ethics

[eth-iks] /ˈɛθ ɪks/
plural noun
1.
(used with a singular or plural verb) a system of moral principles:
the ethics of a culture.
2.
the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.:
medical ethics; Christian ethics.
3.
moral principles, as of an individual:
His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.
4.
(usually used with a singular verb) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.
Compare axiological ethics, deontological ethics.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English ethic + -s3, modeled on Greek tà ēthiká, neuter plural
Synonyms
2. See moral.

ethic

[eth-ik] /ˈɛθ ɪk/
noun
1.
the body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group:
the Christian ethic; the tribal ethic of the Zuni.
2.
a complex of moral precepts held or rules of conduct followed by an individual:
a personal ethic.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English ethic, etic < Latin ēthicus < Greek ēthikós, equivalent to êth(os) ethos + -ikos -ic
Related forms
nonethic, adjective
Examples from the web for ethics
  • Demonstrated high standards of ethics and integrity.
  • The authors are conflating the categories productive behaviour (relative to evolutionary success) and ethics.
  • Her work could throw fishing ethics into disarray.
  • His major contributions have come in ethics.
  • This community is good, both in skill and in ethics.
  • He has a strong interest in secular ethics and a real desire to help people.
  • Eco-ethics seem to be all but forgotten of late in pursuit of the all-mighty dollar.
  • Trust and ethics have especially crumbled in the recession.
  • Yes, the ethics behind your comment have been discussed ad nauseum.
  • In ethics, he is more upon the beaten track.
British Dictionary definitions for ethics

ethics

/ˈɛθɪks/
noun
1.
(functioning as sing) the philosophical study of the moral value of human conduct and of the rules and principles that ought to govern it; moral philosophy See also meta-ethics
2.
(functioning as pl) a social, religious, or civil code of behaviour considered correct, esp that of a particular group, profession, or individual
3.
(functioning as pl) the moral fitness of a decision, course of action, etc: he doubted the ethics of their verdict
Derived Forms
ethicist, noun

ethic

/ˈɛθɪk/
noun
1.
a moral principle or set of moral values held by an individual or group: the Puritan ethic
adjective
2.
another word for ethical
See also ethics
Word Origin
C15: from Latin ēthicus, from Greek éthikos, from ēthos custom; see ethos
Word Origin and History for ethics
n.

"the science of morals," c.1600, plural of Middle English ethik "study of morals" (see ethic). The word also traces to Ta Ethika, title of Aristotle's work.

ethic

n.

late 14c., ethik "study of morals," from Old French etique (13c.), from Late Latin ethica, from Greek ethike philosophia "moral philosophy," fem. of ethikos "ethical," from ethos "moral character," related to ethos "custom" (see ethos). Meaning "a person's moral principles" is attested from 1650s.

ethics in Medicine

ethics eth·ics (ěth'ĭks)
n.
The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the conduct of the members of a profession.

ethics in Culture

ethics definition


The branch of philosophy that deals with morality. Ethics is concerned with distinguishing between good and evil in the world, between right and wrong human actions, and between virtuous and nonvirtuous characteristics of people.

ethics in Technology


computer ethics