Every society and culture has different ways of interpreting and defining ethics development, understanding, and application by the way their own culture or society norms. According to the Webster's Dictionary ethics is defined as the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. A society's culture, consists of whatever it is one has to know or believe in order to operate in a manner acceptable to its members. The rituals, customs, ethics and morals that are attributed to the cultures have caused these differences. To understand how the people of one culture interpret a situation or event, an individual must evaluate the attributes that a certain culture has. Heroism and defiance are two concepts that are easily misinterpreted depending on a particular culture's ideals. Since cultures have different attributes it is difficult for two cultures to exist and share the same view of a situation or event.

The difference between ethics and moral, beliefs, or values are very similar yet different in many ways. Ethics is very unique to every individual and can easily change. Values are learned behaviors with increased education and maturity. Morals are generally internal judgments versus community ethics. Finally, beliefs are things we believe to be true to us as individuals. Ethics, morals, beliefs, and values are all supportive and compliment on each other when associated with people. Everyone's values are constantly changing with their distinctive daily & life experiences. Ultimately, each individual will be the judge of what is right versus wrong in their ethical decision making process. The individual's ability to value and benefit from the use of ethics is based solely on his or her learned values. If the individual is willing to be totally and utterly honest and follow the established rules and laws, our current judicial system would simply vanish. Whereas, if the person's intent is not one of high moral character the individuals ethics will not have the ability to be utilized. Each person must make a decision based on his or her situation and background as to what the right choice is. It could be to inform the police if a personal friend had committed a crime, or admit to speeding when an officer pulls your car over for speeding. The individual struggle often extends itself to ultimately affect other people. In general, a group of people can decide to abide by and follow the set established laws and rules. They can also decide to take advantage of the situation and other people and not follow them. This decision can force or influence others to make immoral decisions even if they know they are being dishonest.

Personal ethics, in my personal opinion, can succeed in almost any situation. But, it is the degree of freedom allowed within the individual that will cause it to fail or succeed. People are not born with the immoral behaviors they often display; they learn it through society and the experiences that they encounter on a daily basis. There is often a thin line that exists between what is moral and immoral. This can also be determined based on an individual's belief and upbringing. Understanding

The Theory of Ethics. (1969, December 31). In DirectEssays.com. Retrieved 22:36, May 25, 2013, from http://www.directessays.com/viewpaper/81923.html

Direct Essays. "The Theory of Ethics." DirectEssays.com. DirectEssays.com, (December 31, 1969). Web. 25 May. 2013.

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