The word Ethic for the first time known use was in the 14th century. Ethics were introduced as the first moral codes. Fundamentally, every human society has some form of myth to elucidate the origin of morality. Cambridge defines the word “ethic” as a system of accepted beliefs which control behavior, especially such a system based on morals. The first thing that might come in our minds is; what ethics is all about? Well, ethics is not only about good and bad, right and wrong. Ethics is much more than that. It is a moral philosophy that examines the moral behavior. It is about serious consequences on human well-being, on society and environment.
Additionally, serious consequences have two impacts which are harming and rewarding. For instance, stealing is something that everybody knows that it is not a righteous act. On the contrary, it has also the good sides of rewarding, which it defines the good and bad. Helping the others for example is good thing which has to be rewarded. Moreover, sometimes we may ask ourselves how we should live. Is it right to be dishonest in a good cause? What are our responsibilities to the other creatures that live in this plant, and to the future generations?
Ethics deals with such questions so that consists of the essential issues of practical decision making, the nature of eventual value, and the standards by which the actions can be considered right or wrong. By studying ethics, we want to understand how a particular person may look like, what does he/she considers to be right or wrong. Ethics is also about art and science. So, ethics is a science that uses the tools of reasons (based on facts, observational experiences) in decision making. There are four important elements such as: Comprehensiveness (by considering all the aspects of an issue). Coherence (which is a step by step flow of ideas). Consistent (behaving in a same manner by taking action towards someone, in the same way that a person has done something to someone else). Adequate (it is considered as the fourth element which is the appropriate way of asking relevant questions in a situation). Last but not least ethics is and art, creative and foreseeing things before making a decision, or a choice.
By Adnan Hasani