Comparison chart

Ethics versus Morals comparison chart

Ethics Morals

What are they?

The rules of conduct Principles or habits

recognized in respect to
a particular class of
human actions or a
particular group or
culture.
with respect to right
or wrong conduct.
While morals also
prescribe dos and
don'ts, morality is
ultimately a personal
compass of right and
wrong.

Where do they come from?

Social system - External Individual - Internal

Why we do it?

Because society says it is Because we believe

the right thing to do. in something being
right or wrong.

Flexibility

Ethics are dependent on Usually consistent,

others for definition. They
tend to be consistent
within a certain context,
but can vary between
contexts.
although can change
if an individual’s
beliefs change.

The "Gray"
Ethics versus Morals comparison chart

Ethics Morals

A person strictly following A Moral Person

Ethical Principles may
not have any Morals at
all. Likewise, one could
violate Ethical Principles
within a given system of
rules in order to maintain
Moral integrity.
although perhaps
bound by a higher
covenant, may
choose to follow a
code of ethics as it
would apply to a
system. "Make it fit"

Origin

Greek word "ethos" Latin word "mos"

meaning"character" meaning "custom"

Acceptability

Ethics are governed by Morality transcends

professional and legal cultural norms
guidelines within a
particular time and place

One professional example of ethics conflicting with morals is the work of a defense attorney.
A lawyer’s morals may tell her that murder is reprehensible and that murderers should be
punished, but her ethics as a professional lawyer, require her to defend her client to the best
of her abilities, even if she knows that the client is guilty.

Basis Laws Ethics

Meaning These are a set Ethics refers

of rules and to all the
regulations to acceptable
administer customs and
justice and practices that
regulate have been in
human place since
 behaviour in time
society. immemorial.

Ethics are a
Laws are made
byproduct of
by the
society.
legislators or
These are
the lawmakers
formulated
Origin in a country,
by religious
and Parliament
leaders or
plays an active
family
role in the
members in
entire process.
society.

Ethics can be
decided on
Religion has no
the basis of
role to play in
Role of the religion
the
religion of the people
formulation of
in a
laws.
particular
region.

Ethics vary
Laws are from region
uniform across to region
the entire depending
Uniformity country, and all on the beliefs
people are of different
bound to follow people living
them. in different
areas.

Flexibility Laws are more Because of

flexible than the rigid
ethics as they mindsets of
can be changed the people in
on the basis of a
the demands of community,
people. ethics are
 very difficult
to change.

Ethics aim to
The objective make people
of laws is to distinguish
create a civil between
Objective society with right and
proper social wrong and
order and protect the
peace. moral rights
of others.

A person
A person can
can’t be
be punished for
punished for
committing
not following
any wrongful
Punishment the ethical
act, such as the
standards as
payment of
they are not
fines or
legally
imprisonment.
binding.

Ethics are
not
enforceable
Laws are
on the part of
enforceable by
the state, and
Enforceability the state upon
individuals
the citizens of
are not
the country.
legally bound
to follow
them.
 An example of
An example
law are the
of ethics is
provisions of
Examples respecting
the Indian
and obeying
Penal Code,
our parents
1860.