ETHICS

ethics, moral philosophy

(noun) the philosophical study of moral values and rules

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

ethics (countable and uncountable, plural ethics)

(philosophy) The study of principles relating to right and wrong conduct.

Morality.

The standards that govern the conduct of a person, especially a member of a profession.

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."

Synonyms

• moral philosophy

Anagrams

• cis-het, cishet, itches, theics, tiches

Source: Wiktionary

Eth"ics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éthique. See Ethic.]

Definition: The science of human duty; the body of rules of duty drawn from this science; a particular system of principles and rules concerting duty, whether true or false; rules of practice in respect to a single class of human actions; as, political or social ethics; medical ethics. The completeness and consistency of its morality is the peculiar praise of the ethics which the Bible has taught. I. Taylor.

ETHIC

Eth"ic, Eth"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. ethicus, Gr. sidus, G. sitte, Skr. svadh, prob. orig., one's own doing; sva self + dh to set: cf. F. éthique. See So, Do.]

Definition: Of, or belonging to, morals; treating of the moral feelings or duties; containing percepts of morality; moral; as, ethic discourses or epistles; an ethical system; ethical philosophy. The ethical meaning of the miracles. Trench. Ethical dative (Gram.), a use of the dative of a pronoun to signify that the person or thing spoken of is regarded with interest by some one; as, Quid mihi Celsus agit How does my friend Celsus do

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition