Final answer:
The two main goals of ethics are to understand moral principles and act in accordance with them, which guide both individual and societal behavior in a variety of contexts including scientific and bioethics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two main goals involved in ethics are to (1) understand the underlying principles that govern moral conduct and (2) ensure actions are in alignment with these principles. Ethics is not just about analyzing what is right or wrong but involves a disciplined approach to determine how we should act in various situations, taking into account factors like the impact on humans, animals, and the environment, bias elimination, safety, and legal considerations.
A person considered ethical is one who acts in a manner consistent with recognized moral principles. If not, they are deemed unethical. Ethics encompasses various fields including scientific ethics, bioethics, and applied ethics, all of which require ongoing reflection and analysis as science and society evolve.
Ethical theories may focus on capacities like reason, which enables methodical thinking and conclusive decision-making based on evidence and logic. The field of ethics is, therefore, critical in guiding individual and social behavior, ensuring morality is constantly examined and updated in response to new ethical dilemmas.