Which statement defines Ethics?

• A. An established set of standards/codes that guide behavior in society
• B. A personal preference
• C. A method of physical fitness
• D. A type of law

Answer: (A)

Ethics are the standards that guide how people ought to behave, based on moral principles shared within a culture or profession. Saying ethics are an established set of standards or codes that guide behavior in society captures that idea because it shows ethics as a framework of right and wrong that shapes conduct beyond individual opinions or legal rules. It helps distinguish ethics from a personal preference, a physical fitness method, or a type of law: personal preferences are subjective, fitness routines concern health, and laws are formal rules enacted by government—none of which inherently reflect the moral expectations that ethics impose on behavior.