The word ethics and morality are quite often used interchangeably. This shows how related they are. Ethics deal so much with the study of morality. In a narrow perspective it is used to refer to the moral principles of a given tradition as purported by John Deigh (1995) in Robert Audi’s Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy.
Myriad questions have been raised regarding what people perceive to be moral and immoral. Will the same debate that morality of a murder elicits be the same as that which will arise in trying to agree that snow is or is not white? It should therefore be known that issues pertaining to ethics do not necessarily have to be factual. Anything that breaches laid down codes is unethical just like a doctor having an intercourse with a patient. However, there are circumstances when such acts are not deemed immoral. Ethics in some circumstances is used to refer to the study of a systematic way of reasoning on how individuals should act like the medical ethics of Sweden on mercy killings. Ethics can also be used to refer to the name of an area of study. Some would use the word morality to inquire about whatever people perceive to be right or wrong and would use ethics to a subject moral philosophy. Ethics was coined from Greek word ethos and moral from Latin word mores that describes the customs of the people. Morality calls upon people to subordinate their sexual and natural desires to conform to the moral law. Failure to conform to these laws implies betrayal of conscience. Ethics does not have any special tie to a given religion. Ethic being a noun is perceived to have senses hence a science that involves study of morality and a scheme of a moral science. Ethics in its plural form has myriad meanings including the principle of human duty. Morality’s major preoccupation is good moral conduct. Moreover, morality also encompasses whether a conduct is right or wrong.
There may be a very thin line between business ethics and personal ethics. It is imperative that one does whatever is right whether in business undertakings or in personal life. Business ethics are founded on fairness. Of importance is whether an entrepreneur is engaging in fair deals. Both customers and proprietors should act in good faith. When there is a level playing field for both the customer and the seller that is when the principles of ethics shall be perceived to have been met. In regard to integrity, proprietors and business undertakings should treat people with utmost honesty and integrity. Promises and commitments have to be met. If businesses pledge that they will always offer reputable services, they should not renege on these promises. Business ethics calls for truthfulness and there should be no scenario when proprietors hide behind phrases like buyer-beware (Wynd and Mager, 1989). It is required of business to be very truthful in the manner they conduct their advertising. Because ethical issues are value-based, the laws and professional bodies should come up with standards that are flexible and universal. Moreover, business ethics addresses the quality of people’s lives and the quality of service that these organizations offer. All these ethics outlined are no stranger to personal ethics because ethics is all about values, ideals and aspirations of a person or an institution.
Reference List
Deigh, J. (1995) in Robert Audi (ed), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Massachusetts: CUP.
Wynd, W. R., & Mager, J. (1989). The Business and Society Course: Does it Change Student Attitudes? Journal of Business Ethics, 8, 487-491.