The difference between ETHICS and MORALITY

A quick note to help readers understand this blog a bit better:

It should be noted that there is a very big difference between what philosophy considers ETHICS and what most religions, governments, and people groups consider ETHICS.

Ethics, in philosophy is the examination of "the good life" and what it means to participate in said life.

Ethics, to most others simply means a set of moral behavior that doesn't violate civil conduct. This would be better defined as Morality, but we're stuck using the word ethics because of universal usage.

But when we speak of business restraints, human rights, or the role of government, we're going to come to much different conclusions about what is ethical depending on whether we're coming at the issue from a philosophical, religious, or legal perspective.

That's why it's important to check your lens whenever you approach an issue. One thing I've done to help me check my own lens is to tag my own posts with the viewpoint I'm taking (What's written in this blog is often tagged with philosophy, politics, or religion- sometimes all three). There is an intersection between these, but it doesn't mean that they are always (or even) in agreement.

This is also why I can argue for government intervention one day and then for government restraint the next. Each lens calls for a different perspective and a different attitude toward what's ethical, moral, or appropriate.

It doesn't mean I'm being contradictory.