Final answer:
Ethics involves the study of right and wrong behavior and is concerned with honesty and moral principles, distinguishing itself from morality by focusing on underlying philosophical theories and principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethics is a way of behaving so that you are honest. By definition, ethics involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior, and encompasses various approaches such as consequentialism, deontological ethics, and virtue ethics. It is a discipline dedicated to establishing and understanding moral principles and rules. A person is ethical if that person is aware of the basic principles governing moral conduct and acts according to these principles.
There is a distinction between morality and ethics. Morality pertains to the social phenomenon of behavior regarding what is right or wrong in a societal context, whereas ethics is the broader field of study that examines moral concepts and the reasoning behind them. Metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics are three main areas of ethical study. Normative ethics focuses on moral behavior and what actions should be taken, considering criteria for proper conduct.
Kant's categorical imperative and Confucianism's emphasis on character exemplify the idea that right action stems from right character. Theological concerns, such as afterlife consequences, also play a role for some people in ethical considerations, underlying the complex interplay between personal beliefs and ethical behavior.