth:Event",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404390+00:00",
  "proeth:causedByAction": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#Action_Licensure_Board_Report",
  "proeth:confidence": "0.85",
  "proeth:description": "The State C engineering licensure board receives Engineer D\u0027s report about Engineer A\u0027s business card distribution, placing Engineer A\u0027s conduct before the board.",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:eventType": "outcome",
  "proeth:initiates": [
    "Engineer A Conduct Under Board Scrutiny"
  ],
  "proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
  "proeth:temporalMarker": "Situation 4, after Engineer D reports Engineer A",
  "proeth:temporalSequence": 10,
  "proeth:textReferences": [
    "Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board."
  ],
  "rdfs:label": "Board Notification"
}
Causal Chains (8)
NESS test analysis: Necessary Element of Sufficient Set

Causal Language: On a social visit to State C, Engineer A provides his business card to a non-engineer Friend X. Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.

Necessary Factors (NESS):
  • Engineer A giving his business card to Friend X in State C
  • Friend X being in possession of a card showing Engineer A as a P.E. with only State B information
Sufficient Factors:
  • Engineer A handing the card to Friend X during the social visit, combined with Friend X's subsequent contact with Engineer D
Counterfactual Test: If Engineer A had never given Friend X the business card, Friend X would have had nothing to share with Engineer D, and no subsequent chain of events would have occurred
Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: indirect
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:
  1. Social Card Distribution
    Engineer A, licensed in State B, gives his business card to Friend X during a social visit to State C
  2. Card Sharing
    Friend X shares the card with Engineer D and reports that it was distributed in State C
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • cause: Social Card Distribution
  • effect: Card Sharing
  • responsibleAgent: Engineer A
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • causalLanguage content: On a social visit to State C, Engineer A provides his business card to a non-engineer Friend X. Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.
  • necessaryFactors content: Engineer A giving his business card to Friend X in State C; Friend X being in possession of a card showing Engineer A as a P.E. with only State B information
  • sufficientFactors content: Engineer A handing the card to Friend X during the social visit, combined with Friend X's subsequent contact with Engineer D
  • counterfactual content: If Engineer A had never given Friend X the business card, Friend X would have had nothing to share with Engineer D, and no subsequent chain of events would have occurred
  • agentKnowledge content: Engineer A knew he was licensed only in State B and gave the card in a purely social context, with no intent to represent licensure in State C
  • interveningFactors content: Friend X's independent decision to share the card with Engineer D
  • causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Social Card Distribution', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A, licensed in State B, gives his business card to Friend X during a social visit to State C'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Card Sharing', 'proeth:description': 'Friend X shares the card with Engineer D and reports that it was distributed in State C'}
  • responsibilityType assessment: indirect
  • withinAgentControl assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#CausalChain_1",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404474+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Engineer A knew he was licensed only in State B and gave the card in a purely social context, with no intent to represent licensure in State C",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "On a social visit to State C, Engineer A provides his business card to a non-engineer Friend X. Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A, licensed in State B, gives his business card to Friend X during a social visit to State C",
      "proeth:element": "Social Card Distribution",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Friend X shares the card with Engineer D and reports that it was distributed in State C",
      "proeth:element": "Card Sharing",
      "proeth:step": 2
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Social Card Distribution",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "If Engineer A had never given Friend X the business card, Friend X would have had nothing to share with Engineer D, and no subsequent chain of events would have occurred",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Card Sharing",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Friend X\u0027s independent decision to share the card with Engineer D"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Engineer A giving his business card to Friend X in State C",
    "Friend X being in possession of a card showing Engineer A as a P.E. with only State B information"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "indirect",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Engineer A handing the card to Friend X during the social visit, combined with Friend X\u0027s subsequent contact with Engineer D"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.

Necessary Factors (NESS):
  • Friend X's decision to show the card to Engineer D
  • Friend X's disclosure of the circumstances (card given during a visit to State C)
Sufficient Factors:
  • Friend X sharing both the card and the contextual account with Engineer D
Counterfactual Test: Without Friend X's sharing, Engineer D would never have come into possession of Engineer A's card or learned it was distributed in State C
Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Friend X
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:
  1. Card Sharing
    Friend X shares Engineer A's card and the story of its distribution with Engineer D
  2. Card Receipt
    Engineer D comes into possession of the card and learns Engineer A distributed it while in State C
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • cause: Card Sharing
  • effect: Card Receipt
  • responsibleAgent: Friend X
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • causalLanguage content: Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.
  • necessaryFactors content: Friend X's decision to show the card to Engineer D; Friend X's disclosure of the circumstances (card given during a visit to State C)
  • sufficientFactors content: Friend X sharing both the card and the contextual account with Engineer D
  • counterfactual content: Without Friend X's sharing, Engineer D would never have come into possession of Engineer A's card or learned it was distributed in State C
  • agentKnowledge content: Friend X, a non-engineer, knew only that Engineer A had given the card during a social visit; no evidence of awareness of licensure implications
  • causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Card Sharing', 'proeth:description': "Friend X shares Engineer A's card and the story of its distribution with Engineer D"}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Card Receipt', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer D comes into possession of the card and learns Engineer A distributed it while in State C'}
  • responsibilityType assessment: direct
  • withinAgentControl assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#CausalChain_2",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404507+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Friend X, a non-engineer, knew only that Engineer A had given the card during a social visit; no evidence of awareness of licensure implications",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X the card while visiting State C.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Friend X shares Engineer A\u0027s card and the story of its distribution with Engineer D",
      "proeth:element": "Card Sharing",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer D comes into possession of the card and learns Engineer A distributed it while in State C",
      "proeth:element": "Card Receipt",
      "proeth:step": 2
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Card Sharing",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Without Friend X\u0027s sharing, Engineer D would never have come into possession of Engineer A\u0027s card or learned it was distributed in State C",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Card Receipt",
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Friend X\u0027s decision to show the card to Engineer D",
    "Friend X\u0027s disclosure of the circumstances (card given during a visit to State C)"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Friend X",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Friend X sharing both the card and the contextual account with Engineer D"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board.

Necessary Factors (NESS):
  • Engineer D possessing the card and knowing it was handed out in State C
  • Engineer D's belief that the distribution warranted regulatory attention
Sufficient Factors:
  • Engineer D's knowledge of the card distribution combined with Engineer D's decision to escalate the matter
Counterfactual Test: Without receiving the card and the account from Friend X, Engineer D would have had no basis or occasion to report Engineer A
Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer D
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:
  1. Card Receipt
    Engineer D learns of Engineer A's card distribution in State C
  2. Licensure Board Report
    Engineer D decides to report Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board
  3. Board Notification
    The State C board receives the report about Engineer A's business card distribution
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • cause: Card Receipt
  • effect: Licensure Board Report
  • responsibleAgent: Engineer D
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • causalLanguage content: Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board.
  • necessaryFactors content: Engineer D possessing the card and knowing it was handed out in State C; Engineer D's belief that the distribution warranted regulatory attention
  • sufficientFactors content: Engineer D's knowledge of the card distribution combined with Engineer D's decision to escalate the matter
  • counterfactual content: Without receiving the card and the account from Friend X, Engineer D would have had no basis or occasion to report Engineer A
  • agentKnowledge content: Engineer D knew only that Engineer A, licensed in State B, gave a card to a friend during a social visit to State C; the Board notes Engineer D 'did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion'
  • interveningFactors content: Ambiguity about what constitutes an offer to do business via a business card
  • causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Card Receipt', 'proeth:description': "Engineer D learns of Engineer A's card distribution in State C"}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Licensure Board Report', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer D decides to report Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Board Notification', 'proeth:description': "The State C board receives the report about Engineer A's business card distribution"}
  • responsibilityType assessment: direct
  • withinAgentControl assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#CausalChain_3",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404530+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Engineer D knew only that Engineer A, licensed in State B, gave a card to a friend during a social visit to State C; the Board notes Engineer D \u0027did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion\u0027",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer D learns of Engineer A\u0027s card distribution in State C",
      "proeth:element": "Card Receipt",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer D decides to report Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board",
      "proeth:element": "Licensure Board Report",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The State C board receives the report about Engineer A\u0027s business card distribution",
      "proeth:element": "Board Notification",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Card Receipt",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Without receiving the card and the account from Friend X, Engineer D would have had no basis or occasion to report Engineer A",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Licensure Board Report",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Ambiguity about what constitutes an offer to do business via a business card"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Engineer D possessing the card and knowing it was handed out in State C",
    "Engineer D\u0027s belief that the distribution warranted regulatory attention"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer D",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Engineer D\u0027s knowledge of the card distribution combined with Engineer D\u0027s decision to escalate the matter"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: However, the Board notes in passing that it would appear that Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion by bringing this matter to the State C engineering licensure board.

Necessary Factors (NESS):
  • Engineer D's affirmative act of filing the report with the State C board
Sufficient Factors:
  • Engineer D's report, by itself, was sufficient to bring the matter to the board's attention
Counterfactual Test: Had Engineer D not filed the report, the State C board would never have been notified, since Engineer A's conduct 'was entirely proper' and would not otherwise have come to regulatory attention
Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer D
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:
  1. Licensure Board Report
    Engineer D submits a report about Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board
  2. Board Notification
    The State C engineering licensure board receives Engineer D's report about Engineer A's business card
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • cause: Licensure Board Report
  • effect: Board Notification
  • responsibleAgent: Engineer D
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • causalLanguage content: However, the Board notes in passing that it would appear that Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion by bringing this matter to the State C engineering licensure board.
  • necessaryFactors content: Engineer D's affirmative act of filing the report with the State C board
  • sufficientFactors content: Engineer D's report, by itself, was sufficient to bring the matter to the board's attention
  • counterfactual content: Had Engineer D not filed the report, the State C board would never have been notified, since Engineer A's conduct 'was entirely proper' and would not otherwise have come to regulatory attention
  • agentKnowledge content: Engineer D knew the card was distributed during a social visit, information which should have signaled that no offer of engineering services occurred
  • causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Licensure Board Report', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer D submits a report about Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Board Notification', 'proeth:description': "The State C engineering licensure board receives Engineer D's report about Engineer A's business card"}
  • responsibilityType assessment: direct
  • withinAgentControl assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#CausalChain_4",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404549+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Engineer D knew the card was distributed during a social visit, information which should have signaled that no offer of engineering services occurred",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "However, the Board notes in passing that it would appear that Engineer D did not exercise appropriate judgment and discretion by bringing this matter to the State C engineering licensure board.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer D submits a report about Engineer A to the State C engineering licensure board",
      "proeth:element": "Licensure Board Report",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The State C engineering licensure board receives Engineer D\u0027s report about Engineer A\u0027s business card",
      "proeth:element": "Board Notification",
      "proeth:step": 2
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Licensure Board Report",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Had Engineer D not filed the report, the State C board would never have been notified, since Engineer A\u0027s conduct \u0027was entirely proper\u0027 and would not otherwise have come to regulatory attention",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:effect": "Board Notification",
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Engineer D\u0027s affirmative act of filing the report with the State C board"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer D",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "Engineer D\u0027s report, by itself, was sufficient to bring the matter to the board\u0027s attention"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: As a result of legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s, the examination of ethical issues relating to advertising are now tempered with strong cautions relating to commercial free speech and antitrust considerations.

Necessary Factors (NESS):
  • Legal challenges establishing commercial free speech and antitrust constraints on professional codes
  • The Board's recognition that business cards serve customary identification and business-facilitation purposes
Sufficient Factors:
  • The changed legal landscape combined with the Board's recognition of customary business etiquette produced the determination that a business card is not an offer to do work
Counterfactual Test: Without the legal challenges tempering the Board's approach to advertising ethics, the Board's framework could have been more restrictive, and the etiquette-based determination might not have been reached in its current form
Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: NSPE Board of Ethical Review
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:
  1. Ethics Codes Legal Challenges
    Legal challenges in the 1960s and 1970s impose commercial free speech and antitrust cautions on professional advertising ethics
  2. Tempered Advertising Framework
    The Board's analysis of advertising becomes centered on truthfulness/non-deception and conformity with state laws
  3. Business Etiquette Determination
    The Board determines that handing out a business card is accepted business etiquette and not, ipso facto, an offer to do work
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • cause: Ethics Codes Legal Challenges
  • effect: Business Etiquette Determination
  • responsibleAgent: NSPE Board of Ethical Review
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • causalLanguage content: As a result of legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s, the examination of ethical issues relating to advertising are now tempered with strong cautions relating to commercial free speech and antitrust considerations.
  • necessaryFactors content: Legal challenges establishing commercial free speech and antitrust constraints on professional codes; The Board's recognition that business cards serve customary identification and business-facilitation purposes
  • sufficientFactors content: The changed legal landscape combined with the Board's recognition of customary business etiquette produced the determination that a business card is not an offer to do work
  • counterfactual content: Without the legal challenges tempering the Board's approach to advertising ethics, the Board's framework could have been more restrictive, and the etiquette-based determination might not have been reached in its current form
  • agentKnowledge content: The Board was fully aware of prior case law (BER 79-6, 82-1, 84-2) and the evolution of advertising ethics opinions
  • interveningFactors content: Over 30 previous BER cases dealing with advertising considerations; State registration laws and rules of practice
  • causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Ethics Codes Legal Challenges', 'proeth:description': 'Legal challenges in the 1960s and 1970s impose commercial free speech and antitrust cautions on professional advertising ethics'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Tempered Advertising Framework', 'proeth:description': "The Board's analysis of advertising becomes centered on truthfulness/non-deception and conformity with state laws"}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Business Etiquette Determination', 'proeth:description': 'The Board determines that handing out a business card is accepted business etiquette and not, ipso facto, an offer to do work'}
  • responsibilityType assessment: direct
  • withinAgentControl assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#CausalChain_5",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404567+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "The Board was fully aware of prior case law (BER 79-6, 82-1, 84-2) and the evolution of advertising ethics opinions",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "As a result of legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s, the examination of ethical issues relating to advertising are now tempered with strong cautions relating to commercial free speech and antitrust considerations.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Legal challenges in the 1960s and 1970s impose commercial free speech and antitrust cautions on professional advertising ethics",
      "proeth:element": "Ethics Codes Legal Challenges",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The Board\u0027s analysis of advertising becomes centered on truthfulness/non-deception and conformity with state laws",
      "proeth:element": "Tempered Advertising Framework",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The Board determines that handing out a business card is accepted business etiquette and not, ipso facto, an offer to do work",
      "proeth:element": "Business Etiquette Determination",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Ethics Codes Legal Challenges",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Without the legal challenges tempering the Board\u0027s approach to advertising ethics, the Board\u0027s framework could have been more restrictive, and the etiquette-based determination might not have been reached in its current form",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:effect": "Business Etiquette Determination",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Over 30 previous BER cases dealing with advertising considerations",
    "State registration laws and rules of practice"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "Legal challenges establishing commercial free speech and antitrust constraints on professional codes",
    "The Board\u0027s recognition that business cards serve customary identification and business-facilitation purposes"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "NSPE Board of Ethical Review",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "The changed legal landscape combined with the Board\u0027s recognition of customary business etiquette produced the determination that a business card is not an offer to do work"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: The business card in Situation (1) does not identify a physical address, and for this reason the scenario is not acceptable.

Necessary Factors (NESS):
  • The card's omission of a mailing/physical address
  • The card's omission of the states in which Engineer A is licensed
  • Distribution of the card in State E, where Engineer A is not licensed
Sufficient Factors:
  • The combination of the P.E. designation, absence of physical address, absence of licensure state identification, and distribution in a non-licensed state was sufficient for the Board to find the scenario not acceptable
Counterfactual Test: Had the card identified a physical address and/or the states of licensure (as in Situation 2), the Board would have found the practice truthful and not deceptive, and the not-acceptable finding would not have been made
Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:
  1. Incomplete Card Distribution
    Engineer A hands out a card in State E with a P.E. designation but no mailing address and no identification of licensure states
  2. Potential Perception of Licensure
    The circumstance could raise questions concerning Engineer A being perceived as a professional engineer in State E, where he is not licensed
  3. Situational Ethics Determination
    The Board finds Situation 1 not acceptable because the card lacks a physical address
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • cause: Incomplete Card Distribution
  • effect: Situational Ethics Determination
  • responsibleAgent: Engineer A
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • causalLanguage content: The business card in Situation (1) does not identify a physical address, and for this reason the scenario is not acceptable.
  • necessaryFactors content: The card's omission of a mailing/physical address; The card's omission of the states in which Engineer A is licensed; Distribution of the card in State E, where Engineer A is not licensed
  • sufficientFactors content: The combination of the P.E. designation, absence of physical address, absence of licensure state identification, and distribution in a non-licensed state was sufficient for the Board to find the scenario not acceptable
  • counterfactual content: Had the card identified a physical address and/or the states of licensure (as in Situation 2), the Board would have found the practice truthful and not deceptive, and the not-acceptable finding would not have been made
  • agentKnowledge content: Engineer A knew he was licensed only in States B, C, and D and knew the contents of his own business card when distributing it in State E
  • interveningFactors content: Conventional assumption that a P.E. on a card is licensed in the state indicated by the card's physical address
  • causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Incomplete Card Distribution', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A hands out a card in State E with a P.E. designation but no mailing address and no identification of licensure states'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Potential Perception of Licensure', 'proeth:description': 'The circumstance could raise questions concerning Engineer A being perceived as a professional engineer in State E, where he is not licensed'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Situational Ethics Determination', 'proeth:description': 'The Board finds Situation 1 not acceptable because the card lacks a physical address'}
  • responsibilityType assessment: direct
  • withinAgentControl assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#CausalChain_6",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404588+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Engineer A knew he was licensed only in States B, C, and D and knew the contents of his own business card when distributing it in State E",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "The business card in Situation (1) does not identify a physical address, and for this reason the scenario is not acceptable.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A hands out a card in State E with a P.E. designation but no mailing address and no identification of licensure states",
      "proeth:element": "Incomplete Card Distribution",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The circumstance could raise questions concerning Engineer A being perceived as a professional engineer in State E, where he is not licensed",
      "proeth:element": "Potential Perception of Licensure",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The Board finds Situation 1 not acceptable because the card lacks a physical address",
      "proeth:element": "Situational Ethics Determination",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Incomplete Card Distribution",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Had the card identified a physical address and/or the states of licensure (as in Situation 2), the Board would have found the practice truthful and not deceptive, and the not-acceptable finding would not have been made",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:effect": "Situational Ethics Determination",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "Conventional assumption that a P.E. on a card is licensed in the state indicated by the card\u0027s physical address"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "The card\u0027s omission of a mailing/physical address",
    "The card\u0027s omission of the states in which Engineer A is licensed",
    "Distribution of the card in State E, where Engineer A is not licensed"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "The combination of the P.E. designation, absence of physical address, absence of licensure state identification, and distribution in a non-licensed state was sufficient for the Board to find the scenario not acceptable"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E. The business card indicates that Engineer A is licensed in States B, C and D and lists Engineer A’s mailing address, etc. in State E.

Necessary Factors (NESS):
  • The invitation providing Engineer A the occasion to attend the meeting in State E
  • Engineer A's decision to attend and distribute cards
Sufficient Factors:
  • The invitation combined with Engineer A's attendance and card distribution practices
Counterfactual Test: Without the invitation to the State E business meeting, Engineer A would not have been in that setting handing out cards
Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: Engineer A
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:
  1. Business Meeting Invitation
    Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E
  2. Transparent Card Distribution
    Engineer A hands out a card listing his State E address and identifying his licensure in States B, C, and D
  3. Situational Ethics Determination
    The Board finds the clear representation truthful and not deceptive: 'Such is the case in Situation (2); there is no deception.'
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • cause: Business Meeting Invitation
  • effect: Transparent Card Distribution
  • responsibleAgent: Engineer A
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • causalLanguage content: Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E. The business card indicates that Engineer A is licensed in States B, C and D and lists Engineer A’s mailing address, etc. in State E.
  • necessaryFactors content: The invitation providing Engineer A the occasion to attend the meeting in State E; Engineer A's decision to attend and distribute cards
  • sufficientFactors content: The invitation combined with Engineer A's attendance and card distribution practices
  • counterfactual content: Without the invitation to the State E business meeting, Engineer A would not have been in that setting handing out cards
  • agentKnowledge content: Engineer A knew he was licensed in States B, C, and D but not State E, and designed his card to clearly identify licensure states and his State E mailing address
  • causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Business Meeting Invitation', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Transparent Card Distribution', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer A hands out a card listing his State E address and identifying his licensure in States B, C, and D'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Situational Ethics Determination', 'proeth:description': "The Board finds the clear representation truthful and not deceptive: 'Such is the case in Situation (2); there is no deception.'"}
  • responsibilityType assessment: direct
  • withinAgentControl assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#CausalChain_7",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404606+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "Engineer A knew he was licensed in States B, C, and D but not State E, and designed his card to clearly identify licensure states and his State E mailing address",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that he is a P.E. The business card indicates that Engineer A is licensed in States B, C and D and lists Engineer A\u2019s mailing address, etc. in State E.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E",
      "proeth:element": "Business Meeting Invitation",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "Engineer A hands out a card listing his State E address and identifying his licensure in States B, C, and D",
      "proeth:element": "Transparent Card Distribution",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The Board finds the clear representation truthful and not deceptive: \u0027Such is the case in Situation (2); there is no deception.\u0027",
      "proeth:element": "Situational Ethics Determination",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Business Meeting Invitation",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Without the invitation to the State E business meeting, Engineer A would not have been in that setting handing out cards",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
  "proeth:effect": "Transparent Card Distribution",
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "The invitation providing Engineer A the occasion to attend the meeting in State E",
    "Engineer A\u0027s decision to attend and distribute cards"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer A",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "The invitation combined with Engineer A\u0027s attendance and card distribution practices"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}

Causal Language: While acknowledging that not all business is conducted using formal written agreements, it is the opinion of this Board that the act of an engineer handing out a business card is an expression of accepted business etiquette and does not, ipso facto, rise to the level of an offer to do work, either personally or on behalf of an engineer’s firm.

Necessary Factors (NESS):
  • The Board's threshold determination that card distribution is not an offer to do work
  • The Board's twin criteria of truthfulness/non-deception and conformity with state registration laws
Sufficient Factors:
  • The etiquette determination applied to each fact pattern was sufficient to yield the conclusions that Situations 2, 3, and 4 are acceptable and Situation 1 is not
Counterfactual Test: Had the Board instead held that handing out a business card constitutes an offer to do work, Situations 3 and 4 in particular could have been evaluated as unlawful solicitation in states where Engineer A was not licensed
Responsibility Attribution:

Agent: NSPE Board of Ethical Review
Type: direct
Within Agent Control: Yes

Causal Sequence:
  1. Business Etiquette Determination
    The Board determines that handing out a business card is accepted business etiquette, not an offer to do work
  2. Application to Fact Patterns
    The Board applies the truthfulness/non-deception and state-law-conformity criteria to Situations 1 through 4
  3. Situational Ethics Determination
    The Board finds Situation 1 not acceptable for lacking a physical address, and Situations 2, 3, and 4 ethically acceptable
Field classification (triples vs literals)
Relations (structural triples)
  • cause: Business Etiquette Determination
  • effect: Situational Ethics Determination
  • responsibleAgent: NSPE Board of Ethical Review
Literal extractions (kept for synthesis)
  • causalLanguage content: While acknowledging that not all business is conducted using formal written agreements, it is the opinion of this Board that the act of an engineer handing out a business card is an expression of accepted business etiquette and does not, ipso facto, rise to the level of an offer to do work, either personally or on behalf of an engineer’s firm.
  • necessaryFactors content: The Board's threshold determination that card distribution is not an offer to do work; The Board's twin criteria of truthfulness/non-deception and conformity with state registration laws
  • sufficientFactors content: The etiquette determination applied to each fact pattern was sufficient to yield the conclusions that Situations 2, 3, and 4 are acceptable and Situation 1 is not
  • counterfactual content: Had the Board instead held that handing out a business card constitutes an offer to do work, Situations 3 and 4 in particular could have been evaluated as unlawful solicitation in states where Engineer A was not licensed
  • agentKnowledge content: The Board was aware of state regulations prohibiting soliciting or performing work without licensure and of the multiple purposes of business cards
  • interveningFactors content: State laws restricting engineering practice to duly licensed persons
  • causalSequence content: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Business Etiquette Determination', 'proeth:description': 'The Board determines that handing out a business card is accepted business etiquette, not an offer to do work'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Application to Fact Patterns', 'proeth:description': 'The Board applies the truthfulness/non-deception and state-law-conformity criteria to Situations 1 through 4'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Situational Ethics Determination', 'proeth:description': 'The Board finds Situation 1 not acceptable for lacking a physical address, and Situations 2, 3, and 4 ethically acceptable'}
  • responsibilityType assessment: direct
  • withinAgentControl assessment: True
RDF JSON-LD 
{
  "@context": {
    "proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
    "proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/128#",
    "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/128#CausalChain_8",
  "@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
  "generatedAtTime": "2026-07-13T18:27:14.404625+00:00",
  "proeth:agentKnowledge": "The Board was aware of state regulations prohibiting soliciting or performing work without licensure and of the multiple purposes of business cards",
  "proeth:causalLanguage": "While acknowledging that not all business is conducted using formal written agreements, it is the opinion of this Board that the act of an engineer handing out a business card is an expression of accepted business etiquette and does not, ipso facto, rise to the level of an offer to do work, either personally or on behalf of an engineer\u2019s firm.",
  "proeth:causalSequence": [
    {
      "proeth:description": "The Board determines that handing out a business card is accepted business etiquette, not an offer to do work",
      "proeth:element": "Business Etiquette Determination",
      "proeth:step": 1
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The Board applies the truthfulness/non-deception and state-law-conformity criteria to Situations 1 through 4",
      "proeth:element": "Application to Fact Patterns",
      "proeth:step": 2
    },
    {
      "proeth:description": "The Board finds Situation 1 not acceptable for lacking a physical address, and Situations 2, 3, and 4 ethically acceptable",
      "proeth:element": "Situational Ethics Determination",
      "proeth:step": 3
    }
  ],
  "proeth:cause": "Business Etiquette Determination",
  "proeth:counterfactual": "Had the Board instead held that handing out a business card constitutes an offer to do work, Situations 3 and 4 in particular could have been evaluated as unlawful solicitation in states where Engineer A was not licensed",
  "proeth:discoveredInSection": "discussion",
  "proeth:effect": "Situational Ethics Determination",
  "proeth:interveningFactors": [
    "State laws restricting engineering practice to duly licensed persons"
  ],
  "proeth:necessaryFactors": [
    "The Board\u0027s threshold determination that card distribution is not an offer to do work",
    "The Board\u0027s twin criteria of truthfulness/non-deception and conformity with state registration laws"
  ],
  "proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
  "proeth:responsibleAgent": "NSPE Board of Ethical Review",
  "proeth:sufficientFactors": [
    "The etiquette determination applied to each fact pattern was sufficient to yield the conclusions that Situations 2, 3, and 4 are acceptable and Situation 1 is not"
  ],
  "proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Allen Temporal Relations (13)
Interval algebra relationships with OWL-Time standard properties
From Entity Allen Relation To Entity OWL-Time Property Evidence
prior BER opinions on advertising (30+ cases) before
Entity1 is before Entity2 		the Board's analysis in the present case time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore 		the BER Consolidated Reference Table identifies over 30 previous cases directly dealing with adverti... [more]
legal challenges of the 1960s-1970s before
Entity1 is before Entity2 		BER cases 79-6, 82-1, and 84-2 incorporating the free speech/antitrust perspective time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore 		the examination of ethical issues relating to advertising are now tempered with strong cautions rela... [more]
legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics before
Entity1 is before Entity2 		current tempered examination of advertising ethics (including this opinion) time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore 		As a result of legal challenges to professional society codes of ethics during the 1960s and 1970s, ... [more]
Engineer A handing out business card (Situation 1) during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 		business meeting in State E time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring 		Engineer A participates in a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating th... [more]
Engineer A handing out business card (Situation 2) during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 		business meeting in State E time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring 		Engineer A is invited to a business meeting in State E and hands out a business card indicating that... [more]
Engineer A giving business card to Friend X (Situation 4) during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 		social visit to State C time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring 		On a social visit to State C, Engineer A provides his business card to a non-engineer Friend X.
Engineer A giving card to Friend X before
Entity1 is before Entity2 		Friend X sharing the card with Engineer D time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore 		Friend X shares the card with Engineer D, telling Engineer D that Engineer A recently gave Friend X ... [more]
Friend X sharing the card with Engineer D before
Entity1 is before Entity2 		Engineer D reporting Engineer A to the State C licensure board time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore 		Friend X shares the card with Engineer D... Engineer D reports Engineer A to the State C engineering... [more]
the fact situations (Situations 1-4) before
Entity1 is before Entity2 		the Board's ethical examination of the situations time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore 		With these considerations in mind, the Board can examine the cited fact situations.
Engineer A's licensure in States B, C, and D overlaps
Entity1 starts before Entity2 and ends during Entity2 		Engineer A handing out cards at meetings in State E time:intervalOverlaps
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalOverlaps 		Engineer A is licensed in States B, C, and D. Engineer A participates in a business meeting in State... [more]
Engineer A residing and performing non-engineering consulting in State B overlaps
Entity1 starts before Entity2 and ends during Entity2 		Engineer A handing out his business card in State C (Situation 3) time:intervalOverlaps
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalOverlaps 		Engineer A resides and performs non-engineering consulting services in State B. Engineer A hands out... [more]
era of calling cards before
Entity1 is before Entity2 		contemporary use of business cards time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore 		business cards serve the function of what were formerly known as calling cards
maintaining and updating marketing materials after
Entity1 is after Entity2 		the Board's opinion (ongoing future obligation) time:intervalAfter
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalAfter 		These items should be maintained and updated as necessary in order to avoid public misunderstanding ... [more]
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.

Back to Extraction Continue to Step 4

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