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What is Ethics?

Ethics is a set of standards that society has made over time to guide human behavior and actions. Based on the ethics standard, we can judge what is right or wrong, and what is good or bad.
Examples:

  • Touching the feet of elders is an ethical action and it is set up by Indian Hindu society. If anyone is not touching feet with elders, the action will be called unethical action.
  • Shouting to elders is an unethical action.
  • Cheating is unethical.
  • Stealing is unethical. If anyone is stealing for any purpose, it will be wrong as per ethical standards.


The following are the characteristics of ethics:

  • Ethics has a set of standard
  • Ethics put a reasonable restriction
  • Ethics is not Universals
  • Ethics are not statics: It changes:
    • Through time
    • With society
    • Through Discussion
    • In Individual lifetime
    • With location





Ethics has a set of standard
By the set of standards, we deduce what is wrong and right.
For examples:

  • Code of conduct of workplace
  • In Jharkhand, a Mutton rice meal is a must at the marriage party.
  • In Jain society, a vegetarian meal is a must.

Ethics put reasonable restrictions

  • Beef is not permissible in Indian society
  • Intercaste marriage is not permissible
  • Live-in a relationship is not permissible in Indian society before marriage.



Ethics is not universal
Each society has a different set of standards and thus ethics change from society to society and it is not universally the same.
For examples:

  • Not touching the feet of elders is unethical in Hindu Indian Society but the same is not true in Western and Arab societies.
  • Kissing in public is not unethical in most Western countries but is unethical in Indian Society.
  • It is unethical to drive a car by ladies in Arab countries but the same is ethical in Indian and Western societies.




Ethics are not statistics



ethics are dynamic
ethics are dynamic
Ethics change through time:
Over time, society's norms change and ethics also change over time.
For examples:
  • Gay marriage was unethical during the Industrial Revolution time in Western society but the same is ethical today.
  • The Sati system was ethical in ancient and medieval India but is unethical now.


Ethics change with society:
Ethics vary from society to society, for examplecow beef-eating is unethical in northern Hindu society and it is ethical in the North East and other parts of the world.

Ethics change through discussion:

It changes via discussion and logic. 
For example
Euthanasia is now ethical in some contexts.

Ethics change in an Individual lifetime:
During childhood, childish behavior like poking is not unethical but during young and old age it may be unethical.

Ethics change with location:
Ethics may not be the same for rural locations and urban locations. For example,
In rural areas, it is not ethical to roam alone at night but the same is ethical to roam alone in the urban area.
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