Ethics are considered the moral standards by which people judge behavior. However, the definition of what constitutes having “good” ethics in today’s society is often debated.
Ethics are often summed up in what is considered the “golden rule”—do unto others as you would have them do unto you. While this makes sense as a general rule of thumb, it does not truly offer much in terms of helping one to make moral decisions in daily life.
Society often places certain standards of conduct upon the people which are governed together. Groups of people who agree about what constitutes major unethical acts, such as stealing or murder, work to have their viewpoint written into laws that govern the entire body of people. However, not all ethical areas are governed by law, such as lying to a parent or friend. Other areas of law, such as the debate on abortion or stem cell research, are considered ethical judgments made by governments on behalf of the people for the greater good.
Religious and political groups have often been criticized for trying to impose their own ethics and morals upon the larger society. Companies and professional societies such as the American Medical Association will also have ethical standards, often referred to as a code of conduct or rules of conduct, by which they and their employees abide. Each group determines their ethical stance based upon different guidelines, whether it is established principals, religious book, or group agreement. While members of the group may follow the ethical guidelines as a principle by which they believe everyone should act, they might also have a set of personal ethics which also governs their own behaviors.
Areas that ethical codes often address, compiled by the NIEHS branch of the U.S. National Institutes of Health include:
- Honesty
- Objectivity
- Integrity
- Carefulness
- Openness
- Respect for intellectual property
- Confidentiality
- Responsible publication
- Responsible mentoring
- Respect for colleagues
- Social responsibility
- Non-discrimination
- Competence
- Legality
- Human subjects protection
While this list was made to govern ethics of environmental research, the ideas it presents are broad enough to form a basic checklist of general ethical areas for consideration.
To find out more about a particular group’s ethical views, ask to see their code of conduct. Getting to know a person on an intimate level as a close friend will give insights into their individual ethics. Learn more about ethics by visiting the following websites:
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