Unethical
Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. The term ethics derives from Ancient Greek ἠθικός (ethikos), from ἦθος (ethos), meaning ‘habit, custom’. The branch of philosophy axiology comprises the sub-branches of ethics and aesthetics, each concerned with values.
Ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. As a field of intellectual enquiry, moral philosophy also is related to the fields of moral psychology, descriptive ethics, and value theory.
Three major areas of study within ethics recognized today are:
Meta-ethics, concerning the theoretical meaning and reference of moral propositions, and how their truth values (if any) can be determined
Normative ethics, concerning the practical means of determining a moral course of action
Applied ethics, concerning what a person is obligated (or permitted) to do in a specific situation or a particular domain of action
Ethical (adjective)
Of or relating to the study of ethics.
“The philosopher Kant is particularly known for his ethical writings.”
Ethical (adjective)
Of or relating to the accepted principles of right and wrong, especially those of some organization or profession.
“All employees must familiarize themselves with our ethical guidelines.”
Ethical (adjective)
Morally approvable; good.
“We are trying to decide what the most ethical course of action would be.”
Ethical (adjective)
Only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.
“In most jurisdictions, morphine is classified as an ethical drug.”
Ethical (noun)
An ethical drug.
Unethical (adjective)
Not morally approvable; morally bad; not ethical.
“The corporation was accused of unethical behavior for knowingly producing a product suspected of harming health.”
Ethical (adjective)
relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these
“ethical standards”
“ethical issues in nursing”
Ethical (adjective)
morally good or correct
“can a profitable business ever be ethical?”
Ethical (adjective)
avoiding activities or organizations that do harm to people or the environment
“switching to more ethical products”
“adopt ethical shopping habits”
“an expert on ethical investment”
“ethical holidays”
Ethical (adjective)
(of a medicine) legally available only on a doctor’s prescription and usually not advertised to the general public
“all types of drugs, including ethical drugs and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals”
Unethical (adjective)
not morally correct
“it is unethical to torment any creature for entertainment”