Ethical codes are adopted by organizations to assist members in understanding the difference between right and wrong and in applying that understanding to their decisions. An ethical code generally implies documents at three levels: codes of business ethics, codes of conduct for employees, and codes of professional practice.
Wood tablet from Jebel Moya, inscribed with an ethical code of conduct, relating to Moses (line 7) and Pharaoh (line 12)
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.