What is the difference between Ethics, Morality and the Law?

The world around us is a smorgasbord of beliefs, claims, rules and norms about how we should live and behave.

It’s important to tease this jumble of ethical pressures apart so we can put them in their proper place. Otherwise, it can be hard to know what to do when some of these requirements contradict others.

Let’s talk about three different categories of demands on how we should live: ethics, morality and law.

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ABOUT THE ETHICS CENTRE

The Ethics Centre is an independent not-for-profit that advocates for a more ethical society.

A team of innovators, thought leaders and conveners of people and ideas, we deliver a range of services including original programs, consulting, leadership and an ethics helpline designed to bring ethics to the centre of everyday life.

Across our work, we aim to diagnose, prevent and cure the sources of ethical failure, to increase ethical literacy through education and information, and develop tools to empower good decision making.

The Centre’s programs are recognised for stimulating public awareness and understanding, creating a space for open, honest and often difficult conversations.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of The Ethics Centre, and we’re committed to educating, engaging and informing for a better world for the 30 years to come.

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Copyright Notice

© The Ethics Centre 2020.

This video may be freely used by individuals for their own personal use and, to the extent not already permitted by relevant copyright law, by non-profit educational institutions for educational purposes.

[orjiamaobi]

The way you break it down, make it easier and more understandable.
you deserve a flower.

[dr.p.sivapragasamphd]

An insightful video explaining about the fundamental differences between law, morality and ethics. Super inspired to listen to the Ethics Centre.

[gwyneth]

Early on in a concern of a crime, I was informed "There is no legal requirement for morals". My experience has been that those that hang out ethics in their shop window but act completely opposite. They have blatantly violated laws and morals and been protected by those that are supposed to regulate them. Our society preaces these things but it a total fraud. In my experience.

[gooddayyt]

Truth is infinite. One truth is always leading to another ultimate truth. Values and principles make up morals. Practiced morals effect values cycle.

[prototropo]

This presentation, and another I watched from the Ethics Center, were so good that I signed up for the 10-part course.

[uyentrangle]

Ethics requires us to think about issues the law can’t or doesn’t address. It puts moral systems under the microscope to see if they hold up. In an ideal world, our ethical beliefs shape the kinds of laws and moral systems a society develops. When our conscious, reflective, ethical views on what’s good and right change, we ought to change the laws to reflect them. And likewise, our moralities should evolve in response to insights generated from ethical reflection.

[jirehag]

A 3 minute video that clearly explains the very basic concepts. Thump up!

[thecupdidit]

Thank you, dude! I found this really useful. You speak very well, the images helped. The structure was good and the examples were super helpful. Finally getting this now!

[PinacoladaMatthew]

"I didn't say you were a bad guy, I said you were a criminal. I've known good criminals and bad cops, bad priests, honorable thieves. You can be on one side of the law or the other. But if you make a deal with somebody, you keep your word. You can go home with your money and never do this again. But you took something that wasn't yours and sold it for a profit. You're now a criminal. Good one? bad one? That's up to you."

[Stretesky]

More of this please! The people need it spelled out to support better thinking. Thank you.

[charlesshafer]

I think the fundamental difference between morality and ethics is that the first is about not doing harm, and the the second is about doing LESSER harm than necessary. Two very different perspectives.

[hbbmalik.visual]

This is a good watch for those into learning counselling psychology as well. 👍🏼

[rejanev.rendon]

Thank you for this ved, it so helpful for me to start study about morality and ethics, how to applied our daily lives.

[emperorlelouch]

Ooh, this is very interesting. I've always been interested in morality and what's right and wrong. Now I know the fine nuances between them all and how we can use them to improve as human beings.

[wpveenc]

Clear explanation, concise and good examples. Thank you, help me a lot when I teach.

[lindseymills]

Clear message, clear structure, easy to understand, thank you

[daisybarman]

Beautifully explained. Thank you so much.

[haydenwilsonx]

Great video - really well spoken and explained with clarity.

[margynethram]

very useful for my report on ethical leadership on deepening explanation of ethics

[moanarangi]

I'm enjoying the whole process. The email, the video, the written content. It aligns so well with the message because it's relevant for now. Thank you.