Ethics, what does it mean?

What does ethics mean: let’s discover together the explanation of the term, its history and possible contexts of use.It is difficult to give an exhaustive definition of the term ethics : let’s look at its different fields of application.

Etymology and definition of ethics

Simplifying the concept, it is possible to affirm that when speaking of ethics (from the ancient Greek èthos , meaning “character”, “behaviour”, “custom”, “habit”) we are referring to every doctrine or speculative reflection on the practical behaviour of man, with the aim of identifying the true good and the means to achieve it, but also what are the moral duties of man towards himself and towards others and what are the criteria for judging the morality of human actions.

More generally, ethics is today also understood as a set of moral and customary norms that an individual, or a group of individuals, follows in their actions and that are able to identify a precise behavior in relational life with reference to specific situations (e.g. Christian ethics; work ethics, etc.). Ethics is therefore both a set of norms and values ​​that regulate man’s behavior in relation to others, and a criterion that allows man himself to judge behavior, both his own and that of others, with respect to the categories of ‘good’ and ‘bad’.

Ethics in Philosophy

According to Aristotle , ethics is that branch of philosophy that studies the conduct of human beings and the criteria by which behaviors and choices are evaluated. However, giving a complete definition of this term today is not a simple task.

Reflections on ethics, and therefore on man and his actions, have very ancient origins and, as far as the West is concerned, it is possible to affirm that the first to make it a true object of philosophical reflection were Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, but it is with the Enlightenment, and in particular with Immanuel Kant, that an attempt was made to define the rational presuppositions of man’s moral action, referring to the need for an ethic free from external purposes and based on a rigorous sense of duty and respect for the freedom of others.

Religious and secular ethics

Defining what is ethical or not, and therefore what is good from what is bad, is however complicated by the fact that at the basis of this distinction lies a specific vision of man and human relationships, often correlated to a particular religion or ideology.

When speaking of ethics, it is therefore appropriate to make a distinction between religious ethics , whose rules of conduct are to be understood as valid a priori, and secular ethics (or a secular approach to the ethical problem), which is more inclined to deal with human needs in reference to the specific historical context in which they are expressed.

Meaning of Applied Ethics

Since the 1970s, people have begun to talk about applied ethics, which is not focused on a general reflection, but rather closely related to specific problems, especially regarding technological and scientific development, which require an approach that takes into account moral values ​​and principles.

With the advancement of medical discoveries in the field of genetics and the consequent development of genetic engineering, but also of the practice of organ transplantation, artificial support of vital functions, in vitro conception, etc., the concept of bioethics arose, focused on the study of human conduct in the area of ​​life sciences and health care, examined in the light of moral values ​​and principles.

Since the 1980s, the issue has therefore expanded to the field of communications, with what is defined as media ethics, focusing on the ethical aspects of the use of information and communication media.