To put it simply, ethics represents the moral code that guides a person’s

choices and behaviors throughout their life. The idea of a moral code extends
beyond the individual to include what is determined to be right, and wrong, for
a community or society at large.

Ethics is concerned with rights, responsibilities, use of language, what it

means to live an ethical life, and how people make moral decisions. We may
think of moralizing as an intellectual exercise, but more frequently it's an
attempt to make sense of our gut instincts and reactions. It's a subjective
concept, and many people have strong and stubborn beliefs about what's right
and wrong that can place them in direct contrast to the moral beliefs of others.
Yet even though morals may vary from person to person, religion to religion,
and culture to culture, many have been found to be universal, stemming from
basic human emotions.

Contents

 The Science of Being Virtuous

 Understanding Amorality
 The Stages of Moral Development

The Science of Being Virtuous

Those who are considered morally good are said to be virtuous, holding
themselves to high ethical standards, while those viewed as morally bad are
thought of as wicked, sinful, or even criminal. Morality was a key concern of
Aristotle, who first studied questions such as “What is moral responsibility?”
and “What does it take for a human being to be virtuous?”

Are people born with morals and ethics?

We used to think that people are born with a blank slate, but research has
shown that people have an innate sense of morality. Of course, parents and the
greater society can certainly nurture and develop morality and ethics in
children.
Can you have morals without religion?
Humans are ethical and moral regardless of religion and God. People are not
fundamentally good nor are they fundamentally evil. However, a Pew study
found that atheists are much less likely than theists to believe that there are
"absolute standards of right and wrong." In effect, atheism does not
undermine morality, but the atheist’s conception of morality may depart from that
of the traditional theist.
Do animals have morals?
What is the difference between moral psychology and moral philosophy?

Understanding Amorality

The seven deadly sins were first enumerated in the sixth century by Pope
Gregory I, and represent the sweep of immoral behavior. Also known as the
cardinal sins or seven deadly vices, they are vanity, jealousy, anger, laziness,
greed, gluttony, and lust. People who demonstrate these immoral behaviors
are often said to be flawed in character. Some modern thinkers suggest that
virtue often disguises a hidden vice; it just depends on where we tip the scale.