ethical code
Rules for conduct
An ethical code is a set of principles governing conduct within a profession, organization, or group.
Doctors follow the Hippocratic oath; lawyers have codes of professional responsibility; companies publish codes of ethics for employees.
The term implies standards beyond mere legality—behavior that's permissible by law may still violate an ethical code: The journalist was fired for breaching the paper's ethical code.
Workplace conduct standards
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- dutyRequired moral task
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
oath · pledge · confidentiality · transparency · impartiality · decency · respect · fairness
Morality based on obligations
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- categorical imperativeUnconditional ethical obligation
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
- normativeSetting behavioral standards
teleology · relativism · absolutism · pluralism · humanism · stoicism · altruism · social contract
Truthfulness, sincerity
- uprightnessMoral correctness and honesty
- probityThorough moral honesty
- rectitudeMoral straightness
- truthfulnessHabit of not lying
sincerity · scrupulousness · incorruptibility · authenticity · conscience · dignity · righteousness · reliability
Right and wrong principles
- ethosCollective moral character
- tenetsFoundational beliefs of doctrine
- preceptsRules of conduct
- canonsEstablished authoritative standards
credo · doctrine · maxims · norms · values · standards · guidelines · directives
Fair treatment under law
- courageFortitude facing danger
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
compassion · empathy · wisdom · humility · patience · kindness · diligence · fortitude
professionalism
Workplace conduct standards
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- dutyRequired moral task
honor · oath · pledge · confidentiality · transparency · impartiality · decency · respect · fairness · trustworthiness
deontology
Morality based on obligations
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- categorical imperativeUnconditional ethical obligation
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
normative · teleology · relativism · absolutism · pluralism · humanism · stoicism · altruism · social contract · golden rule
honesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
- uprightnessMoral correctness and honesty
- probityThorough moral honesty
- rectitudeMoral straightness
truthfulness · sincerity · scrupulousness · incorruptibility · authenticity · conscience · dignity · righteousness · reliability · good faith
morality
Right and wrong principles
canons · credo · doctrine · maxims · norms · values · standards · guidelines · directives · protocols
justice
Fair treatment under law
- courageFortitude facing danger
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
benevolence · compassion · empathy · wisdom · humility · patience · kindness · diligence · fortitude · gratitude
- moralitymoral, moral values, immoral, moral principles, morality
- valuesvalue, honesty, worth, fairness, morals
- moral sayingsdo unto others, golden rule, do the right thing, honesty is the best policy, treat others fairly
- moral valuesduty, responsibility, honor, integrity, loyalty
- ethicsmorality, deontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism
- Moral TextsRepublic, Meditations, Utilitarianism, treatise, sermon
ethical codeamorality
Lacking ethical concern
lawlessness · anomie · nihilism · anything goes · moral bankruptcy
ethical codeexpediency
Prioritizing practicality over ethics
opportunism · self-interest · ruthlessness · Machiavellianism · situational ethics
code, ethics, ethical, codify, ethic, unethical, codes, coding, encoded