This "fundamental canon" of the American Engineers' Council for Professional Development¹ "Code of Ethics of Engineers" of 1974, along with similar provisions of other codes, marked a significant change from^.the past in engineers' perceptions of their moral obligations to society. While previous codes had emphasized obligations to clients, employers, and other engineers, acknowledging only that they should "have due regard for the safety of life and health of the public"² (emphasis added), the new codes seemed to imply that each engineer should view his professional responsibility as primarily to protect and serve society-at-large and only secondarily and derivatively to serve particular individuals.