The concepts of "ethics" and "etiquette" are quite close, so many confuse these categories, the names of which, moreover, are very similar. To avoid such unpleasant blunders, one should understand what is the subject of ethics, and what is etiquette, what is the difference and where these two spheres converge. To do this, you must first turn to the origin and development of concepts and trace the stages of qualitative changes in their understanding.
What it is?
Both that and another is an integral part of social life, the generally accepted or unspoken form of regulation of relations between people. The norms and rules of behavior in society, the understanding of responsibility for their actions and the distinction between right and wrong are instilled in everyone since childhood.
In the process of growing up and the formation of a personality, certain norms may be deformed or considered to be optional for a person. The problem lies in the understanding of what rules are advisory in nature, and for which lies a rigid taboo.
The origin of the concept of "ethics" is ancient Greek, from the word ethos, which means "character, habit, custom." The first to talk about him was the philosopher Aristotle, introducing the category into use. He also singled out ethics into an independent section of practical philosophy, although initially its subject was slightly different from modern understanding.
Approximately before the era of the New Age, ethics was considered the science of the soul and nature of man, the causes of his actions and ways of achieving some ideal perfect state, that is, included the areas of psychology, anthropology, natural philosophy and social philosophy. Subsequently, ethics diverged from related disciplines and focused on its main subject - the study of morality and ethics.
Ethics aims to solve several major problems. First of all, it is the distinction between good and evil, right and wrong, permissible and unacceptable. Next comes the question of the dichotomy of what is due and desired, that is, the problem of the moral choice of a person. And from this it follows the need to first understand free will, whether it is inherent in a person from the beginning or is formed in the process of development, and whether the individual is free to control it.
In a broader, universal human sense, ethics includes, among other things, reflections on the meaning of life, the search for the purpose and essence of being of a person.
Morality and morality
The leading objects for considering ethics as a theoretical discipline are the categories of morality and ethics. This inseparable couple is still the subject of controversy and debate about their boundaries, essence and definitions. The generally accepted concept at the moment comes down to the following definitions:
- Morality (from the Latin. moralis, which means "relating, related to morals") is defined as a regulatory method, adopted in a particular society forms of action and behavior.
- Moral it is also a more subjective concept and refers primarily to the method and standard of an individual’s internal self-regulation based on his free will.
Thus, it is obvious that morality is social, characteristic of a particular society and protected by it. You can talk about the morality of different nations and different social groups, which sometimes differ dramatically from each other.
For morality, it is necessary to have some kind of social institution, evaluating the behavior of its members and marking it as appropriate or inappropriate.
Morality refers to the inner convictions of a person and is controlled by an exceptional conscience of his own. In this case, the individual must reach a certain level of self-awareness, self-organization, and responsibility for actions or inaction to be performed in order to determine for himself the limits of permissible and correct.
Etiquette
Despite the fact that the very concept of “etiquette” was formed relatively recently (by the standards of philosophical terms) - in the 17th century, in one form or another, the idea of it existed among all nations since the formation of the most ancient civilizations. Strict ceremonial was adopted in ancient China and Japan, the generally accepted canons of behavior were followed by the ancient Greeks and Romans, even among the semi-wild nomadic peoples there was an internal hierarchy and a number of traditional rituals. During the formation of absolutist monarchies in Europe, it was precisely the wise court etiquette that finally separated the nobility from the common people.
Under the etiquette in the modern world is understood as a set of rules of conduct adopted in a particular society, defining the limits of permissible and unacceptable and regulating a certain sequence of actions in typical situations. These rules in most cases are rather recommendatory, informal. However, in case of non-compliance, the company may apply sanctions to the violator, ranging from lowering the interpersonal rating up to complete exclusion from the group.
It is obvious that there are differences between the norms of etiquette of different peoples, eras, cultures and social groups. Conventionally, there are several types:
- Business Etiquette;
- secular;
- professional;
- ceremonial;
- ritual;
- situational.
All these species are interconnected, and the norms prescribed in them often overlap.
General components
From the foregoing, it clearly follows that both disciplines determine the norms and laws of social interaction, stabilize and regulate relations between people. Etiquette is often singled out as an independent subdivision of applied ethics, that is, that part of it, whose task is to study the methods, consequences and problems of the practical application of moral tenets. Sometimes etiquette is even called “small ethics”, wanting to emphasize the relationship between them.
The basis of the rules of etiquette in one form or another laid the laws of the desired behavior developed by society, contributing to a comfortable and pleasant solution for all parties to a particular situation.
The ultimate goal of etiquette is to create at least a semblance of a cultured, intelligent and non-conflict society. In a broad sense, all of these regulations are based on the idea of a correct, conscious, trustworthy individual, focused on productive and positive joint activities. And all these problems are already a direct field of ethical consideration.
Difference of concepts
Despite numerous similarities, the subject of ethics is much wider and more voluminous. Many fundamental ethical questions, such as good and evil in human nature, freedom of choice and responsibility for it, the problem of moral choice and personal conscience, are completely alien to etiquette. The main thing in etiquette is the formal adherence to the rules, rather, external action, rather than the internal state of the person committing it. Difference of ethics in a more sensitive, deep attitude to the human soul, its impulses, throwings and development.
Moreover, since the sphere of competence of ethics is more global, then the responsibility for violating its norms is much more tangible. If a person who has violated etiquette is considered maximum, uneducated and uncultured, then the person who crossed the ethical boundaries will be called immoral, immoral, or even inhuman. Some fundamental norms of morality are so important for the very existence of society that they are written down in regulatory documents and protected at the state level.
Rules and regulations
The main rule of ethics, it is the golden rule of morality, is known to everyone: “treat others the way you want them to treat you.” In other words, ethical attitude to the world should begin with the formation of the moral core of the individual. A person is not moral, unable to distinguish right from wrong, to stint his interests for the sake of duty and justice, who cannot be guided by the ideals of honor, dignity and conscience, is simply not capable of becoming a carrier of morality.
The ratio of morality and ethics in ethics is inextricably linked with constant self-improvement, hard and regular inner work.
The etiquette rate is manifested in the correct situational behavior, adequate and predictable for other participants in the interaction reaction. At the same time, the internal state of a person, his desire or unwillingness, consent or protest against these norms are not taken into account. Business, family, and friendship are based on adherence to certain etiquette.
The norms of ethics and etiquette do not always coincide with each other. Violations of interpersonal regulations, non-compliance with the rules of behavior at the table, the use of inappropriate vocabulary and other minor inconsistencies with the norms of etiquette do not always conflict with the ethical core of the individual. Mostly because they are too insignificant and fleeting. On the other hand, a person can consciously go to the violation of generally accepted standards of behavior, act unpredictably and incorrectly, from the point of view of etiquette, wishing by this to emphasize his disagreement with the foundations, to show a moral position.
About what good manners are and why they are needed at all, see the following video.
