Unit 4 Learning Objectives
How do Ethics and Conduct differ?

After studying this unit you should be able to:

• Recognize that the debate concerning ethics regimes, ethics reforms, codes of conduct and codes of ethics are characterized by great terminological confusion;

• List the peculiar characteristics of both conduct codes and ethics codes;

• Give examples of each;

• Explain why conduct codes can also be called ethical laws;

• Identify the main objectives of adopting a code of conduct and a code of ethics. 

Introduction

Because of the similarities of purpose between codes of ethics and codes of conduct, the terminology is often mistakenly used interchangeably. The purpose of this unit is to highlight some of the current debates concerning the differences between them. While the difference between them is often obscures, codes of ethics are actually quite different from codes of conduct (also called conduct codes or ethical laws).  Ethics codes are fairly general documents, that identify and state the principles and the values of the people to whom they apply and do not establish sanctions and punishments for violations of the code itself. Conduct codes, on the other hand, are more specific documents that denote in some detail what types of behavior are acceptable in specific circumstances. Conduct codes are intended to provide guidance and establish sanctions and punishments for violations of the dispositions of the code (Willa Bruce).