The line between Ethics and Morality is very thin and people often get confused but the difference between the two in fact is quite significant and comprehensive. Morals are personal characteristics while Ethics pertains to social system where morals are put in practice. In other words Ethics define the socially accepted behaviour by the members of groups that they belong to, and may be defined differently in different groups such as national ethics, social ethics, business ethics, organizational ethics, and family ethics. This means morals are person’s personal characteristics which s/he develops from his own misunderstanding through out the years of self-learning while ethics are followed because of external environment and may be different in nature in different locations and circumstances.

This can well be understood by the reasons why the lawyers and judges are taught to base their reasons on proofs and reality and not on personal assumptions. Even reporters and journalists are required to do their job in light of facts and not on personal assumptions. Because personal assumptions may be influenced by morals hence biased. Sometimes person’s morale may contradict with the requirement of professional ethics. For example, in a lawyer’s company, a lawyer may be convinced of person’s guilty and may personally feel that the criminal should be punished but his professional ethics may force him to put his personal views aside and work hard to save his client. Likewise, a doctor’s morale may not allow him to hurt any person physically, cut limbs, or operate on, but his professional ethics may want him do it. A person morally may feel giving away his products to poor and needy free of cost, but his business ethics would not allow him do so, else he may spoil his business prospects.

Morals develop during personal development process, and from likes, dislikes, family background and surrounding environment. Person’s education has a considerable contribution in development of his/her morals. For example a person borne in a non vegetarian family relishes the meat while the person who has been brought up in pure vegetarian family can not stand the site of slaughter and would even avoid looking at the meat. He would consider it as an evil act in the society. Sometimes parental characteristics do influence an individual’s morale and contribute to their intensity. Such as offspring of a social activist or social reformer would naturally indulge in acts of helping others and develop it as a good morale, while offspring of an antisocial element may not think so.

Ethics develop through the ages of practices and mutual acceptance in the society. Ethics are group specific and may vary tremendously in different environments. For example oppressing women is considered a severe social evil in western societies and may face intense objections from all sides, but in Islamic countries, in Gulf, this is a common practice and part of their social ethics. Their Ethics convince them to treat their wives or daughter as personal properties and keep them in a much restricted environment.

Morals also get influenced with social ethics and environment but they depend upon the personal nature and understanding of the situation. For example there may be an educated person in a Gulf country who feels that he should allow some liberty to his lady hence his moral would be different from the person who is a staunch believer of Islam.

As we see that ethics do contribute greatly to the development of morals. Sometimes misinterpretation of the teachings infects the ethics and morals both. For example in African countries, specially Kenya, corruption is so deeply routed in the society that people do not feel it a bad thing at all. It is considered a viable source of wealth accumulation and getting rich. Even government there is seriously considering it to legalise. Accepting and giving bribe has become an indispensable part of the Kenyan system and the upcoming generation is developing it as a moral in their behaviour.

Thus we can say that Ethics are social characteristics which develop through ages of practices while Morals are personal characteristics which develop from social environment and personal understanding of the things and ethics. Ethics may vary, may even get contradictory, in different societies and regions and accordingly may vary morals, too.

Picture- ritwikdey

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