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Member (Idle past 4735 days) Posts: 283 From: Weed, California, USA Joined: |
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Author | Topic: The Difference Between Ethical And Moral? | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnemooseus Member Posts: 3945 From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior) Joined: Member Rating: 10.0 |
I think there are situations where an act can be both highly unethical and also highly moral.
The first example I will call the Robin Hood syndrome - Steal from the rich to give to the poor. A manager steals from a filthy rich client and gives the theft to poor and maybe even starving people. The second example - Client confidentiality issues. A psychologist or priest hears a confession from a man, that he is a serial rapist. The psychologist or priest tips off the police about this man. Both cases, IMO, highly unethical but highly moral. Moose Added by edit, concerning the second example: I do not think the tip off should be the basis for an arrest and prosecution. The tipper should not be a formal witness for the prosecution, and I suspect that a such derived confession would be rejected by the court. It could, however, be useful in leading to further investigation that could result in an arrest and prosecution. Edited by Minnemooseus, : See above.
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Dr Adequate Member (Idle past 314 days) Posts: 16113 Joined: |
The second example - Client confidentiality issues. A psychologist or priest hears a confession from a man, that he is a serial rapist. The psychologist or priest tips off the police about this man. I think the psychiatrist is actually supposed to do that. (I also think that you probably mean "psychiatrist". A psychiatrist is a doctor who treats patients with mental health problems; a psychologist is a scientist who studies or applies psychology --- though admittedly this application can sometimes be intended as therapeutic in nature.)
Both cases, IMO, highly unethical but highly moral. Contrary to professional ethics. But if the people in question said in their defense that they were "acting according to a higher code of ethics", then you would understand exactly what they meant, wouldn't you?
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nwr Member Posts: 6412 From: Geneva, Illinois Joined: Member Rating: 5.3 |
seanfhear writes:
I think it mostly has to do with our experience in hearing these words. And religion mainly uses "moral" while professions mainly use "ethical."Would you say usage depends on context then or is there more to it? I am not seeing a big difference in how the two words could be used. The difference is in how they are used.
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onifre Member (Idle past 2981 days) Posts: 4854 From: Dark Side of the Moon Joined: |
I think the psychiatrist is actually supposed to do that. In Florida it's called the Baker Act - when you're a threat to yourself or someone else. Family can get it done, but it's mostly done by a mental health professional. - Oni
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Minnemooseus Member Posts: 3945 From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior) Joined: Member Rating: 10.0 |
Psychologist vs. psychiatrist - Yes, I knew which is the medical doctor and I did mean to use psychiatrist. The brain said psychiatrist and the fingers typed psychologist. D'oh.
Contrary to professional ethics. But if the people in question said in their defense that they were "acting according to a higher code of ethics", then you would understand exactly what they meant, wouldn't you? I would call it moral considerations overriding professional ethics. Maybe that's a definition for "higher code of ethics". I cited a serial rapist as being an extreme criminal offender. Certainly, a very minor criminal offense doesn't justify overriding professional ethics. Where the minor/serious enough dividing line falls is a gray area. Moose Edited by Minnemooseus, : Was it a typo or was it a misspelling? I'm calling it a typo.
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Omnivorous Member Posts: 3992 From: Adirondackia Joined: Member Rating: 7.5 |
There may be generational differences as well.
Many years ago, I was part of a high school student panel--Teenage Morality Today--that convened before a large Parent-Teachers Association conference. All the audience wanted to talk about was sex; we wanted to talk about war, poverty and racism. Dost thou prate, rogue? -Cassio Real things always push back.-William James
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Tram law Member (Idle past 4735 days) Posts: 283 From: Weed, California, USA Joined: |
Well, I don't really understand the difference between the two, and at least to me they do seem so similar that they can be interchangeable.
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Tram law Member (Idle past 4735 days) Posts: 283 From: Weed, California, USA Joined: |
I'd say that one difference between ethics and morality is that morality is individual while ethics tend to be collective.
Well, so would ethics be applicable only to business or groups such as scientific and medical? Because collective is somewhat vague because it also brings to my mind social rules and etiquettte. Would those also be considered more ethical rather than moral if ethical is limited to business and other similar groups?
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ringo Member (Idle past 442 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Tram law writes:
As I said, it's a distinction that I find useful. Etiquette, ethics and laws are different levels of regulation placed on the members of a group. It's rude for me to gossip about my neighbours but I wouldn't say it was unethical. It's unethical for professionals to disclose private legal or medical information and in some cases it may be illegal too. But none of those things is necessarily immoral. Well, so would ethics be applicable only to business or groups such as scientific and medical? Because collective is somewhat vague because it also brings to my mind social rules and etiquettte. Would those also be considered more ethical rather than moral if ethical is limited to business and other similar groups? "It appears that many of you turn to Hebrew to escape the English...." -- Joseppi
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seanfhear Junior Member (Idle past 4623 days) Posts: 23 From: California Joined: |
Tram writes:
Tram, the interesting thing about this forum is that it’s made up of mostly very intelligent people. That’s very refreshing on an internet forum. I think I know something about a subject posted here and usually find that I didn’t know much at all or there are things I hadn’t thought about. A very good learning experience. I’ve positively gained from my short time on the forum. Well, I don't really understand the difference between the two, and at least to me they do seem so similar that they can be interchangeable.As far as morality and ethics it seems they both have similarities and differences. Edited by seanfhear, : left a word out "Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices." Voltaire
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Phage0070 Inactive Member |
Dr Adequate writes: True, but that's a matter of connotation. One could say that the entirety of language is a matter of connotation.
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Dr Adequate Member (Idle past 314 days) Posts: 16113 Joined: |
One could say that the entirety of language is a matter of connotation. Then what would "denotation" mean?
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jar Member (Idle past 424 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
Pointing out the Connotation?
Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!
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Phage0070 Inactive Member |
Dr Adequate writes: Then what would "denotation" mean? What do you mean by that?
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Dr Adequate Member (Idle past 314 days) Posts: 16113 Joined: |
What do you mean by that? On the off-chance that you're not joking ... Denotation refers to the meaning of the word in the sense of the criterion for using it accurately; connotation refers to the penumbra of implied meanings of the word. For example, if it is accurate to call someone a German, it is equally accurate to call him a Kraut, since the two words denote exactly the same set of people. However, the latter word connotes hostility, which the former does not.
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