Moral philosophy studies human ethics and includes metaethics, practical ethics, and applied ethics. Metaethics examines how people determine right from wrong and the origins of morality. Practical ethics establishes rules for ethical behavior, while applied ethics applies normative moral philosophy to specific situations.
Moral philosophy refers to the philosophical theories concerning human ethics. An area of study dating back to ancient civilizations, the examination of right and wrong and the codes created by these terms has remained an area of constant debate and theorizing throughout history. There are many fields of study in moral philosophy, including metaethics, practical or normative ethics, and applied ethics.
Meta-ethical moral philosophers consider questions about how people determine right from wrong, whether morality is relative or universal, and where the concept of morality originates. Unlike practical ethics, which seeks to establish behavioral codes based on theories of ethics, metaethics seeks to define terms from the vocabulary of moral philosophy. For example, to tell someone they have to do something because it’s “good,” it’s crucial to understand what “good” means, where its concept originated from, and how an action is logically determined to be “good.” .” There are many different theories in the field of metaethics, ranging from ancient times to the present day. Plato and Aristotle are often cited as the fathers of metaethics, as both wrote thorough examinations of the nature of moral philosophy.
Practical moral philosophy involves establishing rules by which to judge actions on an ethical basis. While some moral theories establish a specific ethical code, other moral theorists choose to develop a framework within which a person can answer the moral and ethical questions posed by a given situation. For example, the moral philosophy of consequentialism states that the morality of an action is determined by its outcome, independently of the action itself. If the consequences of an action can be considered “good”, they can justify the means. Deontism, most famously studied by Immanuel Kant, claims the exact opposite, suggesting that actions are moral or immoral regardless of the outcome.
Applied ethics is about applying normative moral philosophy to specific circumstances. In this field, scholars and thinkers attempt to reason about moral decisions using a framework of practical ethics. For example, where a person stands on the issue of torturing suspected terrorists can be determined by applying moral philosophical principles. If a person believes that torture is inherently wrong, but accepts the consequentialist argument that information obtained through torture could save lives, he may accept torture. Taking a deontist argument, if a person believes that torture is inherently wrong, then it is wrong regardless of the consequences and should be avoided. Laws, judicial systems, and personal opinions on social issues are frequent interests of applied moral philosophy.
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