What is Ethics?What is Ethics?

"What does ethics "What does ethics mean to you?" mean to you?"

Answers were……..Answers were……..

"Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong.“me is right or wrong.“

"Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs.""Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs."

"Being ethical is doing what the law "Being ethical is doing what the law requires."requires."

"Ethics consists of the standards of behavior "Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts."our society accepts."

"I don't know what the word means." "I don't know what the word means."

my feelings…..first respondent.my feelings…..first respondent.

But being ethical is clearly not a But being ethical is clearly not a matter of following one's feelings.matter of following one's feelings.

feelings frequently deviate from feelings frequently deviate from

what is ethical. what is ethical.

Ethics with religion….second RespondentEthics with religion….second Respondent

of course, advocate high ethical of course, advocate high ethical standards. standards.

Yet if ethics were confined to Yet if ethics were confined to religion, then ethics would apply religion, then ethics would apply only to religious people. only to religious people.

following the law……..third following the law……..third RespondentRespondent

The law often incorporates The law often incorporates ethical standards ethical standards

Many laws followed world wide is Many laws followed world wide is not ethically correct.not ethically correct.

whatever society accepts…..fourth whatever society accepts…..fourth respondent.respondent.

In any society, most people accept In any society, most people accept standards that are, in fact, ethical .standards that are, in fact, ethical .

But standards of behavior in society But standards of behavior in society can deviate from what is ethical. can deviate from what is ethical.

An entire society can become An entire society can become ethically corrupt. ethically corrupt. Nazi GermanyNazi Germany is is a good example of a morally corrupt a good example of a morally corrupt society. society.

Then what is Then what is Ethics?????Ethics?????

Ethics is two things Ethics is two things …….…….

First ……..First ……..

Ethics refers to Ethics refers to well based well based standardsstandards of right and wrong that of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms ofdo, usually in terms of rights rights, , obligationsobligations, , benefits to societybenefits to society or or fairnessfairness..

Cont….Cont….

FFor example:or example: refers to those refers to those standards that impose the standards that impose the reasonable obligations to refrain reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, from rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud.assault, slander, and fraud.

Secondly ………Secondly ………

Ethics refers to the study and Ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards.development of one's ethical standards.

… …..feelings, laws, and social norms can ..feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical.deviate from what is ethical.

So it is necessary to constantly examine So it is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable and well-founded. reasonable and well-founded.

Ethics also means, Ethics also means, then …then … The continuous effort of studying The continuous effort of studying

our own moral beliefs and our our own moral beliefs and our moral conduct, and striving to moral conduct, and striving to ensure that we, and the ensure that we, and the institutions we help to shape, live institutions we help to shape, live up to standards that are up to standards that are reasonable and solidly-based. reasonable and solidly-based.