Final answer:
Ethics deals with normative principles shaping moral decisions, whereas laws codify these values into enforceable rules. Metaethics and normative ethics explore the nature of these moral values, their meaning, and their basis in reality. Laws translate societal ethical standards into concrete obligations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethics deal with normative moral principles and values, while laws are codified values and standards that are enforceable in the courts. Ethics is the branch of philosophy that explores the concepts of right and wrong behavior, often delving into questions of morality at a foundational level.
It encompasses different areas such as metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics, each with distinct emphases and methodologies. Metaethics, for example, examines the origin, meaning, and objective reality (if any) of moral values, while normative ethics offers the basic principles forming moral rules.
Laws, conversely, are set by societies and are concrete prescriptions of behavior that must be followed, often reflecting a society's ethical standards, but with enforceable consequences for non-compliance. This distinction highlights that while ethics provide a framework for moral decision-making, laws establish the mandatory standards that govern actions within a given community.