I understand morality as being the branch of ethics that deals with "good and evil", has opposed to right and wrong etc., but this still seems a bit unclear.
2007-03-17 10:52:26 · 5 answers · asked by new_transmission 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Morality is usually defined based on religious dogma or cultural norms. The standards apply to any member of that religion and/or culture, or anyone being judged by that culture.
Ethics are defined based any specific (non-legally mandated) set of rules, and any given code of ethics usually applies only to a specific profession, organization or company. So, the rules apply to anyone who has voluntarily pursued that profession, or voluntarily joined that organization or company.
Good and evil are purely subjective. They are what I -- or you, or we or they -- like or dislike. Just like morals are subjective, based on personal and cultural beliefs.
Right and wrong can be measured objectively, by whether the particular rules in question (whatever sets of rules apply) were violated or not.
Or, based on purely utilitarian standards, something is right if it accomplishes your objective, and wrong if it is counter- productive.
2007-03-17 11:01:04 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There has come to be a difference in how the terms "Ethics" and "Morality" are used. There is also a difference between what makes for right conduct according to two basic sorts of morality.
What Is Moral?
"Moral" and "ethical" used to be interchangeable. They aren't anymore, which is why I use both on my home page. The reason they're not interchangeable anymore is because "ethical" has come to refer mainly to right conduct in a profession, so we have "medical ethics," "business ethics," and the like. "Moral" is used more broadly to describe right conduct for everyone, or in some cases, for everyone in a particular society or culture.
2007-03-17 18:06:07 · answer #2 · answered by gon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Morality: A system of ideas of right and wrong conduct.
Ethics: Branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of ultimate value and the standards by which human actions can be judged right or wrong.
Very subtle difference. One is in thought and the other is in action.
2007-03-17 18:01:40 · answer #3 · answered by ouroboros0427 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
morality deals with good and bad, appropriate and inappropriate as you said, and ethics deals with fair and unfair, lawful and unlawful, so it's a wider notion.
2007-03-17 17:57:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
morality is governed by others while ethics is self governed
2007-03-17 18:13:38 · answer #5 · answered by naaaooome 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋