Subject:
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Re: Morals & Ethics reprise (was ...)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Mon, 19 Nov 2001 23:04:34 GMT
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Viewed:
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3492 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, David Eaton writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Richard Marchetti writes:
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, James Brown writes:
> > > The way I define things (similar to Richard, but not quite the same), you
> > > would be expressing morals - that is, a system of conduct in accordance with
> > > right and wrong as you understand them. IMHO, morals are not universal.
> >
> > That's REALLY good James! The lexicographers should be talking to us, Baby!
> >
> > "YOUR morals are not OUR ethics."
> >
> > I will always remember this point of distinction. Damned slippery words...
>
> So-- ok, I've heard several times now that there's a distinction between
> ethics and morality. Personally I never was aware of the distinction, but
> what exactly is it for those who distinguish?
>
> At a guess, I'd say you're defining it as:
>
> - Morality is one's own moral judgement system. I judge my actions according
> to *my* morality, and the result is exactly that-- my own moral judgement,
> nobody else's.
>
> - Ethics is a society's combined "morality". An ethical set being how a
> society of particular individuals feels about a certain action made by
> either its own members or those external to it. (Or is it restricted to its
> own members?) Hence, an ethical judgement would *usually* (but not always)
> match the *moral* judgement of individuals of that society.
>
> Or am I way off base?
Nope, that's pretty close. I would say that ethics are not a combined
morality, but rather are a suggested morality, but that's only because it
has a different implication of the derivation.(1) Further, something as
broad as a societal ethic is also a very fuzzy target, being a mishmash of
laws, traditions, suggested moralities(2), and many other things.
Also, an ethical code is not necessarily a societal code, but may also be
the code of a subgroup (ex: the Hypocratic Oath). Subgroups tend to have
ethical codes that are much better defined, but limited in scope (the HO
says nothing about stealing, for example).
thanks,
James
1:...and the flagon with the dragon (etc)
2: The "christian ideal" in its infinite variations is an example of both an
ethical code (this is how you should behave), and of a suggested morality
(this is what you should believe right and wrong are).
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Morals & Ethics reprise (was ...)
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| (...) So-- ok, I've heard several times now that there's a distinction between ethics and morality. Personally I never was aware of the distinction, but what exactly is it for those who distinguish? At a guess, I'd say you're defining it as: - (...) (25 years ago, 19-Nov-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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