The study of moral thought and moral language. Addresses questions like "How can we tell what is good from what is bad?" and examines the nature of moraljudgement and the meaning and origin of ethical principles.
Normative Ethics
The study of ethicalactions. Looks at the content of moral judgements and the criteria for what is right and wrong. Examines the standards for the wrongness or rightness of actions.
Descriptive Ethics
The study of people's beliefs about morality. Contrasts with prescriptive or normative ethics, which is the study of ethical theories that prescribe how peopleought to act.
Applied Ethics
The practical aspect of moral considerations. Ethics with respect to real-world actions and their moral considerations in private and public life, the professions, health, technology, law and leadership.
Meta-ethics
What does "right" mean?
Normative
How should people act?
Descriptive
What do people think is right?
AppliedEthics
How do we take moral knowledge and put it into practice?
