Ethics vs Morals

[Taverner]

Seriously - I think this is as big of a jump as Alchemy vs Chemistry...

When we speak of Ethics, we speak of what is best for the common good.

With Morality, this is irrelevant. At times, Morals and Ethics may parallel each other - but they come from completely different roots.

Alchemy being Morality, and Ethics being Chemistry

Reason is the central factor in determining Ethics

With Morality, however, it has nothing to do with reason

Much of it is based on 'This book written in 100AD said such and such...'

Based on faith, rather than reason

To me this seems to be the most perfect humanist quest - - to pursue Ethics

[tbyg52]

1. I think of morals as what you're told

and ethics as what you figure out for yourself.

I have never been able to find actual, official definitions that say that, though - have you? I only even thought about it after reading what Sturgeon had to say about it.

Like this link - the dictionary definitions sound like the same thing, then it's got Sturgeon's definition.

http://www.rdrop.com/~half/Personal/Beliefs/MoralsAndEthics.html

[Taverner]

2. Very very close

Ethics are based on reason

Morals are based on a text, or some other source that is "felt" rather than proved

ON EDIT: Ethics are based on the idea that, in our social contract, we make certain sacrifices for the sake of protection. Say, we agree to not kill anyone out of anger, if they promise not to kill us out of anger.

So taken to its logical conclusion, we have ethics. You can practice whatever non-harming practice you do, as long as you respect my right to do the same.

Morals supersede all of this.

They tell you anything from "Go on a crusade to kill on non-believers!" to "You cannot eat pork" or "You cannot have sex before marriage"