Ethics and morality
Name
Institution
Date
The differences between ethics and morality are seen to baffle people as people tend to use ethics and morality in a conversation. The two words, when used in a conversation, are assumed to offer the same meaning, which is far from the truth. Arguably there is no meaningful difference between the concepts of ethics and morality, but an explanation on the choice to take in terms of business would be better. Statistically, 76% of individua believe there is a difference between ethics and morality, while 5% have no idea the rest 18% have no idea between differences that exist.
Ethics focus on decision-making process which determining right and wrong, which in many instances a decision is determined by weighing the pros and cons or the competing values and interest. Morality, on the other hand, can be referred to as the code of behaviour which is based on religious tenets which are used to inform our ethical decisions. Morals come from within its from an own individual mindset which is essential in determining right and wrong. Ethics, on the other hand, are majorly external rule sets that guide us all. Different definitions on the same ethics and morals help bring about the differences, one definition that shows the great difference is, ethics is a map of how one makes choices while morality is a defined code that is used to judge a given behaviour.
Another important takeaway from the introductory statement is ethics comes from an ancient Greek word “ethos” drawn from ethos, which means habit or custom. Moral, on the other hand, was coined by the Romans termed as “moral” and served as an equivalent of “ethikos”. The words which happened to share the same meaning in ancient times doesn’t justify their usage today. Practically using ethics and morality in a conversation might hinder one’s communication as they may take issue with how one is using the terms.
To avoid conflicts that may arise from the use of ethics and morality one can try to: use ethics and morality interchangeably when speaking to people who believe they are synonymous, choose one term and stick with it and minimize the use of both words and instead refer to what each word is broadly about which is doing the right thing and leading an honourable life which entails leading it with high character.
Trying to understand ethics and morality has brought about new questions. The fact that ethics and morality can be used interchangeably does it imply that the ethical practices businesses employ can also be understood as moral practices?
Normative ethics being the study of ethical practices and a branch of philosophical ethics which investigates the questions that might arise when one is supposed to act. Is there any potential relation between ethics and morals which might imply that normative ethics is normative morals.