Siðferðis

Siðferðis is an Icelandic term tied to morality and ethical conduct. In everyday speech it refers to questions about what people ought to do, and in philosophical contexts it aligns closely with the field of siðfræði (ethics). The word appears in compounds such as siðferðisreglur (moral rules) and siðferðiskennd (moral sense).

The term is derived from the noun siðferð, meaning morality or moral conduct, with siðferðis functioning as a genitive or adjectival element in compounds. It connects siðferðis to broader discussions of ethical norms, duties, and values that shape behavior.

Siðferðis covers normative questions about what is right and wrong, just and unjust, and what obligations individuals and institutions have. In philosophy, discussions of siðferðis align with theories such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics, and with questions about character and moral motivation.

In Icelandic discourse, moral norms are influenced by historical, religious, and social traditions. Siðferðis intersects with law, education, medicine, and public policy, shaping professional codes, human rights debates, and duties to others and to the community.

See also: Siðfræði; Morality; Ethics; Moral psychology.