Final answer:
Ethics is a philosophical study of morality often reflecting personal or cultural beliefs, while the law is a set of rules enforced by the state. Ethics questions the principles behind moral judgments, whereas the law mandates what is legally permissible.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethics and law differ in that ethics is the study of morality, focusing on what is right and wrong, while the law consists of rules enacted by a government and enforced by the state. Metaethics, one of the three main areas of ethics, explores the origin and meaning of moral values, whereas laws are specifically written standards that must be followed. Ethics may pose questions such as whether actions are morally just or how values are determined, and differs from the law which dictates certain behaviors are legal or illegal. While ethics can be influenced by personal, cultural, or philosophical beliefs, laws are structured by legislative processes and are applicable to all within a jurisdiction regardless of their personal morals.