Etikstudier

Etikstudier, or ethics studies, is an academic field that investigates moral principles, values, and norms that guide human conduct. It encompasses normative ethics, which asks what people ought to do; meta-ethics, which examines the nature and status of moral judgments; and applied ethics, which deals with concrete issues in medicine, technology, law, business, and public life. The field is interdisciplinary, drawing on philosophy, law, social sciences, theology, and the humanities.

Historically, etikstudier has roots in ancient philosophical traditions and has evolved through moral philosophy of the Enlightenment and the modern era. In recent decades, specialized branches such as bioethics, business ethics, environmental ethics, and AI ethics have grown, along with expanded attention to research ethics and professional codes of conduct.

Common methods include conceptual analysis, ethical argumentation, case studies, and, increasingly, empirical social science research to understand moral beliefs and behavior.

Applications include normative theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics; applied domains like medical ethics, environmental ethics, technology ethics, and business ethics; and policy debates on autonomy, justice, consent, and welfare. Cross-cultural perspectives and debates about universalism versus moral relativism are also common topics.

In academia, etikstudier can lead to degrees in philosophy or ethics with concentrations in specific areas, and to careers in education, research, healthcare, policy, or industry. The field emphasizes critical thinking, rigorous argumentation, and careful evaluation of competing values.