Morality & Ethics

Basic Terminology of Morality & Ethics

morals

the standards of socially acceptable and unacceptable behaviors

ethics

these are "codes of conduct" used in institutions to help people decide whether a decision or behavior is moral

values

these are the moral beliefs people hold on a "more personal level"

Moral Absolutism

a moral system that claims morals are "universal" or "God-given" and must be applied equally across all cultures without exceptions

Moral Relativism

a moral system that claims there is no "absolute" or "universal" moral law or truth; instead, morality is determined by different cultural factors or personal experiences.

Deontology

a moral system based on the following of rules or guidelines that lead to moral behaviors and decisions; as long as people follow these guidelines strictly, the results of their actions do not matter, even if wrong or evil

Utilitarianism

a moral system that claims the only moral actions are those that lead to the greatest good for the greatest number of people; in other words, the results/effects are more important than the actions/causes leading to those results

Consequentialism

another term for "utilitarianism"