What is the difference between ethics, morals and values?

Let me start by stating that even among those who believe they know the answer t
o this question there is not total agreement. For many, the way you answer the q
uestion is a function of the academic discipline which shaped your thinking and
the religious and/or theological underpinnings of your personal belief system. S
o in answering what seems like a simple question for which there must be a simpl
e answer it becomes necessary to frame any response with an explanation.
I am answering this question from a businessman s perspective. My philosopher, law
yer, theologian and academician friends repeatedly tell me that my definitions a
re too simplistic and lack rigor. On the other hand, their more sophisticated an
d rigorous definitions can appear to lack utility and fail to guide the business
decisions that those of us in the real world face daily.
With that caveat and in reverse order from the question:
Values are our fundamental beliefs. They are the principles we use to define tha
t which is right, good and just. Values provide guidance as we determine the rig
ht versus the wrong, the good versus the bad. They are our standards.
Consider the word evaluate . When we evaluate something we compare it to a standard
. We determine whether it meets that standard or falls short, comes close or far
exceeds. To evaluate is to determine the merit of a thing or an action as compa
red to a standard.
Typical values include honesty, integrity, compassion, courage, honor, responsib
ility, patriotism, respect and fairness.
Morals are values which we attribute to a system of beliefs, typically a religio
us system, but it could be a political system of some other set of beliefs. Thes
e values get their authority from something outside the individual- a higher bei
ng or higher authority (e.g. society). In the business world we often find ourse
lves avoiding framing our ethical choices in moral terms for fear that doing so
might prove offensive (lacking in respect or compassion) to some. Many of us fin
d our values are strongly influenced by our sense of morality - right as defined
by a higher authority. Yet we refrain from citing that authority because doing
so may seem less rational and more emotional to others who do not share our beli
ef system. The lack of public reference to morals does not diminish the power of
moral authority. Avoiding a morality-based rationale is a social convention and
one that is not universally practiced.
By that definition one could categorize the values listed above (honesty, integr
ity, compassion ) as moral values - values derived from a higher authority. That is
a convenient way to differentiate them from what are often called utilitarian o
r business values, such as excellence, quality, safety, service, which define so
me elements of right and good in a business context.
Ethics is about our actions and decisions. When one acts in ways which are consi
stent with our beliefs (whether secular or derived from a moral authority) we wi
ll characterize that as acting ethically. When one s actions are not congruent wit
h our values - our sense of right, good and just - we will view that as acting u
nethically.
Defining what is ethical is not an individual exercise however. If it were then
one could have argued that what Hitler did was ethical since his actions conform
ed to his definition of right, fair and good. The ethics of our decisions and ac
tions is defined societally, not individually.
If society is dominated by a single religious or cultural belief system, as is t

he case in some countries, then what is ethical and what is moral may be defined
as the same thing. In societies where there is not a monolithic belief system t
here can be very wide differences in opinion in society as to whether a given ac
tion is ethical (or moral).
Consider several of the long-standing national debates that are going on in the
United States. Often the controversy is the result of people coming to a questio
n from different moral positions or from different values. Take the very difficu
lt question of abortion. If your religious belief system defines abortion as tak
ing a life then you cannot be ethical (acting in ways that are consistent with y
our values) and support the position that abortion is a woman s individual choice.
If your personal value system holds that control of one s body is an inviolable p
ersonal right then the idea that others - individually or collectively - can imp
ose their will on you is antithetical to that right.
Culturally we also see differences as to how values are defined. In US society w
e stand against nepotism. We believe that a concern for fairness to all employee
s demands that large businesses protect their employees from the unfairness inhe
rent in the situation where an individual supervisors a member of his or her imm
ediate family. The concern is for the inevitability of preferential treatment an
d/or the inappropriate sharing of personal/confidential information about others
in the workplace. Fairness demands that nepotism not be tolerated. In the Arab
world, nepotism is often viewed as an illogical concern. The cultural obligation
to look after one s family outweighs other concerns. Of course one would favor fa
mily. That is what family does. That is the right thing to do.
While I am not arguing that ethics
gree on values, we may disagree as
atisfy those values. Is it fair to
is it fair to treat each employee
r society we argue both.

is situational I am arguing that while we may a

to which values apply or which actions best s
treat each employee identically (equality) or
according to his or her needs (equity)? In ou

And of course we have ethical dilemmas, where the choice is not between what we
believe to be right and what we believe to be wrong, but between competing right
s. The classic case: Is it ethical to steal a loaf of bread to feed a starving ch
ild. The answer, It depends. But that is another article.