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Ethics or moral philosophy is the branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct.〔''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' ("Ethics" )〕 The term ''ethics'' derives from the Ancient Greek word ἠθικός ''ethikos'', which is derived from the word ἦθος ''ethos'' (habit, “custom”). The branch of philosophy axiology comprises the sub-branches of Ethics and aesthetics, each concerned with concepts of value.〔''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'': (Entry on Axiology. )〕 As a branch of philosophy, ethics investigates the questions “What is the best way for people to live?” and “What actions are right or wrong in particular circumstances?” In practice, ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality, by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. As a field of intellectual enquiry, moral philosophy also is related to the fields of moral psychology, descriptive ethics, and value theory. The three major areas of study within ethics are:〔 # Meta-ethics, concerning the theoretical meaning and reference of moral propositions, and how their truth values (if any) can be determined # Normative ethics, concerning the practical means of determining a moral course of action # Applied ethics, concerning what a person is obligated (or permitted) to do in a specific situation or a particular domain of action〔 ==Defining ethics== Dino Lobaton states that "standard definitions of ''ethics'' have typically included such phrases as 'the science of the ideal human character' or 'the science of moral duty' ". Richard William Paul and Linda Elder define ethics as "a set of concepts and principles that guide us in determining what behavior helps or harms sentient creatures".〔 The ''Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy'' states that the word ethics is "commonly used interchangeably with 'morality' ... and sometimes it is used more narrowly to mean the moral principles of a particular tradition, group or individual."〔John Deigh in Robert Audi (ed), ''The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy'', 1995.〕 Paul and Elder state that most people confuse ethics with behaving in accordance with social conventions, religious beliefs and the law and don't treat ethics as a stand-alone concept. The word "ethics" in English refers to several things.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethic )〕 It can refer to philosophical ethics—a project that attempts to use reason in order to answer various kinds of ethical questions. It can also refer to a common human ability to think about ethical problems that is not particular to philosophy. As bioethicist Larry Churchill states: "Ethics, understood as the capacity to think critically about moral values and direct our actions in terms of such values, is a generic human capacity." Ethics can also be used to describe a particular person's own, idiosyncratic principles or habits. For example: "Joe has strange ethics." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「ethics」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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