Ethics and Morality
Abstract
The paper delves into the topic of ethics and morality. It would try to understand the concept of ethics and morality and the difference between the two concepts. In the paper I would analyse what motivates human behaviour and choices and why those choices can never always be moral and ethical. I will analyse some ethical and moral theories that provide guidelines for ethical human behaviour and critically assess them with the aid of real life examples, to determine whether it is possible to have universally applicable rules that help humans to decide if a decision requires ethical/moral considerations or not. The paper would aim to prove that it is the needs of humans which may be at times materialistic and at other times spiritual, that govern their course of action. As no two humans have similar needs and similar means to fulfil their needs, to straitjacket decisions into moral/ethical and rational is virtually impossible.
Introduction
"The temptation to set aside ethical standards is always present, because the gains are so large for the individual who decides to work outside the rules."
From The High Price of Low Ethics
How Corruption Imperils American Entrepreneurship and Democracy
Carl J. Schramm, PhD, JD
President and CEO, The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
There is no doubt that to succeed in life today, one has to be shrewd, aggressive and practical. We see all around us that the struggle for existence forces humans to sideline issues of right and wrong and makes them focus only on achieving the ends with little or no consideration to the means employed. Does this mean that humans have become inherently immoral and unethical? No. Humans cannot be blind to morality and ethics. According to Aristotle, humans are social animals. For them to be perfectly happy, they have to be a part of a society that is also happy (Yrjönsuuri 2004). This means that humans, who are biologically selfish, need to consider the interests of the
The paper delves into the topic of ethics and morality. It would try to understand the concept of ethics and morality and the difference between the two concepts. In the paper I would analyse what motivates human behaviour and choices and why those choices can never always be moral and ethical. I will analyse some ethical and moral theories that provide guidelines for ethical human behaviour and critically assess them with the aid of real life examples, to determine whether it is possible to have universally applicable rules that help humans to decide if a decision requires ethical/moral considerations or not. The paper would aim to prove that it is the needs of humans which may be at times materialistic and at other times spiritual, that govern their course of action. As no two humans have similar needs and similar means to fulfil their needs, to straitjacket decisions into moral/ethical and rational is virtually impossible.
Introduction
"The temptation to set aside ethical standards is always present, because the gains are so large for the individual who decides to work outside the rules."
From The High Price of Low Ethics
How Corruption Imperils American Entrepreneurship and Democracy
Carl J. Schramm, PhD, JD
President and CEO, The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
There is no doubt that to succeed in life today, one has to be shrewd, aggressive and practical. We see all around us that the struggle for existence forces humans to sideline issues of right and wrong and makes them focus only on achieving the ends with little or no consideration to the means employed. Does this mean that humans have become inherently immoral and unethical? No. Humans cannot be blind to morality and ethics. According to Aristotle, humans are social animals. For them to be perfectly happy, they have to be a part of a society that is also happy (Yrjönsuuri 2004). This means that humans, who are biologically selfish, need to consider the interests of the
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