Ethics and Morals: A Small Lesson
Good and sincere souls have sought in recent years to make a distinction between ethics and morals. A short visit to the Oxford English Dictionary, the most definitive and authoritative dictionary in the English language, should be profitable.
Ethics, we are told, is from the Greek word ethikos which itself is derived from the Greek word ethos, meaning character. Ethics is defined as "manners…. Relating to morals…. Treating of moral questions…. The science of morals…. Concerned with the principles of human duty…. The moral principles by which a person is guided…. The rules of conduct recognized in certain associations or departments of human life…. The whole field of moral science (p. 900).
Morals, we are told, is from the Latin word moralis meaning customs with the Latin word mores being defined as "manners, morals, character." The Latin word was formed by Cicero
(DeFato IIi) as a rendering of the Greek ethikos (mores being the accepted Latin equivalent of ethe [pronounced ethay])…. Of or pertaining to the distinction between right and wrong, or good and evil, in relation to the actions, volition, or character of responsible beings; ethical…. Relating to the nature and application of the distinction between right and wrong; moral sense, the power of apprehending the difference between right and wrong…. Treating or concerned with virtue and vice, or the rules of right conduct…. Having the property of being right or wrong…. Capable of moral action…. Habits, conduct…. Pertaining to manners and customs" (p. 1848).
Lesson: Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.
Explication of lesson: Ethics equals morals and morals equals ethics.
Thus endeth the lesson.
Learned doctors will no doubt be undeterred in continuing to draw unwarranted distinctions between the two. We salute them for their steadfastness of conviction.
But we tried.
