Ethics \Eth"ics\ ([e^]th"[i^]ks), n. [Cf. F. ['e]thique. See
   Ethic.]
   The science of human duty; the body of rules of duty drawn
   from this science; a particular system of principles and
   rules concerting duty, whether true or false; rules of
   practice in respect to a single class of human actions; as,
   political or social ethics; medical ethics.
   [1913 Webster]

         The completeness and consistency of its morality is the
         peculiar praise of the ethics which the Bible has
         taught.                                  --I. Taylor.
   [1913 Webster]

	

	ethics
     n 1: motivation based on ideas of right and wrong [syn: ethical
          motive, morals, morality]
     2: the philosophical study of moral values and rules [syn: moral
        philosophy]

	

	54 Moby Thesaurus words for "ethics":
   aesthetics, allegiance, assigned task, axiology, bounden duty,
   burden, business, call of duty, casuistry, charge, commitment,
   cosmology, dedication, deference, devoir, devotion,
   duties and responsibilities, duty, epistemology, fealty,
   first philosophy, gnosiology, homage, imperative, line of duty,
   logic, loyalty, mental philosophy, metaphysics, mission,
   moral philosophy, must, obligation, ontology, onus, ought,
   phenomenology, philosophastry, philosophic doctrine,
   philosophic system, philosophic theory, philosophical inquiry,
   philosophical speculation, philosophy, place, respect,
   school of philosophy, school of thought, science of being,
   self-imposed duty, sophistry, theory of beauty,
   theory of knowledge, value theory

	

	ethics
     
        computer ethics