Final answer:
Professional standards of conduct based on moral principles are embedded in codes of ethics for various professions and are guided by normative ethics, which provides a framework for determining moral conduct. These standards ensure that professionals act responsibly within their fields.
Step-by-step explanation:
Professional standards of conduct based on moral principles and values guide decision-making processes and actions within various professions. These standards, often referred to as codes of ethics, represent the commitment of professionals to act responsibly and in accordance with the ethical obligations of their field. For example, the IEEE-CS adopted the Software Engineering Code of Ethics which mandates software engineers to approve software only under certain ethical considerations, such as safety and privacy.
Normative ethics plays a significant role by focusing on establishing norms and standards that guide moral conduct. It helps in creating a systematized framework for determining what is morally right or wrong through approaches like consequentialist, deontological, and virtue ethics. These frameworks assist in ensuring consistent and logical recommendations for ethical decision-making within professional settings.
Similarly, applied ethics allows for the examination of specific actions in real-life scenarios to determine their accordance with ethical principles and norms. This moral inquiry aids in the development of one's ethical thinking and defines the moral personhood of individuals within a society.