Something is considered ethical when it aligns with principles or standards of right and wrong that guide human conduct. Ethics involves reasoning about what actions or behaviors produce the most moral outcomes, respect rights, fulfill duties, promote virtues, and maintain healthy relationships. It is not simply based on feelings, religion, laws, social norms, or scientific facts alone but rather on well-founded, consistent, and reasoned standards that determine what human beings ought to do in various situations. There are several major ethical frameworks that help in determining what makes something ethical:
- Virtue Ethics: Focuses on actions that make us the best version of ourselves by developing good character traits such as honesty and compassion.
- Deontology: Emphasizes following absolute moral duties and rules.
- Utilitarianism: Considers what produces the best outcome or greatest good for the largest number.
- Rights-based Ethics: Focuses on respecting and protecting individuals' moral rights.
- Care-based Ethics: Prioritizes maintaining healthy relationships and caring for others with empathy and compassion.
In essence, something is ethical when it aligns with thoughtfully developed standards of what is right and wrong, is consistent with moral duties or virtues, protects rights, or promotes well-being and just outcomes for individuals and society as a whole.
