tgw

Cary's online blog



03/17

Ethos (Greek) = character; Mores (Latin) = customs

vs.

Moralitas = manner, character, proper behavior

Professor Gentsch wrote this on the board at the start of his "Ethics, Economics and Law" Seminar during 1L at Harvard Law. What do those terms mean?

Ethics vs. Morality

But aren't they synonymous? Interchangeable? Break down the roots of each word. "Character" is in both. "Customs" and "manner" have similar meanings. But "proper behavior" is where the two diverge. What constitutes "proper behavior?"

Consider these two scenarios:

Number One
A 12-year-old male is expelled from...