Differences Between Morals and Ethics | International Business Ethics

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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ETHICS
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Introduction
The main aim of discussion of this paper will be to identify and analyse the differences
between morals and ethics. Apart from this, the benefits as well as harm to the stakeholders will
be explained of the ethical perspectives of utilitarianism, Rawls’ Justice as Fairness,
Confucianism, Altruism and Kantian ethical theory. Examples will be provided on some cases to
possess a clear view on the topics which will be discussed.
Differences between Morals and Ethics
To differentiate between ethics and morals, it is important to know the meaning of these
two first. The term morals include the habits or principles in the context of wrong or right
conduct. These habits or principles help to prescribe what need to be done and what not, it can be
noted in this context that the term morality can be termed as the personal compass of wrong and
right things that need to be followed by the individuals to be performed. It is involved with the
principles which help an individual to conduct the right behaviour in the personal as well as
professional life. The values which are used to gain the morality are known as moral values
(Bruce, 2013). These values help a person to become moral and identify and perform what is
right and what is wrong throughout their performances in the society or in their life. This helps to
reflect the behaviour of a person through the work or performances which they are doing. On the
other hand, ethics are termed as the rules of conduct which are recognized in context of a
specified class of human actions or a specified culture or group. Ethics can also be termed as the
overall system of moral principles. Ethics help to identify the good for both the society and the
individuals and are also defined as moral philosophy. Code of conduct can be termed as the
example of ethics which is set by the management of that particular business house.

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Now to differentiate between the two terms, the first and foremost thing that
differentiates these two terms is the place from where they come from. Ethics come from the
social system, which is external, whereas morals come from the individuals, which is an internal
process. They are followed to have believe in something which is right or wrong. On the other
hand, ethics are followed as the society states them as the right thing which needs to be done.
They are dependent on other persons in the context of definition. They follow the consistency
within a certain limit or context, but can vary between them. On the other hand, morals are
normally consistent, but they can change according to the belief of an individual. The term
morals are derived from the Latin word “mos”, which means custom, whereas the term ethics is
derived from the Greek word “ethos”, which means character (Harris, 2013). Ethics are governed
or controlled by legal as well as professional guidelines within a specified place and time. On the
other hand, morality surpasses or excels cultural norms. There are similarities between these two
terms, but the differences are also present so that the usage and benefits can be identified by the
people across the world. Thus, it can be said that the main difference between these two terms
can be evaluated and analysed in differentiating between right and wrong or good and bad. These
two terms play an integral role in the life of the people on regular basis, and helps to define the
attitude, personality and behaviour of them differently. Social as well as cultural norms governs
morals whereas individual or legal professional norms governs ethics. Ethics are abstract in
nature, and there is freedom to choose and think. On the other hand, morals are expressed with
the help of general statements and rules, and there is no freedom to choose and think (Bruce,
2013).