What is ethics? A branch of philosophy Concerned with questions of how people ought to act, the search for a definition of right conduct (causing the greatest good) and the good life (a life worth living or one that is satisfying or happy). An everyday question How should I live? How should I act?

Ethics Morals Values An innate knowledge of what is right and wrong. e.g. How to behave in a library. The judgement of the rightness or wrongness of human actions and character. This is more subjective and is personal based. Important and lasting beliefs or ideals shared by the members of a culture about what is good or bad and desirable and undesirable Often used interchangeably EXAMPLE: You are a kid in the schoolyard. You see a bully. He thinks he is the “top dog.” That is fine. That perception is a value. When the bully picks on and/or punches the other kid – this is wrong and must be stopped. You see the bully picking on the other kid. You feel – in your gut – that this is wrong. Congratulations, you are moral. (By the way, most people are moral – they know the difference between right and wrong) Now…you see the bully picking on the other kid. You overcome the embarrassment, and you go tell a teacher. Congratulations! You are ethical. (Ethics are moral values in action). E.G Survivor – value is mateship, which means even if I don’t want to vote the person off that my alliance has said they want to I will because I have given them my word which makes me moral. I also know this is the right thing to do for my alliance which is ethical. Moral values – truth, freedom, A person who knows the difference between right and wrong and chooses right is moral. A person whose morality is reflected in his willingness to do the right thing – even if it is hard or dangerous – is ethical.

Bioethics – a field of ethics An application of ethics to the science and practice of biology Addresses questions concerning morals, values and social responsibility relating to research and practices in biology. A paper called the Declaration of Helsinki was released in 1964, providing ethical principles for the protection of human subjects of biomedical and behavioural research.

Ethical principles Individual Rights Beneficence Non-maleficence You decide your own course of action Beneficence A duty to do more good than harm Non-maleficence The duty to not cause harm Justice and equity Fair, equitable and appropriate treatment for all