ethical

Ethical is an adjective describing matters relating to moral principles and values that govern behavior and choices. It derives from ethics, the branch of philosophy that studies what is morally right and wrong, as well as how people ought to act in various contexts. Ethics can be described as a field of inquiry and a set of standards applied in practice. The term ethical is often used to denote behavior that aligns with these standards, while ethical considerations may extend beyond legal obligations.

Ethics distinguishes normative judgments about what one should do from descriptive observations about what people actually do. Although laws and professional rules often reflect ethical norms, something can be ethical but not legally required, or legal but not ethical.

Several major families of ethical theory inform judgments. Consequentialism evaluates actions by their outcomes; deontology emphasizes duties and rules; virtue ethics focuses on character and dispositions; care ethics highlights relationships and responsibilities to others. Applied ethics adapts these theories to concrete domains.

In professional and public life, ethical discussion typically occurs within domains such as medical ethics (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice), business ethics (fair dealing, corporate responsibility, stakeholder interests), research ethics (informed consent, protection of participants, data integrity), and technology ethics (privacy, bias, transparency, accountability).

Common issues include conflicts of interest, deception, exploitation, and unequal power dynamics. Ethical analysis often relies on codes of conduct, professional standards, and reasoned deliberation, including case-based or principle-based methods.

Ethical considerations are shaped by cultural values and can raise debates about universalism versus cultural relativism. As societies evolve and technologies advance, new ethical challenges emerge, prompting ongoing revision of norms, guidelines, and institutions.