Metaethics is a branch of ethics that focuses on the nature of moral concepts, language, and thought, and how people come to understand and justify moral judgments and values.
- Real World Example 1: Intuitionism- When possibly going to do something wrong with your friends, trusting your gut instinct that is differing right from wrong, will help you make the right decision.
- Real World Example 2: Prescriptivism- When in a large group of people sometimes the worst decision is made because its concealed by the fact you are being convinced its right.
(The Ten Commandments-The Qur'an (Islam)-Do not indulge in shameful acts openly or secretly.)
In this case, despite the differentiation between right and wrong being clear, amongst friends and people you trust, peer pressure is very possible. From an ethical standpoint peer pressure can cause an induvial to go against their own morals to conform with the group in order to maintain their social status or avoid being ostracized.
Applied ethics refers to the application of ethical principles, theories, and frameworks to specific real-life issues and situations, in order to guide decision-making and behavior in areas such as healthcare, business, technology, the environment, and social justice.
- Real World Example 1: Justice Systems.
(The Ten Commandments- The Qur’an (Islam)- Grant full measure and weight in all fairness: One should always be mindful of doing business in an honest way. People forget that honesty should be the policy in all business.
- Real World Example 2: Obedience to parents.
(The Ten Commandments: The Qur’an (Islam)- Be kind to your parents.)
Understanding the theories and roots of ethics can certainly be helpful in making ethical decisions, but it does not guarantee that you will always choose the "good" and "right" decision when faced with an ethical dilemma. Greek philosopher Socrates believed that "no one chooses evil; no one chooses to act in ignorance. We seek the good, but fail to achieve it by ignorance or lack of knowledge as to how to obtain what is good."
Normative ethics is a branch of ethics concerned with identifying and prescribing the ethical behavior that individuals should follow.
- Real World Example 1: “Murder is wrong.”
(The Ten Commandments: The Bible (Christian) - Thou shalt not kill.)
- Real World Example 2: “Giving to charity is good, but not ethically mandatory.”
(The Ten Commandments: The Qur’an (Islam)- Protect the orphans' property: This means protect the rights of the weak. People remember the rights of the strong but of the weak they forget.)