A duty is a commitment or expectation to perform some action in general or if certain circumstances arise. A duty may arise from a system of ethics or morality, especially in an honor culture. Many duties are created by law, sometimes including a codified punishment or liability for non-performance. Performing one's duty may require some sacrifice of self-interest.
"Duty" by Edmund Leighton
Lady Feng and the Bear
Ethics or moral philosophy is the philosophical study of moral phenomena. It investigates normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. It is usually divided into three major fields: normative ethics, applied ethics, and metaethics.
According to Aristotle, how to lead a good life is one of the central questions of ethics.
According to discourse ethics, as formulated by Jürgen Habermas, moral norms are justified by a rational discourse within society.
Philippa Foot was one of the philosophers responsible for the revival of virtue ethics in the 20th century.
The practices of compassion and loving-kindness are key elements of Buddhist ethics.