Morals vs. Ethics

Compare and contrast Morals and Ethics.

Feel free to be objective or subjective, give examples if you wish.
:smoker2:

damn, i just put the websters defs in the other post


Anyways, Ethics are a code to live by, derived from morals. Morals are concrete, basic, unchanging, and generally universal beliefs on right and wrong. Really, we need to put it up that there are such things as right and wrong. No grey area here. Like the GWB speech, "You are with us, or you are with the terrorists." What they did was wrong, no two ways about it. I dont give a shit what they think, because they thought WRONG. See, there is a difference.

Ethics is more of a community driven thing

Morals are your own personal "ethics"

Laws are the "ethical or moral minimum" in society..

Theres a differnce?
Is this a thread asking for a clear definition of the words in a philosophical sense, (check epiphenomenalism in websters, or Kantian, often the dictionary definition of a word is not the same as its use in philosophy)
Or are you just looking to get into a an argument about symantics?
:D

Originally posted by Moppie

Or are you just looking to get into a an argument about symantics?
:D

I like this answer better! Shall we?:silly2:

I'm not starting it this time. Someone else start.

Originally posted by DVSNCYNIKL


I like this answer better! Shall we?:silly2:

I'm not starting it this time. Someone else start.

Almost sounds like the arguement between to kids on whos going to start the fight.

Originally posted by YogsVR4


Almost sounds like the arguement between to kids on whos going to start the fight.

Basically! Only this ones on peaceful terms.:D :silly2:

I'm not necessarily looking for a dictionary or philosophical strict definition. I'm actually more curious to see what connotations various persons have with those words. A survey if you will.

Then we can jump into the symantic arguments if we want... :flamer:

:mad: I hate starting shit.

Okay. By my idea or definition.

Moral: Your own personal beliefs in what is right and wrong.

Ethics: A measure or depiction of what is right or wrong as explained to one by another person. By this I mean, going with what society depicts as right or wrong.

Well, i think that there are absolutes in ethics and morals, i believe in right and wrong. Some people these days have this "moral relitavism" in their outlook on life. I dont. Take Osama B. Some people believe what he has done is a great thing, fighting for the "freedom" for Palistine. Bull-fucking-shit. He initiated an attack on undefended targets with civilians inside. What he did was wrong. Some people say that the war the US and the world are fighting in Afghanistan is wrong. Again, wrong. The "turn the other cheek" strategy is good when your oppenent is sane. Osama B and his crew are a bunch of insane murderers who would just love for us to bend over for them. This war is a right thing, as a strike for justice and peace. I know that war is hell, but, sometimes you have to get your hands muddy weeding the garden. Thats how i feel.

Although some people try to remain "morally objective," they are just kidding themselves. Sometime in your life you have to stop being a sack of dead weight and take a side.

oh don't get me started on bin laden. i just watched that video today, and i never thought i could hate a guy more than this guy himself, but i do after watching that. inhumane, heartless, whatever you wanna use to describe the acts of 9-11-01, there is not a word to describe this guy. to laugh at the deaths of thousands, even to laugh at the loss of his own men is the cruelest thing any human can do. it's heartbreaking that humans are capable of this, but sadly the tape is solid proof that it's reality. there a lot of sick people in the world. it makes me depressed to see, hear and feel how evil people are capable of being.

ok, back to the question. ethics are derived from societal standards and norms. society in general dictates what's right from wrong. it dictates the laws that govern. what's right in one society may be wrong in another. morals the values we receive from those that raise us. they are instilled in our personalities/attitudes/beliefs during our childhood and stay with us for the rest of out lives.

Exactly.

*moppie reads all the above deffinitions.*
hmmmm, me thinks im surounded by Americans. :(



Originally posted by 1989 DX R
Well, i think that there are absolutes in ethics and morals, i believe in right and wrong. Some people these days have this "moral relitavism" in their outlook on life. I dont.

Although some people try to remain "morally objective," they are just kidding themselves. Sometime in your life you have to stop being a sack of dead weight and take a side.

Believeing that people need to "take Sides" and that to remian morally objective is to "kid yourself" contradicts rather badly with your opening statement. :)
(there are other much deeper contridictions in what you said, but since they basicly infer from your last sentance that what Osama did was right, I won't go into them further.)



Ok, in a nut shell; "Ethics is simply the study of Morality."
But since both words are often used interchangably and in differnt ways I don't think its possible to actualy set down any concrete deffinition, or single proper word useage. :cool:

"Business Ethics"

"Ethics are.......well ahh.....the thing with ethics is.........AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH"

I don't think I got it exactly right but pick that movie........:)

Originally posted by MattyG
"Business Ethics"

= oxymoron.


:D :D :D

Originally posted by Moppie


= oxymoron.


:D :D :D

that's almost worse than saying military intelligence:devil:

Maybe a stable Windows OS?

Originally posted by MattyG
"Business Ethics"

"Ethics are.......well ahh.....the thing with ethics is.........AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH"

I don't think I got it exactly right but pick that movie........:)


duh, that movie is billy madison. LOL

Connotatively speaking, my definition of ethics is a code of conduct, something that creates a framework for dictating proper action. Morality is a code of thinking, whereby opinions and beliefs are shaped. Both are intertwined with faith, ideas of fair play, and judgement of "right and wrong".

Morals: Values of right and wrong held by an individual, a group of individuals, or maintained by a theory of what is right or wrong.

Ethics: The study of values of right and wrong, includes theorys of what is right and wrong currently used by an individual, a group of a individuals, also used in referance to Moral values, e.g "That is unethical", instead of; "that is immoral".


Its not perfect, but its much closer to what it should be.
:cool:

Old one from memory-

"LETTER TO ADVICE COLUMN"

Dear Agony Aunt,
I run a small computer store with my partner.Recently,a regular client came in to settle his account.After he had left,I found his wallet on the counter.It has five hundred dollars cash in it. As you can see I have a moral dilemma.Should I keep the money and say nothing or should I split it with my partner?