quasiethical

Quasiethical is an adjective used to describe actions, policies, norms, or arguments that are presented as adhering to ethical standards but which researchers or critics consider only superficially ethical or ethically suspect upon closer examination. Etymologically, the term combines quasi- ('resembling, almost') with ethical, signaling that something is not fully ethical.

In philosophy and social sciences, quasiethical judgments may rely on surface-level justifications such as rules or obligations that do not address underlying moral principles, motives, or consequences. In business ethics, a quasiethical policy might satisfy compliance requirements or public relations aims while failing to translate into substantive moral action.

In AI and technology ethics, debates may label certain design choices as quasiethical when they align with ethical frameworks in appearance but neglect broader impacts, bias, or accountability. Quasiethical can also describe rhetoric that sounds ethical (ethical appeal) without substantive justification, such as virtue signaling.

Critics argue the term can be vague or pejorative; careful analysis is needed to determine whether something is genuinely unethical or simply ethically ambiguous.

Because usage varies, quasiethical functions as a critical descriptor rather than a definitive moral verdict, helping to distinguish superficial compliance from principled action. Related concepts include ethics, morality, corporate social responsibility, performative ethics, and ethical symbolism.