Law can be defined as a system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as governing the actions of its members. Consequently, the law is followed by penalties or punishments for violating these coercive rules or regulations. Moreover, it is the decision-making body of a country (state) or community that implements these rules according to the wishes of the majority of citizens. Penalties, such as sanctions and punishments, apply to those who do not comply with these laws. In this way, the legislation is the basis for maintaining a just and equitable society. Ethics are a system of moral principles; they contribute to the creation of morality among people in a certain society or community (Halbert & Ingulli, 2020). Ethics do not necessarily bring penalties, as they are religious and social beliefs and principles.
It is significant to note that the principles of ethics do not play the same role for everyone. Thus, ethics cannot always make individuals behave appropriately because the values of ethics differ from the human mind. Accordingly, one cannot create a single code of ethics because people evaluate certain cases based on their perceptions. It should be pointed out that virtue ethics focuses on the person for whom a certain action is taken (Halbert & Ingulli, 2020). Thus, decision-making depends on the morality and wisdom of the individual. At the same time, utilitarianism is centered on the consequences of these acts. An example is that the decision to buy a car for one’s sister from a utilitarian perspective should be interpreted as helping one’s sister, who is now more likely to arrive at work. Although according to virtue ethics, such a decision’s value is demonstrating good intentions and generosity.
Reference
Halbert, T., & Ingulli, E. (2020). Law and ethics in the business environment (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.