Final answer:
The correct definition of business ethics is the application of ethical behavior by a business or in a business environment, which involves establishing codes of conduct and making decisions that are morally sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most accurate definition of business ethics is a: The application of ethical behavior by a business or in a business environment. This definition encapsulates the essence of how businesses are expected to operate in a moral context - outlining permissible and non-permissible actions within an organization and for individual employees. Business ethics cover concrete issues such as bribery, discrimination, and whistleblowing, while also defining a framework for environmental and social goals, and maintaining trust and goodwill.
Business ethics is a part of the broader field of ethics, which includes metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics. Each area addresses different levels of inquiry and analysis. Specifically, applied ethics, a component of which pertains to business issues, is concerned with applying moral norms and principles to specific controversial issues to determine the rightness of particular actions.