Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. The term ethics derives from the ancient Greek word Ethikos, which is derived from the word Ethos (habit, “custom”). The branch of philosophy axiology comprises the sub branches of ethics and aesthetics each concerned with values.

“As a branch of philosophy, ethics investigates the questions, “What is the best way for people to live?” and “What actions are rights or wrong in particular circumstances?” In practice ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice justice and crime. 

As a field of intellectual inquiry, moral philosophy also is related to fields of moral psychology, descriptive ethics and value theory:

Richard William Paul and Linda Elder : “A set of concepts and principles that guide us in determining what behavior helps or harms sentient creatures.

Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy : States that the word ethics is “Commonly used interchangeably with ‘morality’…… and sometimes, it is used more narrowly to mean the moral principles of a particular tradition groups or individual.”

Bernard Williams : Writes attempting to explain moral philosophy “What makes an inquiry a philosophical one is reflective generality and a style of argument that claims to be rationally persuasive and Williams describes the content of this area of inquiry as addressing the very broad question, how one should live.”