Post on 30-Dec-2015
transcript
Morals vs. Ethics
Current Issues - LHS
What Are Morals and Ethics?• MORALS are principles or habits
with respect to right or wrong conduct
• Morals define how things should work, according to an individuals’ ideals & principles
• ETHICS are the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc. (lawyers, doctors, cops, etc)
• Ethics define how things are, according to the rules
Morals vs. Ethics• Where do they come from?– Morals = individual (internal)– Ethics = social system
(external)
• Why do we have them?– Morals = Because we believe
in something being right or wrong!
– Ethics = Because society says it is the right thing to do!• Ex – medical ethics don’t
change from hospital to hospital, but are different from a lawyer’s ethics
Morals vs. Ethics• What if we don’t follow
them?– Morals = depends; for
people with strong morals, it may cause them to feel uncomfortable, remorseful, depressed, etc.
– Ethics = we may face peer or societal disapproval, or be fired from our job or lose a license to practice a profession
Morals vs. Ethics• How flexible are they?– Morals are usually
consistent, although they could change if an individual’s belief’s change
– Ethics are dependent on others for definition; they tend to be consistent within a certain context but can vary depending upon context
Morals vs. Ethics • What is the “gray” area between
morals & ethics?– A moral person, although perhaps
bound by some sort of higher covenant (let’s say religious), may nevertheless follow a code of ethics that conflicts with their morals (ex – lawyer’s morals = murder is wrong, but their ethics require them to defend an accused murderer)
– A person strictly following an ethical system may not have any morals at all
– Likewise, one may violate their ethical principles within a given set of rules in order to maintain their moral integrity
Morals vs. Ethics
• Who determines acceptability?– Morals transcend cultural
norms – religious based, for example
– Ethics are governed by professional and legal guidelines within a particular time and place• Ex – medical ethics of the
early 20th C. are different than those of the 21st C.