ethical norms
Rules of conduct
Ethical norms are shared standards of right and wrong that guide behavior within a group, profession, or society.
Unlike legal rules, they aren't formally codified but carry social weight: The ethical norms of journalism require protecting sources.
Violating ethical norms may bring disapproval or exclusion rather than prosecution.
Professional fields often develop their own: medical ethical norms around informed consent.
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- social contractAgreement exchanging freedom for order
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- do no harmAvoid causing injury
- justiceFair treatment under law
fair play · accountability · promise · categorical imperative · duty of care · good faith · equity · fiduciary duty · conflict of interest · utilitarianism · golden rule · right thing · reciprocity · human rights · community standards · unwritten rules · moral philosophy · fairness
- ethicsmorality, deontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism
- Hegeldialectic, dialectics, phenomenology, master-slave
ethical normsunethical practices
Morally wrong professional behavior
vices · wrongdoing · taboos · ethical violations · corrupt practices
ethical normslegal statutes
Enacted written laws
laws · self-interest · brute force · expediency · realpolitik