The 3 Branches of Ethics: Understanding How We Define Right and Wrong

By Zunzeiry Melende

Just like most things, there is more than one of everything. There are electric cars and cars that run on gas, there is almond milk, soy milk, and regular cow milk, you can eat meat, be vegetarian or pescatarian. If there is something you want or need, it most likely exists. Just like morality, most of us have it, if we are open to feeling humane emotions, but not all morals are the same, just like milk. But what is the study of morals? That is ethics. Did you know there are three kinds of ethics? Metaethics, Normative Ethics, and Applied Ethics.

What is Metaethics? Metaethics seeks to provide the understanding of moral propositions and moral thought. Many go beyond answering questions with the thought process of what is “good,” and what is “bad.” Rather this, acknowledge what true morality is, not what box it fits best in. Metaethics surrounds the routine of knowledge on moral truths, and how we understand our own and others. Ask yourself, are the opinions of others around specific issues like warfare, racism, and sexism, personal beliefs for competing for top spot in a position of superiority? Is this just an argument for you with someone else, or a conversation with yourself?

Normative Ethics are not far off, but the definition and actions of Normative Ethics are just a little different. This kind of ethics are much more direct. We spoke about how Metaethics are asking beyond the good and the bad, but Normative Ethics, speak directly to the good and the bad, this kind of ethics do ask this. It solely surrounds how one considers to act, how to morally speak, this is when the food and bad come in, are you choosing to be good or to be bad? This is more of a guide whereas Metaethics questions the process to get to the good or bad. Normative Ethics are your actions, how you choose to be, how to speak and communicate with the rest of the world.

Applied Ethics is the last branch we shall learn of. Applied ethics means the idea of applying your own moral principles to real world problems that may affect you. Regardless of whether or not they actually do affect you, you are always applying ethics wherever you go. This can be done privately or publicly, but just like the real world, others may not apply ethics the same way you do, that can be shown obviously in certain conversations. This is all about the application of considerations to everything going on around you, may that be a protest or an alliance.

Ethics are moral principles, dividing the right and the wrong, but none of the above is the same. Being an individual, your ethics may be similar to another's but not necessarily the same. This only allows the path to getting to values you believe in, ethics don’t do it for you. The three branches of Ethics are only a surface touched, the rest is all up to you. Find a balance with morals, and what you believe in, and do good with it.