What are Ethics? 

Ethics are moral guidelines that indicate which behaviors are right and wrong. Ironically, it’s not always easy to tell what is right and what is wrong. There are several reasons for this:

Law & Ethics – One is that ethics are different from laws. Laws may not have to do with what’s right or what’s wrong. “Malum in Se” laws prohibit conduct that is thought to be bad. “Malum Prohibitum” laws prohibit conduct that is not necessary bad or unethical – it is simply undesirable in the eyes of the public or government. 

Individual Differences – Individuals are unique in the way they look at things. One person may say that something isn’t right, while another person believes it is. It’s sometimes just a matter of personal opinion. 

Culture – Ethics are really rooted in our culture. Culture dictates a lot of the values that we have and the beliefs that we hold. Culture will also dictate what we think of as right or wrong. 

These are all things that make ethics a little bit complicated for us as individuals. 

Related Topics

• What are Ethics?
• Why are Ethics Important to Marketing?
• What is Micro-Marketing?
• What is Macro-marketing?
• In what ways do Ethics Interact with Marketing?
• What are the risks of Unethical Marketing?
• What are the Benefits of Ethical Marketing?