10/28/24, 12:29 PM Meaning, Nature AND Scope OF Ethics

MEANING, NATURE AND SCOPE OF ETHICS

Introduction.

In philosophy, ethics is the study of right and wrong. One

of the main branches of philosophy that corresponds
to the traditional division into formal, natural, and
moral philosophy. It can be used to study goodness,
right action, applied ethics, meta-ethics, moral
psychology, and metaphysics of moral responsibility.
Ethics is the study of morality and right conduct in
general. It asks, in other words, how rational are we
as human beings, and what moral principles should
guide our decision-making and pursuit of our goals?

Meaning of Ethics.

The Greek word 'ethos', which means character or

conduct, is the source of the word ethics. Moral
philosophy, or philosophical thinking about morality,
is another name for ethics. Action and behaviour that
is concerned with "good" or "evil," of particular
traditions, groups, or individuals, have been further
developed from this morality.

It is common to use the terms "moral" and "ethical"

interchangeably with "moral" and "ethical" to refer to

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"right" and "good." Although it doesn't necessarily

mean morally right or morally good, morality is
definitely relevant.

Ethics is the study of morality or the right or wrong and

the good or evil of human behaviour.. It outlines the
moral principles that guide our actions. When we
explain the origins of the words right and good, it
becomes clear. The Latin word'rectus', which
means'straight' or 'according to rule', is the source of
the word right. In other words, we're concerned with
the principles that guide our behaviour.

One aspect of ethics is explained by analysing the word

'right.' For every action there is a result, and every
action has a goal. Suppose that right conduct is the
goal of one's actions, then the question arises as to
what that goal is. Only by looking at the German
word 'gut,' which is the root of the English word
'good,' can we discover the answer to this mystery.
Gut refers to anything that can be put to use for a
specific purpose. When we say that a school is good,
we mean that it is beneficial to children's education.
As a result, we don't use the term "good" as a

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that good is nothing more than happiness or wealth.

A good man or ethical man in Plato's and Aristotle's
time was one who was a good citizen. 'Pleasure is
good' or 'prosperity is good' might be said by a
layperson. The seriousness of the issue arises when
we equate happiness or wealth with virtue. There is
no doubt that happiness and prosperity are good
things to have in life. However, no sane person would
argue that good is defined solely by the pursuit of
pleasure or financial gain. It was considered a good
citizen in ancient times to be a good person.

To the extent that the study of ethics is a theoretical

investigation into moral dilemmas, it may be
suggested that For the man on the street, such a
statement might be of little use. Ethical standards
are said to be enriched only by experience, and no
amount of theoretical knowledge is capable of raising
them. Knowledge, according to Socrates, is a virtue.
He was attempting to make the point that no one can
be moral by chance or without a thorough
understanding of what it means to perform morally.
'Knowledge must precede compassion' has been
stated in Jaina ethics, which is known as the practical

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application of nonviolence as the highest virtue.

These statements are sufficient to show that the
foundation of virtue is knowledge of virtue.

As a result, the theoretical discussion of the ethical issue

is the foundation for its practical application. Science
and metaphysics have been separated from ethics in
Western society, which places more emphasis on
material progress than religion and metaphysics.
People's everyday lives have been disrupted by the
dualistic outlook of the west, which has pushed some
to the brink of self-immolation. Interplanetary travels
are becoming a reality thanks to man's mastery over
nature, but the common man is still not at peace with
himself. Doubt and fear are pervasive in our world.
The ethical standards established by the Indian sages
thousands of years ago are timeless guidelines that
can be used to combat modern society's ills. True
because these ideals were never viewed as mere
moral concepts, but as a way of life by which an
individual and society could grow together
harmoniously if they adopted these ideals.

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Ethics is a science of Character.

Ethics is a normative science, unlike natural and factual

science. Every branch of science has a focus on a
specific area of knowledge. As a result, the study of
ethics is a distinct field of study. It focuses on how we
make judgments about human behaviour.

According to Muirhead, "Ethics is not only concerned with

temporal behaviour, but it forms the basis of legal
decision making." Ethics, according to Intuitors, is the
science of right. The concept of right is fundamental.
Regardless of the circumstances, it should be
adhered to. It is wrong to violate the law, but it is
right to abide by it. Duty predominates in ethics,
according to this view, because man is obligated to
do so. For Formalists, ethical rules are the ultimate
goal. No, they don't fit some other standard.
Goodwill, according to Immanuel Kant, is the only
precious gem. To put it another way, he meant that
there is nothing in the world or even outside of it that
can be referred to as "good." Having a conscience is
inborn, and it can quickly learn the difference
between right and wrong. In Telelogist's view, good is

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the most important element; duty is a means to an

end, not an end in itself. Only in order to achieve a
greater good do laws exist. To obey the law is a moral
obligation because it serves the greater good. In the
context of good, any action is either right or wrong.

Ethics is not a practical science.

Because it is not a scientific discipline, ethics only serves

to point us in the right direction when working toward
a specific objective. Practical science, a means to an
end, isn't what this is all about. Medical science, for
example, is a means of eliminating the root causes of
disease. There are many ways in which ethics seeks
to answer the question, "What is the ultimate
purpose of life?"

Ethics is not an art.

When it comes to art versus ethics, it's all about how

things turn out. While in art, it's all about the finished
product, in morals it's all about the harmony within
oneself. Art, in particular, focuses on learning how to
make things. In other words, ethics is distinct from
art in that it focuses on the pursuit of goodness,
which is the ultimate goal of both. Another reason

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scientific. There is only a small difference between

the two. So, ethics is both scientific and
philosophical, both pure and applied for the rational
development of human life.

Ethics' scope.

Ethics encompasses all aspects of its own domain. The

study of ethics is normative in nature, focusing on
what constitutes good moral conduct. As a moral
science, it does not seek to discover the causes of
human behaviour, instead focusing on the content
and various issues of moral consciousness, such as
motives, intentions, free will, and so on.

There is a specific area of study for each science and

subject. It's within the scope of what's being
discussed. There is also a field of study for ethics.
The ethical dilemma we face is one that affects us on
a daily basis. No human institution can advance if
morality isn't studied. It's an important field of study
in modern times. For the advancement of human
society, it is essential to study the cherished ideals
and values that underlie ethical behaviour. It's a
shame that so many people have lost sight of life's

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true meaning and are instead fixated on material

wealth and power. According to Prof. Mackenzie,
"human society's morals have been lowered down by
the materialisation of value."

As a result, morality is a significant aspect of our

character. To a large extent, ethics deals with the
underlying principles or motivations for behaviour.

- What obligation is common to all?

- What is good in all good acts?

- The sense of duty and responsibility.

- Individual and Society.

All of this can be categorised as falling under the purview

of ethical considerations.

Let's talk about one as a person and one as a society.

Traditions, customs, ethos, and social mores exist in
every society. These customs and traditions require
the individual to adhere to them. The interplay
between the individual and society is a critical ethical
issue. Morality, according to some, is a subjective
experience. Some, on the other hand, believe that
morality should serve society as a whole. In addition,

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 Moral
 Social
 Religious
 Political

In moral sphere.

To do a critical analysis of various ideals put forth by

various thinkers over the course of history, ethics
sets out to conduct research. When it came to
dealing with others, men had a variety of virtues and
vices. It has long been thought that a life of virtue
can benefit both the individual and the community -
that virtue accounted man will also be a good citizen.
A life of virtue is also referred to as a life of logic. As
a result, moralists have focused primarily on virtue
and reason. The state of moral progress can only be
achieved if this unity is fully demonstrated in the
actions of its members.

In Social sphere.

There are institutions, customs, and conventions in every

society, as we all know. However, over time, they
begin to have a negative impact on people's
thoughts. Ethicists provide us with a moral compass

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