Final answer:
Ethics is the study of right and wrong, a branch of philosophy that includes areas like metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics, with different approaches such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of right and wrong is called ethics. Ethics is the field of philosophy concerned with the systematic analysis and evaluation of moral behavior. It seeks to establish guidelines for good conduct and involves distinguishing between acceptable and unacceptable actions. The discipline is traditionally divided into several areas, including metaethics, which deals with the nature of moral judgment; normative ethics, which concerns the standards for the rightness and wrongness of actions; and applied ethics, which looks at the moral implications of specific situations or actions.
Within the field of normative ethics, we find diverse approaches such as consequentialism, which evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences; deontology, emphasizing adherence to rules and duties; and virtue ethics, which focuses on the character and virtues of a moral agent. Each approach offers a distinct framework for understanding and judging human behavior.
Further studies in moral psychology, like those of Lawrence Kohlberg and Carol Gilligan, reveal that the development of moral reasoning is complex and can be influenced by various psychological factors. Ethics permeates various aspects of our lives, including personal decision-making and professional conduct, making it a crucial field of societal importance.