---
title: "Ethics, moral action, perspectives"
subject: "Engineering Professional Practice"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:ethics-moral-nonmoral-perspectives"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/ethics-moral-nonmoral-perspectives
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Ethics, moral action, perspectives

Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 2: Profession and Ethics

- Asked in: 2074 Bhadra, 5 marks
- Video: [Ethics versus Morality | Get the Basics Right | Shubhra Ranjan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAgr3Xn-QEs) — Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/ethics-moral-nonmoral-perspectives
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-2

## Question

Define Ethics. What is moral and non-moral action? Write briefly the perspectives of Professional ethics.

## Short answer

Ethics studies right and wrong conduct. Moral actions are free, responsible acts affecting others’ welfare; non-moral acts lack moral significance. Professional ethics integrates individual, professional, organisational, social, and legal perspectives to guide responsible decisions.

## Answer

#### Ethics
Ethics is the systematic study of what is right and wrong, good and bad in human behaviour. It supplies principles to judge and guide actions. The word comes from Greek *ethos* (character, custom).

#### Moral and non-moral action
- **Moral action:** an act done knowingly and freely, by a responsible person, that can be judged right or wrong and affects others' welfare. Example: reporting a design defect that endangers users, or taking a bribe.
- **Non-moral (amoral) action:** an act that has no moral value or is outside the question of right and wrong, such as natural events, reflexes, acts of animals or small personal matters like choosing a colour of shirt. An act done without knowledge or freedom (a child or insane person) is non-moral for that person.

Test: Is the person responsible and free, and does the act affect the good of others?

#### Perspectives of professional ethics
1. **Individual (personal) perspective:** personal conscience, character and values of the professional.
2. **Professional perspective:** codes of conduct, standards and duties of the profession.
3. **Organisational/employer perspective:** company policy, culture, loyalty and duty to employer and client.
4. **Social/public perspective:** expectations and welfare of society, environment and future generations.
5. **Legal perspective:** conformity with laws and regulations.

Good professional decisions satisfy all these perspectives.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What makes an action moral?
   A. It is a natural event
   B. It is done knowingly and freely by a responsible person and affects others' welfare
   C. It is a reflex
   D. It is a minor personal choice
   Answer: B. Moral actions are free, knowing and affect others' welfare so can be judged right or wrong. (Key point: Moral action)

2. Which is a non-moral (amoral) action?
   A. Taking a bribe
   B. Reporting a design defect
   C. Choosing the colour of a shirt
   D. Falsifying a report
   Answer: C. Small personal matters like shirt colour are outside right and wrong. (Key point: Non-moral action)

3. Why is an act by a child or insane person non-moral for that person?
   A. It is done without knowledge or freedom
   B. It is illegal
   C. It is always harmful
   D. It is done in public
   Answer: A. Moral responsibility needs knowledge and freedom. (Key point: Child's act)

4. Which perspective of professional ethics refers to codes of conduct, standards and duties of the profession?
   A. Individual perspective
   B. Legal perspective
   C. Professional perspective
   D. Social perspective
   Answer: C. The professional perspective covers codes of conduct, standards and duties of the profession. (Key point: Perspectives)

## Related in Engineering Professional Practice

- [NEC duties; ethics vs moral behaviour](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Anec-duties-ethics-vs-moral) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 3
- [Moral dilemma and its resolution](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Amoral-dilemma-solving) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Ethics and code of ethics for engineers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Acode-of-ethics-engineers) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Engineering morals, ethics, professionalism](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aengineering-morals-ethics-professionalism) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2
- [Ethics and need for code of conduct](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aethics-why-code-of-conduct) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2
- [Profession, code of ethics, tort and liability](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aprofession-code-ethics-tort) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2