Monthly Archives: January 2013

Alex, Ethics is considered in my recent book for nursing and social work students as both singular and plural noun depending on the context in which it is used. As a singular noun, ethics was defined as a branch of moral philosophy that determines what is right (ethical) and wrong (unethical). This is in line with Thompsons (2003) view, ‘ethics is the study of how people behave, what they do, whether it is right or wrong, the reasons they give for their actions, and the rationale behind their decisions’. Similarly, Hawley (2007) defined ethics as the study of people’s moral behaviours. She further explains that moral behaviours could be regarded as right or wrong. As plural noun, ethics is the quality of moral behaviour or behaviour in response to the requirement of ethical code. It establishes professional code of behaviour, which underpins what the professionals do in practice. The problem with ethical codes is that there is no objective, universal standard of moral value applicable to professional bodies that establish them as each organisation or discipline takes upon itself the duty of shaping its own ethical code. Ethical codes are also subject to change according to the biases, whims, and caprices of the professional organisation that subscribes to them, as long as the change is effected within the law.  Ethics could be defined under this view, as moral values or/and standards adopted by organisations in an attempt to assist their respective members to gain knowledge of  what is ethical and unethical and to apply such knowledge whenever they are making ethical decisions (see Understanding ethics and ethical decision making: case studies and discussions; http://www.sgwilliamspublishing.co.uk/Ethics-and-Values.html)