moral code
Right and wrong
A moral code is a set of principles governing right and wrong behavior.
It may derive from religion, philosophy, professional ethics, or personal conviction.
Unlike laws, moral codes are enforced by conscience and social pressure rather than legal authority: Her moral code wouldn't allow her to lie, even to protect herself.
A person's moral code shapes decisions about honesty, loyalty, and treatment of others.
Foundational moral beliefs
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- scruplesMoral reservations about acting
standards · duty · honor · decency · rectitude · probity · uprightness · justice
Correctness of conduct
- decorumFitting social conduct
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- civilityFormal politeness in conduct
- chivalryKnightly code of honor
comportment · customs · protocol · manners · modesty · temperance · self-discipline · restraint
Concern for others' distress
- altruismPrioritizing others' wellbeing
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- empathySharing another's emotions
- charityVoluntary aid for others
kindness · forgiveness · humility · gratitude · honesty · loyalty · respect · tolerance
Morality based on obligations
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- natural lawInherent moral principles
divine command · religious law · sharia · secular humanism · absolutism · relativism · legalism
Having high moral standards
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
- scrupulousThorough and principled
upright · trustworthy · incorruptible · noble · steadfast · sincere · righteous · good character
principles
Foundational moral beliefs
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- conscienceInternal moral sense
scruples · standards · duty · honor · decency · rectitude · probity · uprightness · justice · fairness
propriety
Correctness of conduct
chivalry · comportment · customs · protocol · manners · modesty · temperance · self-discipline · restraint · abstinence
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- altruismPrioritizing others' wellbeing
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- empathySharing another's emotions
charity · kindness · forgiveness · humility · gratitude · honesty · loyalty · respect · tolerance · generosity
deontology
Morality based on obligations
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
natural law · divine command · religious law · sharia · secular humanism · absolutism · relativism · legalism
honorable
Having high moral standards
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
- conscientiousScrupulously careful and thorough
scrupulous · upright · trustworthy · incorruptible · noble · steadfast · sincere · righteous · good character
- moralityethics, morals, right and wrong, conscience, ethical principles
- chivalryknighthood, knights, chivalry, medieval knights, honor
- valuesvalue, honesty, worth, fairness, morals
- character traitspersonality, virtue, temperament, honor, disposition
- characterizationprotagonist, trait, antagonist, hero, villain
- honorhonor, personal honor, word of honor, family honor, national honor
moral codeamorality
Lacking ethical concern
lawlessness · immorality · nihilism · moral bankruptcy · depravity
moral codelegal statutes
Enacted written laws
criminal code · criminal law · civil law · police enforcement · government regulation
moral codebase instincts
hedonism · Machiavellianism · expediency · law of the jungle · survival of the fittest
code, moral, immoral, morality, codify, mores, amoral, immorality, moralizing