What is Ethics?

People can learn ethics from not only family, but also from school, peers, television, and even religious leaders (church).  One can learn a lot about what not to do around their peers such as what is or is not fair in society or what is considered the "right" thing to do.  Television can also attempt to teach or show standards concerning our rights, for example, right to privacy or right to life. You may also think something is accepted or right in society because of family beliefs. Your family has a major impact on what you think is ethical or "what society accepts" to be ethical.

Ethics can be considered as the well founded standards of right and wrong of what humans should do in terms of obligations, benefits to society, terms of rights, or even specific values. Being ethical does not necessarily mean do "whatever society accepts". In order to understand what society accepts, one would have to find out what is acceptable.  Most importantly of ethics is that all standards are supported by consistent and accurate reasons.  Morality on the other hand, is just simply the distinction between what is right or wrong and good or bad behavior. It does not have specific standards to deviate between what is considered right and wrong.  Morality is doing what is "accepted by society" even if society has not defined what is accepted yet.

Some people can be more ethical than others because some are willing to ensure and study their own beliefs and standards, when others do not care to find or search for their own moral beliefs and conducts.  Usually if you are more ethical than another then more than likely you are going to make a more wise decision than the one who does not care to understand about human rights and standards.
People can also follow different codes of ethics depending on what they believe. For Example, one may think abortion is wrong and unethical to society, but others may think abortion is acceptable and okay. Just because one thinks abortion is wrong or right does not necessarily mean they are un ethical or wrong.

An ethical situation dilemma I may face in my work field could possibly be how they interact or deal with some of the animals.  For instance, if a dog doesnt have an owner or if possibly sickly, they put the animal "down" or "to sleep".  Although there is not much I am allowed to do in a situation such as that, but I would possibly try to covince them to let the dog stay longer so he can find an owner.