Ethics and Morality: their differences
It is common that the concepts of ethics and moral are conceived as synonyms, however it is important to mention that there are important differences in these two concepts that I consider important to highlight.
In the first place, the dictionary defines ethics as a set of moral principles and rules that
regulate the behavior and relationships of the human being. On the other hand, morality
is the total addition of knowledge that is acquired on the highest and noble part and that a person respects in their behavior.
In synthesis, ethics studies the virtue, which is the positive quality that can be acquired,
and studies the happiness, that is the full objective of humans needs and desires. In the
other sense, morality studies the set of qualities of the spirit as behavior and behavior in
society.
Likewise, both ethics and morals, have essential principles that govern each subject. Ethics is governed by the principles of justice, freedom, integrity, responsibility, respect, honesty, equity, among others. While morality is governed by the principles that lead men to defend and grow in their dignity.
In conclusion, both morality and ethics raise different issues. The moral has to do with the practical level of action and tries to answer the question of What should I do? In the other hand, ethics has to do with the theoretical level of reflection, that is, it tries to answer questions such as: what is moral? And therefore, it has a great relationship with
philosophy.
Gerardo Steta
Madeleine Aupart Moreno
Ethics and morality are different and but they may compliment each other, in fact it would be the best if they do.
Ethics is a science that study human’s acts. It is objective, this means that it does not depend on anything else. So, based on this statement we can say that ethics does not depend on morality. For example, if something is morally good it does not necessarily mean that it is ethically good (and viceversa). As a science, it states universal statements that apply in every case. It is important to clarify that these statements are not taught because we already know them. But it is not ethics´ business to tell us what to do or what not to do.
This is what morality does, it tells us how to act. Due to its normative character it states laws or rules but these do not contain that universal character that ethics, as a science, has.
In conclusion, we should apply both, ethics and morality, in our daily lives. Ethics helps us to be aware and responsible for our actions and morality as a guide for our actions. But we should not lose sight that it is ethics that may have the last word when defining the kindness of evilness of our actions.