siðfræðilegur

Siðfræðilegur is an Icelandic adjective meaning "ethical" or "moral" and relating to the field of ethics (siðfræði). It describes judgments, considerations, or guidelines that pertain to normative questions about right and wrong, duties, values, and conduct. The term is formed from siðfræði with the adjectival suffix -legur, which signals a relation to the discipline or theoretical domain of ethics. The word is primarily used in formal or academic contexts.

In usage, siðfræðilegur is commonly found in philosophy, medicine, and public policy discussions, where distinctions between ethical theory and practical moral considerations are relevant. It is distinct from siðferðislegur, which more often refers to personal morality or moral character, and from other terms that emphasize different aspects of morality. Typical collocations include siðfræðilegar spurningar (ethical questions), siðfræðilegt mat (ethical assessment), and siðfræðilegar leiðbeiningar (ethical guidelines). The term helps to frame analysis, guidelines, or debates as pertaining to the field of ethics rather than to law, religion, or personal sentiment alone.