Categories: Ethics

Ethical foundation and ethical theories explained

Ethics is defined as a moral philosophy or code of morals based on what is considered right and wrong by a whole society or a person. “Ethics” identifies correct human behaviour according to positive values, such as transparency, loyalty, consistency, suitability, fairness, and opportunity.

The ethical foundation is the basis for ethical standards, a system of guidelines that help determine and justify actions. The ethical foundation framework offers a consistent approach to decision-making.

Ethical theories are usually divided into three topics: meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics:
The meta-ethics, as the term suggests, is a study of the nature of ethics. It probes the origin of ethical principles and answers questions like whether these principles are merely social inventions or more than expressions of our emotions. The responses to these questions are answered by converging on the issues of universal truths, the will of God, the role of reason in ethical judgments, and the meaning of ethical terms themselves.
Normative ethics, also known as normative theory or moral theory, takes on more practical tasks to find out which actions are right and wrong or which character traits are good and bad. It articulates fundamental principles that govern how we should live, the good habits that we should acquire, and what we morally ought to do to others. In a sense, it is a search for an ideal litmus test of proper behavior.
Applied ethics refers to using philosophical methods to identify the morally correct course of action in various fields of human life. In a sense, applied ethics is the application of ethical theories to solve practical problems.

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Surendra Naik

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