Ethics: a simple definition using simple words

Question

I can't find a definition of Ethics that I can understand without looking for other definitions. For example, many definitions of Ethics include "Moral Principles" and then the question is what "Moral Principles" are, etc. Since the word Ethics is quite widely used, I'm wondering if there is a simple definition that is self-contained and such that even kids can understand?

Update: My understanding is that there is no definition of ethics upon which people agree. Some define it through morality which makes the two terms "morality" and "ethics" synonymous. It would be interesting to continue the following sentence: "Ethics to morality is as (something) to (something else)."

Answer 1

I feel designating ethics the study of 'right and wrong' elides practical judgements and moral ones by using superficially similar terms in totally different domains. And if you say ethics is the study of what is ethically right and wrong, that's close to tautological, rather than explanatory.

I find it useful to look to a word's origins. From Etymonline:

Ethics: from Greek ēthike philosophia "moral philosophy," fem. of ēthikos "ethical, pertaining to character," from ēthos "moral character," related to ēthos "custom".

Ethos: "habitual character and disposition; moral character; habit, custom; an accustomed place," in plural, "manners,"

I like the framing that it involves customs or manners, because I think it is important to note it is a field where there is not usually a single analysis, or unambiguous choices. Rather, sets of interacting behaviours that link personal choices and reasoning, with social outcomes. That's important to me because I look for insight into ethics from game theory, where it's not about 'right and wrong', but rather managing personal and social priorities in interactions.

When we consider what good character is, and character development, we find it natural to avoid being prescriptive, and instead look towards active directions of development. Personally I see that as a good template for ethics generally, where prescriptively stating behaviour that just shouldn't be done isn't useful (eg Kant, who says you shouldn't lie even to 'a murderer at the door').

Answer 2

Definition: ethics is a formal system of rules targeting some ethical theory.

• Rules: Imperative statements that determine behavior: "do not lie".
• Formal: That uses a formal language, a language with concepts defined with precision and rules that are logical.
• System of rules: a coherent group of statements, so you don't waste your time undoing acts that another rule tells you to do.
• Ethical theory: Ethics, per se, does not follow an specific objective (for example, you act ethically in order to be better, or whatever). The goal of ethics is determined by ethical theories (e.g. utilitarianism, aristotelianism); for example, according to utilitarianism, if you should choose between two actions, choose that which makes good to the largest number of people.

Ethics within other systems of rules:

A philosophy teacher used to say that "morals" is the informal system of rules we learn at home (e.g. always say please and thank you, it will allow you receive and give anything from others); "ethics" is a formal system of rules (e.g. being kind helps improving social interactions, which is almost the same, but in a more generic way and with a proper language, language is important in formal systems); "law" is the formal system of rules that is formally accepted by society: "religion" is an informal group of rules that target ideas from old texts; notice it is not properly a system, because ancient texts tend to include contradictions.

Why we apply ethics:

Another related idea is the idea of survival. All groups of rules seem to tend to the survival of the group, that's the main reason the group adopts some system of rules, religion, cult rules, military codes or whatever. You say hello and thanks in order to improve social interactions, which directly improves the group survival probabilities. You don't kill good people in order to improve the group survival probabilities, etc.

Notice that if society decides to kill an individual, he will be killed. That means that between the survival of the group and the survival of the individual, the survival of the group has more priority. So, systems of rules like ethics seem to target the mainly the survival of the group, not the individual.

Answer 3

The answers and comments thus far hint at a broad diversity of definitions, and at how easily definitions become entwined with comparisons to morality, and with complex philosophical considerations.

If a simple, kid-friendly definition of ethics is your goal, you could do worse than that provided by the Ethics Centre, a non-profit organisation which aims, amongst other things, to 'bring ethics to the centre of personal and professional life':

"Ethics is the process of questioning, discovering and defending our values, principles and purpose".

Ethics.org also contains resources specifically designed for Primary Schools:

https://ethics.org.au/initiatives/primary-ethics

Answer 4

Ethics is a system of principles that binds the interests and values of the individual and community together. Someone behaves ethically when their actions account for the welfare of others in society, or reflect well on the quality and standards of the society as a whole.

Ethics and morality are cognates: ideas deriving from the same basic concept. The main difference is that morality is generally associated with religion or other forms of received knowledge, while ethics is more philosophical: something to be realized or analyzed, not accepted from authority.

Answer 5

The aim of study that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior must necessarily be something that works without any hindrance to the good and smooth functioning of another community. However, we cannot say that one type of ethics promotes another type. Also, if one type is a threat to another, that ethics/study becomes useless and meaningless. Moreover, we can say that this study is not conducted by amateurs. Each type of ethics make its own realm secure. But we should not forget this truth -- 'If there were no rules and regulations in society, condition of human life would be worse than that of animals'.' (Because it is a moral philosophy) Even if ethics itself is not for any improvement, when each type of ethics tries to establish its own status the result will be for the good of society. Therefore, we can say that ethics is not for improving anything from the normal state, but for reducing problems -- at least in its own realm; keeping its 'own personality'. And since it is moral philosophy, unlike other subjects it won't try to exploit anyone or anything. If you can keep all these in mind, you can definitely formulate a definition with simple words.

So, if your definition focuses mainly on kids, try this: "Ethics is the study that aims to reduce stress in society by assessing what is right and wrong in human behaviour."