On The Meaning Of "Ethics"

This comes up a lot in discussion, so I'm curious... what does ethics mean to you?

How do you define the word "ethics"?

What about "morals"?

Do you use those two words synonymously? If not, what's the distinction between "ethics" and "morals"?

I'll offer up a few selected dictionary definitions of the words here...

For ETHICS, we have "the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation" and a set/theory/system of moral principles or values from m-w.com. Dictionary.com helps add to that with "the study of the general nature of morals and of the specific moral choices to be made by a person; moral philosophy."

Also, here's an excerpt from an interesting usage note from m-w.com:


Personally, I tend to think of MORALS as a more personal system of values and ETHICS as involving larger principles that may be more generally applied.

My morals may tell me that something is wrong, but that dictates to me that it's wrong for me, not necessarily generally wrong, or wrong for anyone else. On the other hand, ethics guides my actions and thoughts to consider those around me, to consider the larger consequences of what I am doing, and how it affects others. Ethics is necessary for dealing with others, while my morals are not necessarily relevant to anyone else but me.

That's how I'm thinking of it... What do you think?

(:

Sel

I think that many people confuse three types of behavior: ethical, legal and moral. I find the following definitions useful:

"Legal" = behavior which is involuntarily enforced. Like it or not and whether or not you believe it is right, you will do this type of behavior. If you do not, you will either have to pay money (by way of a fine or damages to someone), have certain privileges taken away (like your drivers license) or we will put you in a cage (i.e. jail).


"Ethical" = behavior which you agree to follow. Many professions and groups have agreed upon behavior which is deemed ethical (appropriate) or unethical (inappropriate). To be part of the group, you must agree to such behaviors. If you do not, you will lose the right to be part of that group (e.g. get your license to practice medicine revoked). This is what I call "hard" ethics. "Soft" ethics would be that behavior which we as a society may believe appropriate in a certain situation. Our only recourse is to simply not do business with that person.

"Moral" = behavior which you believe must be followed. You act or behave a certain way because of your beliefs and value system. If someone is doing something that is not in accordance with either of these, then the activity would be considered "immoral".

As you might expect, these three classifications are not mutually exclusive.

From what I have learned over the years, this is why I view Ethics and Morals as being the same, peas in a pod, goes together like peas and carrots, etc..

Philosophy = a discipline composed of Metaphysics, Epistemology, Axiology, Logic; a system of values by which one lives; a rational investigation of questions; love of wisdom; a field of study in which people ask questions such as whether God exists, what is the nature of reality, whether knowledge is possible, and what makes actions right or wrong; synonym = doctrine

1. Metaphysics = What is Real? (reality)
2. Epistemology = How do we know what we know? (knowing)
3. Axiology = What & Why do we value a thing, action, or relationship? Life's shoulds and oughts.
a. Ethics = What makes an action good/bad or right/wrong?
b. Aesthetics = What makes something beautiful or ugly? What takes one beyond oneself?
4. Logic = Are we thinking correctly, in a logical manner?
a. Deductive = General to Specific
b. Inductive = Specific to General (mnemonic: IS {inductive is specific})

Ethos, being the root word at the heart of Ethics (as I understand the whole root word process; I could be wrong), has the following definitions (to list just a few):
1. The disposition, character, or fundamental values peculiar to a specific person, people, culture, or movement
2. the distinctive spirit of a culture or an era
3. The distinguishing character, beliefs or moral nature of a person, group, or institution.

Ethics is also referred to as Moral Philosophy. All individuals, and the groups/communities/states they are a part of, have a Philosophy and Ethic/Morality. There is variety in these "systems of values", personal awareness of what doctrines a person lives by, and the who/what/when/where/why for the doctrines.

Granted, all this defining is open to Postmodernistic Deconstruction... so to quote Pat Benatar, "Hit me with your best shot... fire away!"

B^)

Sorcs Nolan

Ethics is heavily intertwined with morality, but with significant difference.

Morals deals with rightness or wrongness of an action over the scope of good and evil. This scope will vary depending on your culture and/or religion.

Ethics is a code of conduct that may or may not be driven by morals. It is a collection of proper ways of doing things. How it differs significantly from morals is an addition like "work ethic." A work ethic can involve simple things that have no basis in morals like deciding which task you will do first (calls, email, reports, read memos) or how you do things (desk clean or cluttered) or how well you do things (work quality). In this sense you are the one that determines what is right and wrong for you specifically.

However when the term "ethical" is used, it generally refers to morality-based or socially-based codes of conduct.

I just posted, along with my multiple choices to potential topics for discussion, a comment about a need for consensus or agreement on defintiions of words before beginning a discussion, and here I see Selaras is already at work on it!

anya

Somewhere along the line, I came to think of ethics as being reason-based and morality as being religioun-based. Having read the actual definitions recently, I see this is a personal interpretation of the words.

I am interested in the difference between religion-informed morality, which often seems illogical and arbitrary, and reasoned ethics. Being both an agnostic and queer in a religion-laced society (I'm an American), I would really like to see us recognize the difference between the two and remove idiosyncratic religious morality from our laws.

anya daligdig

It sounds like we're all mostly in agreement so far. I've been thinking about it today in terms of a few short equations.


MORALS = System of Values (whether it's personal, religious, or familial)

ETHICS = Morals + Others (a system of values that considers others)



And, to add to the stew,

LAWS = System of Enforced Political/Moral Values (rarely based on ethical values)


To contrast laws and ethics, I think Ethics can never be enforced, without turning it over to the realm of law. Ethically, we can never deny consideration of the Other.

It is unfortunate that once we start trying to enforce law, much of the system involves denying consideration of the Other, justifying that denial and privileging the majority (or the rich, or the powerful, or some other group). Without treading too deeply into the political, this denial of consideration can come very simply through criminalization of acts that might be harmless and perfectly ethical on their own. Or perhaps an-ethical, and an-unethical, if it doesn't affect anyone else.

Professional Ethics, like a Medical Code of Ethics for doctors, basically function as a code of law for those professions.


Sel

I find trying to define words like ethics and morals accomplishes little more than to cause one to have a headache.

My own view is that it is simply dealing with other people in a fair manner.

Adding what's legal to the mix seems to confuse matters as they are good laws and bad laws. As I see it, good laws are usually those based on common sense, bad laws are usually those based on emotion.

ethics is of the particular [the particle]
morals are of the consensus [the field]
so that ethics operates individually
while morals are collective conditioning
so that a suicide like socrates' was ethical
and a lynch mob thinks itself moral

within a finite existence both are limited
and can be confused with each other
the particle -when existent- being a tiny field
the field - when finite- being a large particle

ideally the particle is grounded in reality
the reality is non-existent - the zero point
which while non-existent is source for all existence
the ideal of the field is the infinite display of actuality
this actuality is all existence in full infinity

the zero point reality is true clear sourced ethicality
the infinite actuality is the full display possible and not
but as we live in finite manifestation - SL or FL
the local particularization of our being is in a finite display
and absorbs a miniature model of the consensus field - culture
this inner modeling of the outer consensus system
seems the basis of ethical action as if external
but is in truth a local system of moral behavior

if one knows and trusts the connect to ones reality
one can operate in full trust of one's ethical nature
and take the local moral code into account as information
rather than as rules of how to 'act' properly

Ethics are sourced from the one-pointedness of 'soul/atman/tao'
Morality the approved habits of local convention

To me, morals are an individual's right and wrong, ethics are a group's right or wrong.

Immoral behavior is what an individual thinks is wrong. It's very personal, and applies only to that individual. Moral, of course, is the inverse. Amoral is behavior that I don't personally judge as right or wrong.

Ethics are a group's morality. Examples include business ethics, medical ethics, legal ethics, american ethics, gothic ethics, et.al.. Unethical is what the group considers wrong, ethical is the inverse. Hmm, to continue the metaphor, aetheical behavior would be that which is not judged by the group... but I've never seen that word in use

Now when a group encourages and individual to adopt it's ethic, they might describe that ethic as moral to imply that the individual is already a member of the group, so the ethic natually descends to the individual's morality. Because this association probably occurs at the subconcious level, and also appeals to the natural desire of human beings to "belong" or "be accepted", it can be a powerful tool for influencing thought... but that's probably a topic for another time and place...

Ethics are absolute standards for action.

Nase, I would like to follow up on this a bit... first, "absolute standards" is a rather strong phrase, at least to me when I read this. I presume that was your intent? And if so, where do such standards come from, for yourself (and/or others?)?

Also, with this definition for Ethics... do you have a definition for Morals? Same or different as Ethics?

Thanks,
Sorcs

On the heels of tonight's discussion, I'd like to ask...

What is Ethics to you? Is it based more in the personal, the societal or the universal?

Please feel free to post your thoughts here, I'd love to hear from as many as possible on this question.


Sel
(: