PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Lecture # 01
7th Semester, 4td Year
21EL-Section-I
B.E Electrical Engineering Program
Department of Electrical Engineering
2
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Course Outline
Chapter No. 1 : Introduction
Chapter No. 2 : Value of Ethics
Chapter No. 3 : Ethics in Different Field of Work
Chapter No. 4 : Ethical Dilemmas
Chapter No. 5 : Case Studies
3
Chapter No. 1 : Introduction
Course Requirement and Assessment Tasks.
Why Does Studying Ethics and Conduct Matters.
Introduction to Ethics.
The Nature Of Engineering Ethics.
Legal, Professional and Historical Definitions.
Origin of Professional Ethics.
4
Chapter No. 2 : Value of Ethics
Value of Engineering Ethics.
Cotemporary and Historical Reasons.
Why an Ethical Engineer ?
Social Responsibility and Community Outreach.
Chapter No. 3 : Ethics in Different Field of 5
Work
Business and Society Relations.
Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Balancing Rights and Ethical Behaviour Towards Clients,
Organizations and Society: Linking theoretical dilemmas
and understanding to ethical practice.
6
Chapter No. 4 : Ethical Dilemmas
Common Ethical Dilemma.
Resolution of Ethical Dilemma.
Possible Actions in Response Dilemma.
Probable Consequences of these Actions.
7
Chapter No. 5 : Case Studies
Any Religious, National, International Law Dealing with
Engineering Ethics.
Code of Ethics/Conduct of any Professional Society.
United Nation Global Compact (UNGC).
Historical and Professional Reasons of Existence of Multiple
Definitions of Ethics.
Benefits of acting Ethically and Consequences of Acting
Unethically.
8
Books
Engineering Ethics Concepts & Cases by Charles E
Harris 5th Edition
Kenneth Blanchard, Professional Ethics, 4th edition
MORALITY VS ETHICS
9
MORALITY VS ETHICS:
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE
10
Introduction
• Morality and ethics are often used interchangeably, but
they are distinct concepts.
• Understanding the difference is critical, especially in
professional fields like engineering, where decisions
can impact public safety, the environment, and society.
• Morality is a set of personal beliefs, values, and
principles about what is right and wrong.
• Ethics, on the other hand, refers to the guidelines and
rules established by a profession or society that govern
appropriate conduct in specific situations.
11
Defining Morality
• Morality refers to an individual’s personal beliefs about
right and wrong, shaped by factors like upbringing,
culture, religion, and personal experiences.
• Personal: Morality is subjective—it is unique to each
person and influenced by their personal values.
• Context: Morality often arises in private life and is tied
to personal actions and choices.
• Example: A person might feel that lying is always wrong
based on their upbringing, regardless of the situation.
12
Defining Ethics
• Ethics is the branch of philosophy that involves the study of moral
principles. It also refers to the established rules and guidelines
that govern behavior within specific contexts, particularly in
professional settings.
• Professional/Collective: Ethics are generally broader and tied to
professional communities or society-wide expectations.
• Systematic: Ethics seeks to establish objective rules for how
individuals should behave in specific situations, considering the
greater good and the responsibility to society.
• Example: In engineering, the Code of Ethics requires engineers to
prioritize public safety over personal gain, and engineers must
report safety issues even if it costs the company money or
reputation.
13
Key Differences: Morality vs.
Aspect
Ethics
Morality Ethics
Guidelines or rules for
Definition Personal beliefs about right behavior in professional or
and wrong societal contexts
Developed by professional
Source Developed through culture, associations or societal
religion, family institutions
Context Private, personal actions Public, professional conduct
Subjectivity Subjective, varies by individual Objective, more standardized
across professions or societies
Engineer’s duty to protect
Examples Lying is wrong, abortion is public safety, lawyer’s duty to
immoral confidentiality
More standardized and
Flexibility Can vary greatly from person universally applied in a given
to person profession
14
Real-World Application: Case
Study
Morality in Action:
• A civil engineer may morally believe that a particular construction project is
wrong because it threatens the environment or violates their personal
ethical values.
• They might think, "It is wrong to damage the environment, even if the
project brings economic benefit.”
Ethics in Action:
• The same engineer follows their professional code of ethics, which may
require them to report any unsafe designs, even though it may conflict
with the interests of their employer or the financial benefits of the project.
• Ethical standards require engineers to act in the public interest, prioritizing
safety, health, and environmental protection.
15
Morality and Ethics in Conflict
Example of Conflict: Imagine an engineer who works for a company
developing a new consumer product. The company decides to use a
material that is cheaper but potentially harmful to the environment.
• Morality: The engineer might personally believe that using
harmful materials is immoral, but their job requires them to
follow orders.
• Ethics: As per the company’s code of ethics, the engineer is
ethically bound to raise the issue of the material’s potential
environmental harm, regardless of the personal cost or the
company's stance.
16
How Morality and Ethics Work
Together
Ethics in the Workplace: In professional life, morality guides
the engineer’s personal beliefs, while ethics provides a
framework for making decisions in line with societal
responsibilities.
• Example: In the case of autonomous vehicles, engineers
might have personal (moral) beliefs about how a vehicle
should behave in an unavoidable accident. However,
ethics will require them to consider societal well-being,
public safety, and fairness to all involved when designing
the algorithms for such a vehicle.
17
Practical Implications for
Engineers
• Morality in Engineering: Engineers are encouraged to
be aware of their own moral compass. Personal values
and beliefs may influence their decision-making, but
they should balance these personal views with ethical
standards that prioritize public welfare.
• Ethics in Engineering: Engineers must follow
professional ethics codes (e.g.,PEC, IEEE, ASCE), which
ensure their actions align with standards that benefit
society and uphold the public trust.
18
Final Thoughts: Why Understanding
the Difference is Important
• Engineers and other professionals must not only
know what is right but also understand how to make
decisions that benefit society, even when personal
morals might be in conflict.
• By clearly understanding the distinction between
morality and ethics, engineers can better navigate
ethical dilemmas and make decisions that reflect
both their personal values and the professional
responsibility they carry.
19
Summarizing the Discussion
Morality and ethics play essential roles in guiding
engineers’ decision-making. While morality shapes
individual beliefs, ethics provides a framework for
professional conduct, ensuring that decisions are made
for the greater good of society and the environment.
Understanding both concepts ensures that engineers
can navigate complex situations and make decisions
that are not only technically sound but also morally
and ethically responsible.
20
Discussion Questions:
• How would you handle a situation where your
personal morality conflicts with your professional
ethics?
• Can ethics override morality in certain situations?
• What would you do if you had to choose
between following an unethical directive from a
superior and violating your moral beliefs?
21
22
Questions, ??
Queries ??
Comments ??
