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 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  February 27, 2009 03:27 PM

What is the differnence between an ethical man and a moral man (or woman)?

My girlfriend brought this up a couple of days ago and while we basically agree on the answer other than semantics, I thought that I would pose the question here, to see what others think.
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February 27, 2009 03:41 PM
If a moral man finds out that an employee has stolen a hundred dollars because the employee has gambling habit, he turns the person in to the police.
If an ethical man finds out that an employee has stolen a hundred dollars because the employee has a gambling habit, he gives the person a chance to pay the money back and requires the employee to get treatment for the gambling habit.
Asker's Rating:
• While easyeboy might have the research and the most definative answer, I like this one, with real life examples. The way it was put to me was; an ethical man that was starving, might steal some food to eat, if absolutely neccessary, a moral man would starve to death.


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February 27, 2009 04:56 PM
I don't think you can argue that turning him in to the police is the right and moral thing to do for a man's conscience, as opposed to giving him a chance. On the other hand, covering for an embezzler is unethical in the eyes of the shareholders.

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February 27, 2009 07:29 PM
I understand your point. I see morality as more rigid that ethics. I think that is why people argue about situational ethics.

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February 27, 2009 03:42 PM
The difference is that ethical applies to what is right and wrong, what the idealistic standards are, whereas moral applies to the character of the man and how he relates to society and the expected behavior. An ethical man focuses on the ideal standards, and doing what's right, and usually has more empathy.

A moral man will turn in someone for doing something illegal because this is against his morals, whereas an ethical man will take the time to understand why this person did something illegal, and try to get help for the individual first, and have a better understanding of the situation.

Ethical:

Ethical stresses idealistic standards of right and wrong: “Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants” (Omar N. Bradley)

Moral:

Moral applies to personal character and behavior, especially sexual conduct: “Our moral sense dictates a clearcut preference for these societies which share with us an abiding respect for individual human rights”
Source(s):
http://www.answers.com/moral
http://www.answers.com/ethical


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February 27, 2009 03:52 PM
In the way I see it, there is no difference. To me, they mean the same thing.

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February 27, 2009 04:06 PM
Although most dictionaries and thesauruses have them listed as synonyms, it appears that morals relate more to ones own personal beliefs and ethics relate more specifically to a profession for instance.

So one would say his morals are getting in the way of his business ethics.

Example:
If you don't believe in a product but the product doesn't hurt anybody you might have a moral issue with the product but not an ethical one.

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February 27, 2009 04:29 PM
"Ethical" relates more to business and what is fair for all parties. "Moral" relates to a personal belief system. Since we as Americans tend to focus on laws and fairness, it is confusing address morality apart from legality and ethics.

Example 1:
* It is unethical, immoral, and illegal to sleep with your student.
* It is unethical, immoral, but NOT illegal to sleep with your boss to get a promotion (except in certain companies).
* It is immoral, but not unethical or illegal to sleep with a willing participant who is not your spouse.

Example 2:
* If you know someone is sleeping with a student, it is illegal not to turn them in, making it immoral, but probably not considered unethical. Covering for them would likely be unethical (and illegal and immoral).
* If you know someone who has sex outside of marriage and do nothing, it is not illegal, unethical, or immoral, unless you are close enough to the parties to feel an obligation to warn them of the pitfalls.

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