Determinants of Ethics
Determinants of Ethics
Determinants of Ethics are foundations from which ethical standards develop. For example,
Time
Historical background shape the societal ethical behaviour. For example, Code of Hammurabi, made Bribery a crime in Babylon during 18th century B.C.
Historical common ethical codes, such as against murder, causing injury to fellow human being, honour and reputation of an individual.
Family
A person’s family values have great influence on his/her ethical behaviour. For example, In a joint family, a person becomes more tolerant to the views of other than person living in nuclear family.
Society
Cultural values/traditions in society affects the ethical standards of that society. For example, in Indian culture it is common to show respects to husband by touching their feet but in western culture it can be thought as derogatory to women.
Law
Law of the land determine at large the set of ethical standards must followed by its practitioners. For example, In some fundamental Islamic countries Women have been given 2nd grade citizen treatment by law.
Education
The education qualification as well as quality of education has great impact on individual & societal ethical behaviour. For example, It is common that most violent criminals have very poor education or not at all.
Life Experiences
Life experience are the greatest effective determinants of shaping person’s ethical behaviour. For example a core xenophobe person may change his ethical belief when he himself becomes victim of xenophobia in another country.
Religion
Most religions have an ethical component, often derived from purported supernatural revelation or guidance. Some assert that religion is necessary to live ethically. For example, according to traditional Buddhism, the foundation of Buddhist ethics for laypeople is the Pancasila: no killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, or intoxicants. In becoming a Buddhist, or affirming one's commitment to Buddhism, a layperson is encouraged to vow to abstain from these negative actions. Christian ethics includes questions regarding how the rich should act toward the poor, how women are to be treated, and the morality of war. Ethics is called Nitisastra in ancient texts of Hinduism. Ethics are explained in Hindu philosophy as something that cannot be imposed, but something that is realized and voluntarily lived up to by each individual. Islamic ethics defined as "good character". The unique feature of the Islamic ethical system is that it permeates all spheres and fields of human life. Adherence to ethical behavior is part of Imaan (faith) itself, and as such, social responsibility and justice is considered as an offshoot of a Muslim belief system.