what is morality in ethics

Morality in ethics refers to the differentiation of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are distinguished as proper (right) and those that are improper (wrong) . It can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of conduct from a particular philosophy, religion, or culture, or it can derive from a standard that a person believes should be universal. Morality may also be specifically synonymous with "goodness" or "rightness". In its descriptive sense, "morality" refers to personal or cultural values, codes of conduct, or social mores from a society that provides these codes of conduct in which it applies and is accepted by an individual. It does not connote objective claims of right or wrong, but only refers to that which is considered right or wrong. When used with its descriptive sense, “morality” can refer to codes of conduct with widely differing content, and still be used unambiguously. In the normative sense, “morality” refers to a code of conduct that would be accepted by anyone who meets certain intellectual and volitional conditions, almost always including the condition of being rational. Morality, therefore, encompasses the moral beliefs and practices of a culture, community, or religion, or a code or system of moral rules, principles, or values. It is closely related to ethics, which refers to both moral principles and to the study of people’s moral obligations in society. The terms ethics and morality are often used interchangeably, although some communities make a distinction between the two.