ethics

English

Etymology

From Middle English etik, from Middle French ethique, from Late Latin ethica, from Ancient Greek ἠθική (ēthikḗ), from ἠθικός (ēthikós, “of or for morals, moral, expressing character”), from ἦθος (êthos, “character, moral nature”).

Pronunciation

Noun

ethics (countable and uncountable, plural ethics)

  1. Morality.
    Her decision was guided by her strong personal ethics.
  2. The standards that govern the conduct of a person, especially a member of a profession.
    The professor teaches a course on business ethics.
    Medical ethics require doctors to prioritize patient welfare.
  3. (philosophy) The study of principles relating to right and wrong conduct.
    Synonyms: (one sense) deontology, moral philosophy

Usage notes

  • Although the terms ethics and morality are often used interchangeably, philosophical ethicists sometimes distinguish them, using ethics to refer to theories and conceptual studies relating to good and evil and right and wrong, and using morality and its related terms to refer to actual, real-world beliefs and practices concerning proper conduct. In this vein, the American philosopher Brand Blanshard wrote concerning his friend, the eminent British ethicist G. E. Moore: "We often discussed ethics, but seldom morals. . . . He was a master in ethical theory, but did not conceive himself as specially qualified to pass opinions on politics or social issues." [1]

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Noun

ethics

  1. plural of ethic

Translations

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Translations to be checked

See also

Further reading

  • “ethics”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

References

  1. ^ Paul Schilpp, ed., The Philosophy of Brand Blanshard, Library of Living Philosophers, →ISBN, "Autobiography", p. 85.

Anagrams

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