ethics (ethiks)

[Pl. of ethic (see -ics), after Gr. τὰ ἠθικά, neut. pl., ἡ ἠθική, fem. sing., ethics: see ethic.] 1. The science of right conduct and character; the science which treats of the nature and grounds of moral obligation and of the rules which ought to determine conduct in accordance with this obligation; the doctrine of man's duty in respect to himself and the rights of others. Kant distinguishes between pure morals, or the science of the nece ary moral laws of a free will, and ethics properly so called, which considers those laws as under the influence of sentiments, inclinations, and pa ions to which all human beings are more or le subject. This fable seems to contain a little system of morality; so that there is scarce any better invention in all ethics. Bacon , Fable of Dionysius. Ethics may either be regarded as an inquiry into the nature of the Good, the intrinsically preferable and detion of the Right, the true rules of conduct, Duty, the sirable, the true end of action, .: or as an invest i gaM oral Law, . H. Sidgwick , Methods of Ethics, p. 2. Profe or Birks came nearer a satisfying definition when he said that Ethics is the science of ideal humanity - the only objection to it being that it does not nece arily imply self-determination and obligation. New Princeton Rev., I. 183. Ethics, taken in its proper signification, includes two things. On the one hand, it consists of an investigation into the nature and constitution of human character; and, on the other hand, it is concerned with the formulating and enunciating of rules for human conduct. Mind, XIII. 89. 2. The whole of the moral sciences; natural jurisprudence. In this application ethics includes moral philosophy, international law, public or political law, civil law, and history, profane, civil, and political. 3. A particular system of principles and rules concerning moral obligations and regard for the rights of others, whether true or false; rules of practice in respect to a single cla of human actions and duties: as, social ethics ; medical ethics. - Stoical ethics. See stoical . = Syn. Sp. etico Pg. ethico = It. etico , Virtue , Manners , etc. See morality . moral, ethic, ἠθικός , of or for morals, moral, ethide (eth'id or -id), n. [ eth (yl) +-ide.] In expre ing character, ήθος , character, moral chem ., a compound formed by the union of an nature: see ethos. II. n. ME. ethique, ethique , F. éthique = Sp. etic a = Pg. ethic a = It. ethyl. etic a, LL. ethic a , fem. sing., also neut. pl., eth (er)1 + -ine2.] Same as