The study of how one ought to live; the
study of right and wrong action, how one
should act in particular situations; the study
of reasons for actions being right or wrong;
what is the basis for ethical judgment? The
major modern divisions today are between
consequentialist ethical systems that judge
actions by their consequences, deontological
ethical systems that judge actions by their
accordance with moral laws, and feminist
ethical systems that judge actions by their effects
on our interpersonal relationships, (jc)
See also deontological ethics; ethic of care;
ethic of responsibility; moral education; virtue
ethics.