What is the Difference Between Legal and Ethical?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between legal and ethical lies in the nature and origin of these two concepts:
- Legal: Legal standards are based on written laws and regulations established by governments. Actions are considered legal if they do not violate the laws or codes of the local, state, or federal government. Legal standards can change over time as governments modify or enact new laws.
- Ethical: Ethical standards are based on human principles of right and wrong, and they are built up by society over time, being learned from one generation to the next. Ethics encompass both personal and professional conduct, with professional ethics focusing on responsibilities such as respecting people's privacy, working in the best interests of clients or colleagues, and being responsible with money. Ethics do not have the same enforcement mechanisms as laws, relying instead on individual judgment and societal expectations.
Some key differences between legal and ethical standards include:
- Origin: Laws are defined by governing bodies, while ethics are built up by society and learned across generations.
- Enforcement: Laws are enforced by government agencies, whereas ethical behavior is generally self-regulated or ingrained through family, education, or social norms.
It is possible for an action to be legal but unethical, or vice versa. For example, testing medicines on animals may be legal in many countries but still considered unethical by some people. Both legal and ethical standards aim to modify human behavior and promote decent, upstanding conduct in society.
Comparative Table: Legal vs Ethical
Here is a table highlighting the differences between legal and ethical standards:
| Legal | Ethical |
|---|---|
| Based on laws created and enforced by government | Based on codes of conduct or morals observed by a certain population |
| Observance of laws is mandatory | Observance of ethical standards is voluntary |
| Non-adherence is punishable | Violations can be met with sanctions |
| Applies to all members of the society where particular laws are implemented | Usually based on individual perception of right and wrong behavior |
| Laws are codified, typically contained in a country's constitution | Guidelines and principles that inform people about how to live or how to behave |
| Created by the government, which may be local, regional, national, or international | Governed by an individual, legal, or professional norms (e.g., workplace ethics, environmental ethics) |
| Breach of law may result in punishment or penalty, or both | Breach of ethics may not result in legal punishment or penalty |
| Objective is to maintain social order and peace within the nation and protection to its citizens | Helps a person decide what is right or wrong and how to interact with other people |
In summary, legal standards are enforced by a government entity and apply to all members of the society where particular laws are implemented. On the other hand, ethical standards are usually enforced by human principles involving right and wrong behavior and are based on individual perception or codes of conduct observed by a certain population.
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